Peter J. Larson
Republican | Oregon
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Peter J. Larson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
U.S. Representative, District 2
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Oregon State University, Corvallis, Bachelor of Arts, 2009-2014
Western Oregon University, Monmouth, Master of Arts Teaching, 2015-2016
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Agree
There needs to be exceptions for rape, incest, and life of the mother.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Neutral
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Rape, incest, life of the mother.
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Neutral
Many services are provided by Planned Parenthood that are NOT abortion related. For many low income folks, these health clinics provide services they would otherwise not receive. Other groups need to fill this gap. Until then, women still need other medical services.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Disagree
This should be left to the states, not the federal government. Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022) left abortion to the states. If we believe in states rights, then the Federal government should not use it's power to create a defacto abortion ban.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Neutral
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
As stated by Thomas Jefferson in the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: “...that no man shall be compelled to frequent or support any religious worship, place, or ministry... nor shall otherwise suffer, on account of his religious opinions or belief; but that all men shall be free to profess, and by argument to maintain, their opinions in matters of religion, and that the same shall in no wise diminish, enlarge, or affect their civil capacities.”
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
B.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes...but we should be weaning them off of direct subsidies. They are a first-world nation with universal healthcare and a world class military. Our support should be minimal.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Agree
HEALTHCARE
What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
B.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Agree
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Create a House and Senate committee that could solicit feedback from the states on what they see as government waste. Create incentives for employees with over 25 years of service to voluntarily retire. Use data analytics to look for duplicate regulations, forms etc., that can be changed. DO NOT "slash and burn" thousands of workers, only to rehire them later at a great cost (DOGE).
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
As Pres. Reagan said: "And if there had to be city walls, the walls had doors and the doors were open to anyone with the will and the heart to get here. That's how I saw it, and see it still." We should welcome everyone who wants to be here. As our ancestors saw of the Statue of Liberty: "Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free".
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Agree
States have the right to decide this amongst themselves. In fact, look at the Fugitive Slave Act of 1850 as a historical context. Congress demanded that all escaped slaves, upon capture, be returned to the slave-owner and that officials and citizens of free states had to cooperate. Free states passed laws stopping all state cooperation with the federal government on the issue. If we believe in "States Rights" then we should be consistent with that belief.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Disagree
The Department of Education does more research and enforcement than any sort of "control". It's a fallacy to believe our education is controlled by the Federal government. The State of Oregon has a vastly more influential role than Washington DC, and even then, Oregon is one of the least controlling states for education.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Agree
Parents are the first line of defense. We should not allow children access to the internet without supervision (this includes cellphones and social media).
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Age-restrictions and background checks.
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Lean Conservative
VALUES
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Disagree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Disagree
Government should play no role in its definition or exercise thereof. I believe my God is correct, but nowhere in the Bible, Jesus, or the Apostles does it say that government should decide these things, or push people into a specific direction. “religion is a matter which lies solely between Man and his God...” - Thomas Jefferson
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a conservative Christian. But I also believe in a complete separation of church and state. As James Madison said: "It is proper to take alarm at the first experiment on our liberties... Who does not see that... the same authority which can force a citizen to contribute three pence... of his property for the support of any one establishment, may force him to conform to any other establishment...?" We must maintain a wall, separating church and state. Further, the Bible declares: "render unto Caesar what is Caesar's and unto God what is God's."
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Agree
Agreed, but we should strive to create more "open" spaces/divisions where people who choose to compete (both men and women) can.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear and wave energy are the most reliable from a safety, generating capacity, and location viewpoint.
