
Stewart Watson
Republican | South Carolina
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Stewart Watson
Party
Republican
Election Year
2026
Election
Republican Primary
Race
State Representative, District 10
Incumbent
No
EDUCATION
Winthrop College, Rock Hill, B.S, M.S., 1982-1987
University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Ph.D, 1987-1991
WORK & MILITARY
Mississippi State University, Professor, 1991-2003
University of Nebraska Medical Center, Professor, 2003-2004
Miami (OH) University, Professor, Department Chair, 2004-2011
PoliceReports.US, Co-Owner, Co-Founder, 2003-2014
Antonios Restaurants, Co-Owner, 2015-2026
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
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?
In cases of rape or incest, where the female's life is in danger, and in cases where there are severe congential anomalies present in the developing fetus.
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Neutral
The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.
Neutral
This is a very difficult issue, especially if you are talking about frozen embryos. I think there are too many variables to consider before answering on either side of this question.
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Neutral
Again, the original Comstock Act of 1873 and its subsequent revisions and codifications are far too complicated to answer this question in this format.
ECONOMY
What is your position on the minimum wage?
As a business owner, I am generally not a supporter of the minimum wage. Let the marketplace and all of the variables that impact the marketplace determine wages.
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.
Eliminate earmarks, Improve technology related to tracking government spending, Reduce restrictive regulations that impact small businesses, Identify SNAP and Medicaid fraud, and Cut taxes
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
That the government will remain neutral towards all religions and allow religions to operate without fear of government influence and regulation.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly 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.
B
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Strongly Disagree
This would represent an unwarranted intrusion into our personal lives by the government and would likely lead to treatment decisions based on predicted economic burden.
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, they are our only ally in the Middle East and are surrounded by countries who wish to devastate Israel and its people.
IMMIGRATION
I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.
Strongly Disagree
I am not in support of any policy that protects illegal immigrants.
EDUCATION
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Strongly Agree
The USDOE is nothing more than a bureaucratic backwater that serves no useful purpose for improving education. It should be up to the states and their State Departments of Education to allocate resources and decide on policies for their state.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Neutral
My answer would be "Which foreign governments?"
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
Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.
Disagree
I don't think it constitutes child abuse but there should be restrictions regarding the age a person can choose to transition. We put age limits on many other things (drivers license, buying alcohol/cigarettes, etc) but seem reluctant to do so when talking about transition from one sex to the other.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Neutral
I don't think Government should be involved in the business of marriage licensing at all, in any regards.
I support the expansion of gambling in my state.
Strongly Agree
The government already sanctions gambling via the state lottery. Allowing gambling and online sports betting would likely generate hundreds of millions of dollars in additional revenue for the state which would help in supporting tax relief for the citizens.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian but respect the view of others when it comes to religion and spirituality. It's not my job to judge others, rather it is to fulfill the purpose for which God put me on Earth. I value love, kindness, honesty, compassion, empathy, and caring.
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.
Strongly Disagree
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear power.
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
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 apprehend violent/dangerous criminals and segregate them from society.
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?
None
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