Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).

Strongly Agree

Election of judges by the people for a definite term of office is the best way to select judges.

Agree

More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.

Strongly Disagree

Government should enforce laws designed to protect the border and to prevent illegal entry into the country.

Strongly Agree

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.

Strongly Agree

Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.

Strongly Agree

Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.

Strongly Agree

There should be a strict constitutional spending limit for state and local governments that would tie the rate of spending to the rate of population growth plus the rate of inflation.

Strongly Agree

Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.

Disagree

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.

Strongly Agree

The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.

Strongly Agree

Free-market competition for education dollars, rather than a government monopoly, would create a better education for all students.

Strongly Agree

Where minor children are involved, divorce laws should be reformed to include mutual consent of both parents and an increased waiting period, unless there is fault or abuse.

No Answer

The Ten Commandments should not be displayed in public school buildings.

Strongly Disagree

Business owners should be required by law to bake cakes, provide flower arrangements, etc., for same-sex weddings, even when these activities would infringe on their sincerely-held religious beliefs.

Strongly Disagree

Our state should participate in the nationwide Common Core standards for high-school graduation.

Strongly Disagree

Physician-assisted suicide should be legal.

Strongly Disagree

The more people live by Judeo-Christian values, the less government is needed.

Strongly Agree

Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.

Strongly Disagree

Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.

No Answer

It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.

Disagree

Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.

Strongly Agree

What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?

As the Bible points out, man has a sinful and selfish nature. As a result, a person who gains power is inherently likely to try and hold on to and expand that power. The Founders defined, separated, and limited the powers of different branches and divisions of government to prevent abuse of power and put a check on man's natural selfishness.

Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.

God, Voters, Constitution, Congress, Supreme Court

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

I'm cases of rape or incest or when necessary to save the life of the mother.

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I am a Christian - I believe Jesus Christ is the son of God and died for my sins. I believe God has a plan for my life and, as long as I trust in him with all my heart, he will direct my path. I believe he has called me to run for office. I strive to view every decision I make through the lense of my faith.

Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?

Very Conservative

Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.

As General Counsel to the Texas House of Representatives, I drafted the redistricting maps that resulted in the election of a record number of Texas Republicans to Congress. After passage of the maps, I assisted then Attorney General Abbott in defending the maps against Obama's Department of Justice through three trials and all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court.

E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.

Ryan@ryandownton.com

Additional comment from candidate:

Question 21: Personally, I believe marriage is between one man and one woman. However, I believe marriage should be purely a religious matter and the government should not have a role in it. None of the available answers to question 21 reflected my view, so I could not answer. Question 14: I don't understand this question. Very rarely are both people 100% in agreement on the terms of a divorce - if they were, they probably wouldn't be getting divorced in the first place. I don't think it is reasonable to forbid a divorce absent the consent of both parties to its terms.