Paul Newton
Republican | North Carolina
Candidate Profile*
Verified Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Paul Newton
Party
Republican
Election Year
2022
Election
General
Race
State Senate, Dist. 34
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Harvard, Boston, Advanced Management Program, 2008
UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, JD, 1985
UNC-Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, BS Business, 1982
WORK & MILITARY
Duke Energy, State President, SVP, General Counsel of Utilities, 1990-2015
AFFILIATIONS
The Refuge Church, Member/Contributor
GLOW Mission, Board Member
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
State Senate, 2016-present
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
ENDORSEMENTS*
CONSERVATIVE (2)
*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF; *North Carolina Values Coalition
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (18)
Buckeye PAC (2008); Committee to Elect Republican Women (2021); Dan Forest (2020); Daniel (Dan) Bishop (2019); David Curtis (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (11)
Brian Echevarria (2022); Charles F. Fuller (2022); David Curtis (2018); Grant Campbell (2022); Kristin Baker (2022)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (2)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2022); North Carolina Advocates for Justice (2018)
OTHER INFORMATION
This candidate was evaluated in the 2020 General Election. see source .
QUESTIONNAIRE*
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Ectopic pregnancy
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Agree
If Roe v. Wade is overturned by the US Supreme Court, how far are you willing to go to roll back North Carolina's statutory abortion law that allows abortion up to 20 weeks?
I believe birth begins at conception. I do realize the political realities may not accommodate that belief in law, and most Right To Life organizations are promoting a heartbeat bill. I can support a heartbeat bill, and believe that we should do more to ensure that pregnant women who choose life will be supported. Adoption must become less burdensome in NC.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Disagree
Our State deserves a culture that values life from cradle to grave.
Would you support a limitation on chemical abortion that protects women from taking abortion pills without the care and supervision of a qualified physician?
Yes
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Strongly Disagree
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
Churches and member have the constitutional right to gather for church services. Absent a constitutional amendment, there is no government right to close churches under any circumstance.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Government should never infringe in the church. The framers recognized the preeminence of individual rights and freedoms over big government.
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)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.
C is the realistic answer. Government intrusion into healthcare has created a cumbersome bureaucracy and inefficient financial signals to providers. Less government intrusion should be the trendline, not more.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Except in extreme cases, government, schools and employers should do the hard work of persuading families to get vaccinated, using facts and education. At the end of the day, parents should ultimately choose whether to vaccinate.
ECONOMY
The government should do more to close the gap between the working class and the wealthy.
Strongly Disagree
Our government needs to get out of the way and let the free market system work. The Private sector will create great-paying jobs that change family trees. If that is doing more to close the gap, then yes, government should do that. History has proven that handouts create an unsustainable welfare state. Welfare and redistribution kills entrepreneurship and innovation.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
Less is more. We have proven in NC that reducing taxes stimulates growth, leads to job creation and results in higher tax revenue.
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Strongly Disagree
College is not for everyone. And taxing all for the few is regressive.
EDUCATION
States should allow parents to use the Opportunity Scholarship Program to fund private school for their children.
Strongly Agree
One size does not fit all. Education should meet our children's needs. Opportunity scholarships level the playing field and challenge traditional public education to be better because of the competition. Everyone wins.
In what situations does a parent not have the right to know what their child is being taught in public school?
Never. Parents have the right to know what is being taught to their children.
When should parents be restricted from speaking in school board meetings?
Only in the instance of time constraints (common when gathering public input to limit each speaker to 5 min or so) or cursing or threats of physical harm. Otherwise, parents should be free to be heard without content control by the school board.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Strongly Agree
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Strongly Disagree
Safety comes first.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Background check to ensure such things as violent behavior do not exist.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Disagree
The root cause of gun violence is not the gun. The person chooses to commit the crime. For example this week multiple people were fatally stabbed in Canada. Was the knife or its manufacturer at fault?
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Would you support legislation that prohibits biological boys from competing on girls sports teams?
Yes
ABOUT YOU
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To provide essential services - e.g., law enforcement
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
I consider myself a "Commonsense" Conservative.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
6 year Senate voting record. Multi-part Interview on In Focus with Loretta Boniti on Spectrum News.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
No
What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?
I have been married for 36 years. My wife and I home-educated our four children through high school. I enjoyed a successful legal and business career before joining the North Carolina Senate. I currently Chair Senate Finance, along with Redistricting and Elections. I bring my experience and Christian worldview to my service to North Carolinians. My goal is to serve you with excellence.
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Strongly Agree
I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Disagree
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a born-again believer in Christ. I believe the values that instills are beneficial to those whom I serve in public office.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
Millions voted to amend our NC Constitution to require a voter ID. It is the quintessence of partisan judicial activism for our left-leaning Supreme court to overturn the will of NC voters. I sponsored a bill ensuring everyone could receive a free photo ID, and as I recall every democrat in the Senate voted against it. It seems therefore that the Democratic party prefers the issue over the solution.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I have sponsored, argued and supported a number of election integrity laws such as: Photo voter ID, no private funding to local elections boards (running elections is a uniquely government operation, and should not be tainted by private funding). I helped author and we passed a law prohibiting collusive settlements between National Democrat lawyers, the Democrat majority Board of Elections and the Democrat Attorney General.
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
The charge of racism is a wedge phrase to divide our country based on skin color. History has already proven that Americans of any color can be successful spiritually, educationally and financially. Americans of every color want to unite as one, for good of all. If any vestiges of racism still exist we all want them gone. Examples disproving systemic racism in America are too numerous to list. America is the most tolerant and diverse nation on earth.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.
A, but details matter. We should protect the environment, but we must also be rational and not extreme.
