
Craig A Diem
Republican | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Craig A Diem
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Representative, District 1
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, BS Mechanical Engineering, 1979-1983
Kettering University, Flint, MI, MS Manufacturing Management, 1987-1989
WORK & MILITARY
BWI Group, VP Global Manufacturing Operations, 2017-2021
BWI Group, Global Director Strategic Planning and Program Management, 2010-2017
Delphi Automotive, Managing Director - Brake Business, 2008-2010
Delphi Automotive, Product Line Director, 2004-2008
Delphi Automotive, Product Team Manager, 2001-2004
Delphi Automotive, General Manager, 1999-2001
Delphi Automotive, Country Manager - Korea, 1997-1999
BWI International Limited, Executive Director - BOD, 2018-2019
Delphi Shanghai Steering and Chassis Systems, Vice Chairman - BOD, 1999-2021
AFFILIATIONS
Meals on Wheels, Volunteer - Meal Delivery, 2024-2026
Reserve Members Club, Chairman, 2026-2026
Saint Paul the Apostle Church, Parishioner, 2021-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
South Carolina District 1 - House Representative, 2026-2026
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 Agree
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Under no circumstances should elective abortion be allowed. In the case of rape or incest, the mother can carry the child to term and choose to give the child up for adoption.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Strongly Agree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
Minimum wage should not be artificially increased to higher amounts. It should be raised annually to keep pace with inflation.
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
1. Line-by-line budget reviews. Require every agency to justify spending from a zero base every few years (not incremental increases). 2. Competitive bidding reform. Eliminate no-bid contracts except in true emergencies. 3. Hiring freezes in nonessential roles while evaluating redundancy. Attrition based downsizing instead of layoffs (don't refill unnecessary positions). 4. Eliminate duplicative programs across agencies. 5. Performance audits of higher education spending.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
People are free to practice any religion, or no religion, and government cannot establish an official state religion.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
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.
C, but fraud most be investigated and eliminated.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
NATIONAL SECURITY
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, because they are a key ally in the Middle East.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Agree
Foreign governments would expect something in return or influence in what is being taught in our schools.
VALUES
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Agree
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Strongly Agree
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Agree
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Neutral
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian who believes that the Lord Jesus Christ is our savior. I value life from conception to death. I value morality, honesty, integrity, humility, forgiveness, kindness, compassion and respect for others.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Strongly Disagree
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 Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.
Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Natural gas followed closely by nuclear.
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?
Very Conservative
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 goal of the criminal justice system is to first protect the public and arrest those breaking the law. Those arrested should be charged and jailed if necessary. The goal of prisons should then be to reform the criminals and prepare them to re-enter society and be productive.
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I am only opposed to purchasing a gun if you are deemed to be mentally unstable.
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