David Matthews
Republican | Alabama
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
EDUCATION
University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, Advertising and Public Relations, 2006-2011
WORK & MILITARY
United States Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Director of State Operations, 2025-2026
Huntington National Bank, USDA Business Development Officer, Sr., 2025-2025
iBusiness Funding, USDA Business Development Officer, 2024-2025
United Community Bank, USDA Business Development Officer, 2021-2024
Bazelet Health Systems, Chief Agriculture Officer, 2021-2021
United States Department of Agriculture, WHLO, Deputy White House Liaison, 2020-2021
United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Special Assistant to the Administrator, 2019-2020
United States Department of Agriculture, Farm Service Agency, Confidential Assistant to the Administrator, 2017-2019
United States Department of Agriculture, Food & Nutrition Service, Beachhead Team Member, 2017-2017
Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., Western Pennsylvania Field Director, 2016-2016
AFFILIATIONS
Ozark Rotary Club, President, 2024-2025
Dale County Council of the Arts and Humanities, Board Member, 2024-2025
Boys & Girls Club of Ozark, Philanthropist, 2021-2025
Ozark Rotary Club, Vice President, 2023-2024
Ozark Heritage Foundation, Board Member, 2022-2024
Ozark Rotary Club, President Nominee, 2022-2023
Board for International Food and Agricultural Development (BIFAD), Presidentially Appointed Board Member, 2021-2022
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Alabama's 2nd Congressional District, 2026-2026
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Greg Adams
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
State Republican Party Organizations (2026)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Candidate participated in Coffee County forum, July 15, 2026. Start 17:15.
David Matthews completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
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
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
Rape and Incest
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.
Strongly Agree
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Agree
People who can afford to pay more taxes should do so in order to provide relief for working families.
Neutral
If existing tax laws were enforced more prudently, and Federal spending were minimized through effective management, the government would not need to raise taxes on any class.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Strongly Agree
List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.
Modernize oversight and quality controls for federal assistance programs. Audit and cut wasteful spending on unused buildings, bloated staffing, ineffective programs, and poorly managed contracts. Upgrade outdated federal IT systems, reduce paper-heavy bureaucracy, right-size the federal workforce, and strengthen the GAO and Inspectors General.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Disagree
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
“Separation of church and state” means government must not establish a religion or interfere with the free exercise of faith. Religious individuals and organizations should remain free to govern themselves, practice their beliefs, speak on public issues, and participate fully in the political process.
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 most closely matches my view. Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but they must be administered more efficiently, with stronger oversight and less waste. These programs should better serve the people who have funded and depend on them while reducing the burden on taxpayers. More broadly, healthcare and insurance costs are too high, and reforms are needed to improve affordability, accountability, and coverage.
The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.
Agree
The government may collect anonymized, privacy-protected health data to identify trends, improve treatment, lower costs, and respond more quickly to emerging health threats. It should not maintain an intrusive database of identifiable patients merely to calculate economic burden. Any data collection must serve patients, protect privacy, and produce better health outcomes.
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 most closely matches my view, but American involvement must be selective, strategic, and grounded in our national interest. We should support our allies and deter threats that could destabilize global security and the economy. However, the United States should not enter conflicts without a clear objective, compelling justification, and defined benefit to the American people.
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. Since 1948, Israel has become an important strategic partner based on shared security and economic interests. Israel faces serious threats in a dangerous region, but friendship does not require unquestioning support, and some recent actions deserve scrutiny. U.S. policy must put American interests first, and no foreign government should exercise undue influence over American elections or policymaking.
Islamic terrorism is a threat to the United States' national security.
Strongly Agree
IMMIGRATION
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
The United States should welcome lawful immigrants who respect our Constitution, laws, people, and culture; pass thorough security and background checks; and seek to contribute to our country rather than depend unnecessarily on taxpayers. Legal immigration and citizenship should be secure, orderly, merit-based, and efficient, not trapped in years of needless bureaucracy.
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.
Strongly Agree
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and returning control to states, local communities, parents, and teachers. Despite decades of federal spending and mandates, student outcomes remain unacceptable and too many schools are failing. Education policy should be more accountable, responsive, and locally controlled. I welcome any evidence that greater federal bureaucracy has improved these results.
Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.
Strongly Agree
VALUES
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.
Neutral
I believe marriage is a God-ordained, sacred union between one man and one woman. At the same time, government should not dictate religious doctrine, decide whom consenting adults may marry, or compel churches and religious organizations to recognize or participate in unions that violate their beliefs.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit. My faith calls me to live with integrity, humility, compassion, and a commitment to serving others.
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.
Strongly Agree
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Nuclear power is the most reliable way to meet America’s growing energy demand. We should expand advanced and small modular reactors, safely reuse spent fuel, and reform outdated regulations to deliver abundant, affordable, dependable power.
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?
Conservative
I am a fiscal conservative who believes government spending can be reduced substantially without undermining essential services. Many federal programs were created for legitimate purposes and should be preserved where they serve the public effectively. However, they require stronger oversight, better quality controls, improved delivery, and greater accountability to taxpayers.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.
Strongly Agree
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
The Second Amendment is a fundamental constitutional right that must be strongly protected. Law-abiding Americans should not face unnecessary restrictions on owning or carrying firearms. We should repeal laws that burden lawful ownership, enforce laws against violent criminals and illegal trafficking, and prevent access only when a person is lawfully determined, with full due process, to pose a serious threat.
