Russell E. Saffell

Strongly Agree

I strongly support ensuring that taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortion providers. Public funds should reflect the values of protecting life and respecting the conscience rights of taxpayers. I believe government resources are better directed toward healthcare services that support women, children, and families without involving the provision of abortion.

I believe elective abortion should not be permitted. I hold that life begins at conception and deserves protection. Any policy approach should prioritize safeguarding both the unborn child and the health of the mother, with care, compassion, and support directed toward women facing difficult circumstances.

Strongly Agree

I strongly support the principle that human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death. I believe every life has inherent dignity and value, and our laws should reflect a commitment to protect the most vulnerable at every stage, while promoting a culture that supports and uplifts both individuals and families.

Strongly Agree

I support protecting the lives of human embryos from purposeful destruction. While I have serious ethical concerns about creating embryos through artificial means, once human life exists, it carries inherent dignity and deserves legal protection. We should not place ourselves in the position of creating life only to discard it.

Strongly Agree

I strongly support the Comstock Act as a necessary safeguard for protecting both public morality and the sanctity of human life. I believe laws like this reflect a legitimate role for government in setting reasonable boundaries that uphold community standards and prevent the distribution of materials that contribute to harm.

The phrase “separation of church and state” is not in our founding documents; Jefferson used it in a letter to reassure citizens the government wouldn’t interfere in church affairs. I believe no church, organization, or business should dictate government policy, yet leaders must still draw on their religious principles and moral compass to guide just, ethical governance that serves all citizens responsibly.

Strongly Disagree

I strongly disagree. Forcing individuals or businesses to act against their moral or religious beliefs violates fundamental freedoms. People should have the right to serve according to conscience, while society can seek solutions that respect both personal liberty and the needs of others without coercion.

Strongly Agree

I strongly agree. The Chinese Communist Party presents significant threats across multiple fronts, including military expansion, cyberattacks, intellectual property theft, and economic manipulation. These actions jeopardize U.S. national security, innovation, and global economic stability, making it critical for America to remain vigilant, strengthen defenses, and protect both our interests and allies.

The U.S. should remain a strong ally of Israel because it is a reliable, stable partner in a volatile region, sharing our values of freedom, rule of law, and human rights. Strong ties enhance U.S. national security, support intelligence and military cooperation, promote regional stability, and signal that America stands with nations committed to liberty and justice. Maintaining this alliance protects our interests and those of our allies abroad.

I most align with option B. While I do not favor socialized medicine, government-funded programs like Medicare and Medicaid have existed for decades and have created a reliance for many Americans. Defunding them outright would harm countless citizens. Reform is necessary to limit healthcare costs for individuals and taxpayers alike, while preserving choice. Providing a government option alongside private healthcare ensures access without forcing socialized medicine on everyone.

Strongly Disagree

I strongly disagree. Maintaining a government database of individuals’ medical conditions violates privacy and personal liberty. While understanding healthcare costs is important, it must never come at the expense of individuals’ confidential health information or the freedom to live without government surveillance.

I believe wages should be determined by the free market, not government mandates. While fair pay is important, minimum wage laws can reduce opportunities, especially for entry-level workers, and hinder economic growth.

Strongly Agree

I strongly support free enterprise and private property as essential to a thriving economy. When individuals can own, create, and exchange freely, innovation and prosperity flourish. Protecting these rights ensures opportunity, incentivizes hard work, and strengthens both families and communities.

My top priorities to eliminate government waste in Iowa are: first, auditing and streamlining state programs to cut redundant or inefficient spending; second, reducing unnecessary administrative overhead and regulatory burdens; and third, ensuring taxpayer dollars are spent transparently, with strict accountability, so every dollar serves Iowans’ needs effectively.

Strongly Disagree

I do not support sanctuary cities because they undermine the rule of law and hinder federal immigration enforcement. Protecting individuals who are in the country illegally places communities and taxpayers at risk, reduces public safety, and sends the wrong message about accountability. All residents deserve law-abiding communities where immigration laws are respected and enforced consistently.

Strongly Agree

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and returning control to states and communities because education is not a federal responsibility. The 10th Amendment reserves powers not delegated to the federal government to the states. Local control allows parents, teachers, and communities to set priorities, improve outcomes, and innovate, while reducing bureaucracy and ensuring education reflects local values and needs rather than one-size-fits-all federal mandates.

Strongly Agree

I believe foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education because such funding risks outside influence on our curricula, research priorities, and values. Education must remain under the control of American institutions, states, and communities to protect national security, preserve intellectual independence, and ensure that our schools and universities serve the interests of the American people first.

I believe the primary goals of the criminal justice system are to uphold the rule of law, protect public safety, and ensure justice is fairly administered. It must deter crime, hold offenders accountable, rehabilitate when possible, and safeguard the rights of victims and the accused, balancing enforcement with fairness to maintain social order and public trust in our legal institutions.

