John Goldwater
Republican | Michigan
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
John Goldwater
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Primary
Race
State Senator, Dist., 12
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Northwood University, Midland, BBA, Economics, 2004-2009
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
On The Red Box, Team Leader/ Evangelist, 2011-2019
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
State Senate D 12, 2026-
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (1)
*Citizens for Traditional Values
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Taxpayer funds should not be given to abortion providers because many taxpayers including myself have deeply held moral and religious objections to abortions. Instead, we should be supporting life by directing funds toward prenatal care, maternal health, adoption support, and resources for families. Additionally, the Hyde Amendment generally restricts federal funds from being used to cover abortion services and I zero tex dollars should go to encourage, promote, or pay for abortion in any form!
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
I believe that abortion takes the life of a living, child in the womb.Exceptions should be made to protect the life of the mother. However, I believe that extremely rare situation, both the life of the mother and child should be fought for.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
God made man in His image and therefore every human life has inherent value and deserves protection, including the unborn. A truly compassionate society should protect those who cannot protect themselves and create systems that uphold the dignity of every person at every stage of life.
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
Regardless the method of fertilization that fact remains that the ebryo stage of development is still human life.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
I agree because laws should be enforced as written unless they are changed through the legislative process or overturned by the courts. Additionally, abortion-inducing drugs jeopardize the health and well-being of women and their unborn children.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Wages should be determined by the market, not by government mandates. The government should not be dictating terms of employment. Mandated wage increases force employers to make tough choices regarding staffing, benefits, and price increases.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
Free enterprise and private property rights are foundational to economic opportunity and long-term prosperity. When individuals and businesses have the freedom to invest, innovate, and build something of their own, they create jobs, strengthen communities and grow the economy.
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1.) Reform Education Spending, so that it is spent in the correct areas that are needed, while the waste is removed. 2.) Fight against Welfare and Medicaid Fraud, Waste, and mismanagement. 3.) Get rid of and remove government ghost employees. Departments receive funding for positions, but do not fill them and there for have slush funds and waste. Cutting these will save 100's of millions.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
It does not mean what many may interpret it as. President Thomas Jefferson's letter to a certain Baptist Church, he spoke of a, "Wall of separation", in which the government would not interfere with the free practice of religion.This has sense been turned into a separation of church and state, where the faithful are often pushed out practice their faith in any public role, which Jefferson, nor the constitution never intended.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Religious freedom is a foundational constitutional principle, and no individual or business should be forced to violate their sincerely held moral or religious beliefs. However, civil rights protections against unlawful discrimination should be respected.
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.
) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
I strongly disagree with this statement because medical information is among the most private and personal information an individual possesses. Health information should remain primarily between patients and their doctors, not become a part of a government surveillance system.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Strongly Agree
The Chinese Communist Party presents significant national security challenges to the United States across military, technological, economic, and cybersecurity fronts. The CCP has consistently attempted to expand its global influence in ways that threaten American interests and increase dependence on foreign adversaries. We must safeguard both our economy and national security against those that do not have Americans’ best interest.
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Yes, Israel has long been one of America’s closest allies in the Middle East. Strong alliances like ours with Israel help protect American national security interests and support our broader strategic goals.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
Sanctuary city policies jeopardize public safety and undermine consistent enforcement of the law. We should support legal immigration while ensuring laws are enforced fairly and consistently.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
Parents and local school districts are generally in the best position to make education decisions rather than a one-size-fits-all approach from the federal government. However, federal programs currently affect areas such as supports for students with disabilities, student financial aid, and education funding. Any major reform would need to ensure that students and schools are not negatively impacted. We should be allowing parents and our local communities to make education decisions.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
I support stronger safeguards regarding foreign influence in American education, particularly when that funding comes from foreign governments whose interests do not align with those of the United States. I would support policies that increase disclosure requirements and strengthen the oversight of foreign government involvement in education.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
I strongly agree because parents have the primary responsibility and fundamental right to raise their children and make decisions regarding their health, education and overall well-being. Parents are in the best position to understand their child’s needs, not the government. Supporting parental rights does not mean eliminating protections or legal safeguards for children.
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Children should be protected from making major, life-altering decisions before they are mature enough to understand the long-term consequences. Parents should provide support for children experiencing challenges related to identity and mental health without making permanent life-altering choices for their child.
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 Agree
As a follower of Jesus Christ, believer in God, and adherent in the holy Bible I firmly believe in God's definition of marriage. Governments may come up with their own definitons of marriage, but that does not mean it's recognized by God.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Disagree
I'm cautious about continued expansion of gambling and believe we must carefully consider the long-term impact on families and communities, not simply focus on revenue gains. Any expansion would need to demonstrate clear public benefit and include appropriate safeguards. However, I believe gambling opens the door for many criminal activities and overall is not good for the state.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you have been bought with a price" 1 Corinthians 6:20-21. I once lived a life outside of following the truth of God's word and ingorant to the true salvation that is only given by God through His Son, Jesus Christ. However, when I heard the good news and the message of the cross, and having believed, I was forgiven all my sins, I turned from the ways of the world to God, and my whole world view changed. I was saved from eternal destruction and was made right with God, being gift eternal life. Now I live for Jesus and His word, which is the Bible. I try to honor God in all that I do and live for Him.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
Maintaining election integrity requires secure and consistent safeguards including verifying a voter’s identity. Voting is one of the most important rights and responsibilities in our democracy and protecting the integrity of the process helps ensure every lawful vote counts and citizens have confidence in the results.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
Government policy should treat citizens equally under the law and avoid granting benefits or imposing burdens based primarily on race.
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.
Strongly Disagree
We must preserve fairness in women’s sports and protect environments where they can compete on a level playing field. Women also deserve to feel safe in spaces that have historically been separated on the basis of sex. Allowing biological males in these spaces jeopardizes women’s safety and privacy.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
We can protect our environment without one-size-fits-all government mandates. We can support responsible environmental policies while also protecting affordability, energy reliability, and economic growth. However, I believe it does not require urgent political action and distracts from the urgent issues that actually matter to our daily lives and well being!
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
We should not be reliant on just one source of energy. To meet the growing demand for electricity we must take an all-of-the-above approach. Limiting/ favoring certain energy sources could jeopardize reliability, driving costs. Let the market decide.
ABOUT YOU
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?
Conservative
I am a conservative on fiscal and social issues.
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.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?
The primary goal of the criminal justice system should be to protect the public, uphold the rule of law, and deliver justice fairly and consistently. Citizens deserve to be able to live in safe communities with confidence that laws will be enforced and individuals who commit crimes will be held accountable.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Protecting children and the vulnerable is one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. We must ensure children are safe from predators and harmful actors while respecting parental authority and preserving individual freedoms.
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
The United States is governed by the Constitution and laws enacted through our democratic process. No religious legal system should supersede or be incorporated into the American legal framework. We must protect the rights and freedom of all citizens regardless of religion.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
There should be restrictions based on age, however with a proper gun/ hunter's safty course, I believe a juvenile can carry a firearm., background checks to keep felons of violent crimes from purchasing guns. However, any restrictions should not unfairly burden responsible gun owners, as the second amendment clearly states, "... The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
