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Texas US Representative District 05

Two-year term. One of 38 members of the U.S. House of Representatives from Texas. With the U.S. Senate, the House of Representatives makes laws; raises revenues, appropriates federal funds and manages the federal debt; regulates commerce among states and with other nations; declares war and maintains and regulates the military; establishes the federal court system and defines federal crimes; and directs the census every ten years. The House has the exclusive power to impeach federal officers, including the President. Current annual salary: $174,000

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  • Candidate picture

    Forrest Lumpkin
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Chelsey Hockett
    (Dem)

  • Candidate picture

    Ruth "Truth" Torres
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

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

BALANCE OF POWER: How would you preserve the Constitution’s checks and balances to keep the government accountable to the people?

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

HEALTHCARE: 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?

OTHER ISSUES: What other issues do you believe will be most pressing in the next session of Congress, and what is your position on these issues?

Occupation Retired Aerospace Engineer (Rocket
Education Ph.D in Aeronautics & Astronautics (Stanford University)
Campaign Phone (713)677-4442
I have a doctorate in. Aeronautics and Astronautics and recently retired from NASA after a 35+ year career as a civil servant. I know how government works and therefore know how to make government more efficient and higher quality.
I would work to reinstate the role of Congress to check excessive overreach by the Executive Branch through aggressive exercise of oversight at committe hearings with Executive Branch officials. I would work to insure that the Executive Branch is held in check via appropriations legislation - Congress’ “power of the purse”.
The US Constitution designates the imposition of tariffs as a power bestowed to the Legislative Branch and not the Executive Branch. I would work to restore this role which has been usurped by the Executive Branch in the false claim that they are necessary because of a “national emergency”. Tariffs are essentially a hidden sales tax and are therefore regressive and inflationary in. general. They should only be used in special circumstances in situations when other methods to insure free and fair trade in certain markets have failed. An potential example is Europe’s Airbus.
America’s health care system needs reform. We do not focus enough on policies which promote preventative medicine such as measures to promote smoking cessation. Such policies could drastically reduce costs and improve health. The way costs of health care are determined by the industry needs to be examined and reformed. It is ridiculous that the difference between what is billed for health care services and what is paid by insurance companies (i.e. the “negotiated savings” item shown on statements of benefits) is so large. That is obvious evidence that the system is broken.
Reform is needed in how elected officials and members of the judiciary are held accountable. It should not be so hard to sanction or remove government officials when they commit “high crimes and misdemeanors”. Amending the Constitution to address this issue may be needed and should be considered.
Occupation Stay-At-Home Parent
Education B.B.A. - Marketing from Texas Woman's University
I am qualified because I understand how federal policy affects real families. I am a mother who left the workforce after childcare costs made continued employment financially impossible. I come from a working family, organize locally, and engage deeply with policy and legislation. I bring lived experience, accountability, and a commitment to serve with integrity and clarity.
Checks and balances only work when Congress is willing to do its job. Congress must exercise real oversight of the executive branch, even when it is politically uncomfortable, and defend the independence of the courts. No president, agency, or political party should operate without accountability. The Constitution gives Congress the authority and responsibility to act, and I intend to use it.
Tariffs should not be used as political talking points. Poorly designed tariffs raise prices and hit working families and small businesses first. While targeted tariffs can protect specific industries, Congress must take responsibility for their impact instead of surrendering trade policy to the executive branch. Affordability and economic stability should come first.
Healthcare should not bankrupt families or trap people in jobs they cannot afford to leave. I support Medicare for All because healthcare is a human right and the federal government has a responsibility to guarantee it. Care should be comprehensive, affordable, and available to everyone, not tied to employment, income, or luck. No one should have to delay care, ration medication, or risk financial ruin just to stay alive.
The most pressing issues are economic inequality, democracy, human rights, and environmental survival. Wealth concentration is undermining democracy while families struggle to afford housing, education, and basic necessities. I support rebuilding public education with equity, advancing the Voting Rights Act, protecting equal rights and privacy, and aligning U.S. foreign policy with human rights, including arms embargoes when international law is violated. Protecting clean air and water is essential for public health and future generations.
Occupation Senior Human Resources Consultant
Education Bachelor's in Business Administration, Masters in International Management, JD in process
Campaign Phone 972-591-7866
Campaign Email Info@TruthInCongress.com
Campaign Twitter Handle @TruthInCongress
Note: Tik Tok, Instagram, Threads, Blue Sky: @TruthInCongress
Training: Bachelor’s in Business, Master’s in International Management, currently completing my law degree.

Experience: I’m a problem solving expert with over 20 years as a Human Resources Executive, small business owner since 2007.

I’ve brought results including:

• Defend Public Education against vouchers and recovery of $88M in misappropriated bonds.

• Stopped street racing with laws passed in 2021 protecting lives across Texas.

• Fighting Government Corruption since 2016 benefitting hundreds of DFW Airport workers. (See: US Courts NTX: 3:24-CV-1842-X, 3:24-CV-1843-B).
I’ll work to rebuild an improved democracy that better fulfills the promise of our constitution championing reform for an accountable, competent government that serves the people, not the 1%:

1. Term Limits (12 years)

2. Overturn Citizen United & limit political funding

3. Pass John Lewis & For the People Act (end gerrymandering & protect voting rights)

4. Fairness Doctrine, Truth in media and political advertising

5. Reform and expand Supreme Court

6. Impeach & prosecute officials for violations of law. NO ONE is above the law.

7. Independence of DOJ, Military & other key agencies.
Congress alone should set tariffs benefitting American consumers and businesses. Also:

1. STOP corporate welfare and monopolies; support small businesses and farms so competition drives down prices.

2. Fairly tax corporations.

3. Tax high wage executives above 50x average worker reducing wage gap.

4. Tax stocks (when used as loan assets)

5. Remove social security payroll tax cap.

6. Pass Ultra Millionaire Tax Act.

7. Tax corporations and private equity firms limiting housing availability to drive up prices.

8. Regulate Bitcoin.
1. Implement single payer system, removing employers from Healthcare management and avoiding loss of benefits due to job change. Require quality core healthcare coverage with supplemental coverage available for purchase.

2. Regulate and limit prescription drug costs.

3. Protect Medicare, expand Medicaid

4. Prohibit for-profit insurance providers to receive taxpayer funds.

5. Prohibit insurance companies from limiting who can be added to a policy; no more family relationship or age limit requirements.

6. Stop monopolies & privatization of medical facilities, stop medical deserts.
America is in civil war. I’ve enlisted. Our families, our communities, our country deserve representation that works for us.

1.National Security: STOP starting wars & colonization attempts. Support Ukraine & stop Gaza genocide.

2.Immigration Reform: humane, citizenship for Dreamers. 3.Living Wages 4.Affordable Housing: build & support home ownership. 5.Gun Safety: liability for weapons resulting in shootings, red flag laws, ban assault weapons and ghost guns. 6.Public Education: Improve results with proper funding, prohibit vouchers. Individual Rights: Speech, Due Process, codify Roe.