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VOTE411 Voter Guide

U.S. Representative, District 27

As per the Constitution, the U.S. House of Representatives makes and passes federal laws. The House is one of Congress’s two chambers (the other is the U.S. Senate), and part of the federal government’s legislative branch. The number of voting representatives in the House is fixed by law at no more than 435, proportionally representing the population of the 50 states.Elected to a two-year term, each representative serves the people of a specific congressional district by introducing bills and serving on committees, among other duties.

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    Wayne Raasch
    (Dem)

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    Tanya Lloyd
    (Dem)

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    "Stock" Castro-Mendoza
    (Dem)

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    Chris Hatley
    (Rep)

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    Michael Cloud
    (Rep)

Biographical Information

What training, experience, and characteristics qualify you for this position?

What is your view of a legislator's role in protecting First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly?

What is your position on Congress’s role regarding tariffs and their potential impact on American consumers and businesses?

How would you ensure America has reliable, affordable energy while protecting the environment?

What role should the federal government play in promoting a healthy American population, and what steps would you take to ensure that healthcare is affordable and accessible for all Americans?

Eagle Scout, Teacher, Texas Aggie,USAF vet, defender of Jeffersonian Democracy, our children - forward thinker

[A portion of the candidate’s response is not included because it does not meet the criteria listed in this Voters Guide]
Jeffersonian Democracy - it's in the constitution, , Madison & Monroe wrote the constitution
Against tariffs - Joe Biden didn't do tariffs -
To keep our environment clean , but yet energy should be used cleanly, no polition
I'm vegetarian, I've seen too many people die from fat laden meals , seeds grains, nuts , eat like an elephant (135 years) what Joe Biden stood for
I bring more than 20 years of public service as a teacher in a Title I school, where I’ve worked with families navigating education, healthcare, and other challenges that come with living in this area. I was born, raised, and still live in this district, and my family’s roots here shaped my understanding of service and responsibility. My experience has required leadership, collaboration, and accountability, and it has given me a practical understanding of how federal policy decisions affect our communities every day. I am ready to fight every single day for my neighbors in TX-27.
All legislators have a duty to uphold and defend the Constitution, including the First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly. At the federal level, that responsibility includes writing and voting for laws that respect constitutional limits, overseeing federal agencies and funding to ensure rights are protected, and safeguarding due process. As your next congresswoman, I will ensure these freedoms are applied fairly and consistently for everyone.
We must ensure that our trade policy supports American workers, farmers, businesses, and consumers. Tariffs can be useful when applied strategically to address unfair trade practices, but they should be used carefully to avoid raising costs for families and small businesses. It’s time to put American agriculture first by ensuring trade policies support family farmers and ranchers, strengthen rural economies, and prevent imported goods from undercutting domestic producers who play by the rules. Trade policy should strengthen supply chains and domestic industries—not put Texans out of business.
America needs a diversified energy portfolio that prioritizes reliability and affordability. I will invest in infrastructure, work to modernize the electric grid, and support the innovation that has made Texas the Energy Capital of the World. Energy policy should protect the men and women who power our economy while responsibly stewarding Texas’s land, air, and water so future generations can live and work here too.
The federal government plays a key role in ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare. I will work to strengthen existing programs, lower prescription drug costs, support rural and community healthcare providers, and protect access to preventive and reproductive care. That includes addressing hospital closures, provider shortages, and long travel distances that leave rural families without timely care and put lives at risk. Affordable healthcare is essential to individual well-being, workforce stability, and long-term economic health.
I am a first-generation immigrant, Navy Captain (Ret.), teacher and farmer. I earned multiple degrees (B.S., M.A., M.S., and Ph.D. (ABD)) in Biology and National Security. During my three decades in uniform, I commanded sailors, managed critical operations, and navigated complex national security challenges often under extreme conditions. I was also a military fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. I taught high school science for almost a decade. These experiences make me the ideal candidate to tackle the most complex social, cultural and economic issues of today..
Our First Amendment rights to free speech and peaceful assembly are foundational to our democratic way of life. Without the protections guaranteed to all by the First Amendment, our democracy crumbles. We must protect those rights with courage and integrity, even under threat from a want-to-be king. We must use the courts, and the power vested in the legislative branch to thwart any threat to our freedom of speech and expression. I have participated in peaceful protests in support of Black Lives Matter and No Kings. As a legislator, I would sacrifice my career to protect our freedoms.
Tariffs are a tax paid by importers who pass those costs to consumers. While the president can impose tariffs under certain national security conditions, Congress has the expressed responsibility to regulate commerce and levy taxes under Article 1 of the Constitution. Today, consumers are being hurt by the indiscriminate and whimsical use of tariffs by president Trump. Without clear policy goals, businesses, especially small businesses, are in jeopardy of losing markets that are no longer available to import the goods they sell and depend on. Farmers, too, are losing markets for their goods.
We must continue to develop new energy sources while expanding clean wind and solar energy, and to a lesser degree, nuclear power. We must promote scientific research to develop more efficient storage batteries and other sources of energy production such as hydrogen fuels, and hydrogen engines. We must move away from dirty coal and greenhouse gas producing oil, and rescind drilling permits for sensitive environments such as in public lands, offshore drilling and the Arctic Wildlife Refuge. Climate change is real and it is imperative that we quickly cut greenhouse gas emissions.
The federal government should promote the use of existing vaccines and fund research for new vaccines and medicines to cure diseases such as cancer. It must immediately restore CDC funding and bring back competent leadership within the CDC, and fund medical science at universities throughout the country. The federal government should establish a "Council of Health Education” to educate the public about the ills of unhealthy living habits that promote such diseases as diabetes. The US Surgeon General should lead this effort. Healthcare for all should be the goal of policy makers in Washington.
My father instilled in me a strong sense of duty and honor. Duty, honor, and country continue to drive me to service. Attending the United States Military Academy at West Point and serving in the military have given me a unique perspective on the roles of the instruments of national power. I swore an oath to defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and I take that oath seriously. Serving in Congress is required of me because that oath remains in effect.
Amendment I: “Congress shall make no law … abridging the freedom of speech … or the right of the people to peaceably assemble ….” Congress cannot make laws that abridge freedom of speech; exceptions include incitement, defamation, obscenity, and child pornography. Peaceable assembly is protected, but rioting and lawlessness are not and are subject to applicable laws. In general, Congress must exercise great care to ensure that the First Amendment rights of all Americans are protected.
Article I, Section 8, gives Congress the authority to impose tariffs. However, Congress delegated some authority to the president. Many of the current tariffs on foreign goods are to counter protectionist tariffs. This can mean higher prices for consumers, but it may also mean lower federal income taxes. U.S. businesses will begin manufacturing products, which can lead to economic growth and jobs in the United States. Finally, tariffs may be necessary for national security.
Our plan must be pragmatic and reduce regulations and permitting requirements so that producers can invest in more efficient energy sources. Natural resources of oil, gas, and coal will allow the U.S. to produce energy until other energy sources become more efficient and cost-effective. Nuclear power is another efficient energy producer that should be integrated into an overall energy plan. Government subsidies for inefficient renewables must be reduced because America must cut spending. Finally, everything we do must require responsible stewardship of our environment.
HHS is removing harmful additives from our food supply. We must also remove petroleum-based and synthetic food dyes from our food supply. The Affordable Care Act is not fiscally feasible without significant government subsidies. These subsidies went to insurance companies regardless of whether insured Americans used their insurance. However, Congress recently passed legislation to improve the viability of government-provided healthcare. While we make adjustments to our healthcare system, we must ensure that the most vulnerable have access to quality healthcare.
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