Strongly Agree

I strongly support the view that government has a duty to protect children from sexual exploitation online. Children are vulnerable, and it is both government's and society’s responsibility to ensure their safety in digital spaces. I advocate for robust laws, vigilant enforcement, and preventative measures that shield minors from predators, harmful content, and exploitation, while holding offenders accountable and promoting safe, responsible use of technology.

Strongly Agree

I strongly believe Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated into U.S. law. Our legal system is rooted in the Constitution, individual rights, and equal protection under the law. Foreign religious laws undermine these principles, threaten liberty, and conflict with American values of justice, personal freedom, and the rule of law, which must remain the sole foundation of our nation’s legal framework.

I strongly support the Second Amendment as an inalienable right. A well-armed citizenry is essential to deterring unlawful acts and preserving personal liberty. Responsible gun ownership empowers individuals to protect themselves, their families, and their communities, while upholding the Constitution’s guarantee that government power remains limited and citizens retain the means to defend their freedoms.

Very Conservative

I am a principled conservative committed to individual liberty, limited government, and fiscal responsibility. I support free-market solutions to strengthen the economy, defend religious freedom, uphold the Constitution, advocate for strong national security, and protect traditional social values, emphasizing personal responsibility, accountability, and policies that empower citizens while restraining government overreach.

Never

Never

Strongly Agree

I strongly support recognizing and supporting parents’ fundamental right and duty to direct their child’s health and education. Parents know their children best and should make decisions without government interference. Protecting this right ensures families can guide their children’s development, values, and well-being while preserving personal liberty and accountability in raising healthy, educated, and responsible citizens.

Strongly Agree

I strongly believe that attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse because children cannot give fully informed consent to irreversible medical procedures or lifelong social pressures. Such actions can cause lasting physical, psychological, and emotional harm, and protecting children from these interventions is essential to safeguarding their health, well-being, and development.

Agree

Although I personally believe marriage is sacred between one man and one woman, I also fully respect the 1st Amendment, which protects the religious beliefs of others and prohibits government from infringing on them. While the government cannot redefine religious terms, it can define lawful arrangements. If two consenting adults of the same sex choose a civil union, it is not government's place to interfere. Independence is universal for all citizens, I will represent all constituents equally.

Neutral

I am generally neutral on expanding gambling in Iowa because it centers on individual liberty. Adults should have the freedom to decide how to spend their money. Gambling also produces significant tax revenue that supports public services, and this funding comes from voluntary actions rather than compulsory taxation. While I recognize potential social risks, I believe personal responsibility and choice should guide participation. I also agree with support mechanisms for gambling addiction.

I am a committed LCMS Christian, and my faith guides both my personal life and approach to governance. I believe every human life is sacred and that moral and ethical decisions should follow Scripture. My Christian worldview shapes my view of statesmanship: leaders must serve with integrity, justice, and compassion. I uphold individual liberty and limited government, believing citizens flourish when free to make moral and personal choices. Stewardship, service, and accountability to God guide my commitment to policies reflecting biblical values while respecting all freedoms.

Strongly Disagree

I believe proper identification should always be required to vote because it ensures that each ballot cast is tied to a real, eligible citizen, preventing impersonation and multiple voting. Requiring ID upholds election integrity and protects the value of every lawful vote so that outcomes reflect the will of legitimate voters, not those seeking to manipulate the process or dilute citizen votes.

Strongly Disagree

I strongly oppose reparations based on race because they unfairly assign collective guilt and benefit individuals solely due to ancestry, not personal responsibility. Justice should address actual harm, not historical group identity. Policies should promote equal opportunity, accountability, and reconciliation, rather than creating divisions or rewarding people based on race, which undermines merit, personal effort, and the principle of individual responsibility.

Strongly Agree

Biological males should not participate in women’s sports or occupy women-only spaces because physiological differences create unfair competitive advantages and can compromise safety and privacy. Protecting spaces like bathrooms, locker rooms, shelters, sororities, and prisons ensures that women have environments designed for their physical security, dignity, and equal opportunity, upholding fairness and safeguarding them from potential harm.

Strongly Disagree

I strongly disagree with the legitimacy of man-made climate change because climate patterns have always fluctuated naturally over geological time. Evidence for catastrophic human-driven impact remains contested, with climate models often failing to accurately predict outcomes. Policy decisions should be grounded in objective science and historical climate data, not driven by alarmist projections that risk economic harm without clear proof of human causation.

Nuclear energy is the most reliable source because it provides consistent, high-output power independent of weather, has low greenhouse emissions, and can sustain baseload electricity demands, unlike intermittent sources such as solar or wind.