TX-03: Keith Self (R)

REPLACING:

Van Taylor (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

Collin County, Texas (County Judge); US Army (Lieutenant Colonel)[ii]

EDUCATION & TRAINING:

BA, US Military Academy at West Point[iii]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Illegal Immigration & Border Security; Protecting Free Speech & Fighting Big Tech; Ending COVID Restrictions; Protecting Election Integrity; Defending the Second Amendment; Ending Abortion[iv]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

Self is strongly opposed to abortion. He has stated that “the sonogram is the greatest tool in our fight against the barbarism and child sacrifice of the abortion industry.” Self intends to fight to defund Planned Parenthood and protect the Hyde Amendment.[v] Self has stated that America “lost sixty million babies” while Roe v. Wade was in place and celebrated its overturning.[vi]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

Self believes that the federal government has “incentiviz[ed] people not to work” by “printing money.” He has stated that “the best way to strengthen the economy is to help motivate the work force.” Although he has not yet announced a formal tax position, as County Judge, Self worked to lower the Collin County tax rate to the lowest in the state of Texas.[vii]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Self strongly opposes mask and vaccine mandates. He has also stated that he believes that “doctors should be allowed and encouraged to prescribe proven treatments that do not meet the narrative of the progressive establishment” in regard to COVID treatment.[viii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Self has stated that the border between Texas and Mexico is “open and in chaos” and has called the Biden Administration’s immigration and border security policies “an intentional act of destabilization.” Self plans to prioritize claiming cartel money that is currently being held in American banking institutions. He also wants to deploy the National Guard to the Southern border, and potentially close all commercial traffic between the United States and Mexico. He also wants to stop “non-governmental organizations from supporting the actual crossing operations.”[ix]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

Self shared a message that appeared to support Tulsi Gabbard’s decision to leave the Democratic party and her statement which claimed that the Democratic party “demonize[s] the police and protect[s] criminals at the expense of law-abiding citizens.”[x]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

Self believes that elections should be controlled by the state. He also supports election laws that will require voters to present a photo ID and will prioritize all voting machines having a paper trail.[xi] Self was critical of former Representative Van Taylor for supporting the January 6 Commission.[xii]

EDUCATION:

Self has stated that among the reasons he is running for office are “men in women’s bathrooms and sports” and “overt pornography in schoolbooks.”[xiii] Self has been critical of higher education, saying that “funding higher education now means subsidizing the political activists who have hijacked it.”[xiv]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

Self believes that America needs to become energy independent, and that Texas oil and gas energy production is the pathway to that end. He has stated that because China and India are major polluters, “the U.S. cannot and should not beat the consequences of destroying our industry and economy in order to offset their profligate ways.” He has also claimed that electric energy is still dependent on fossil fuels and cannot be maintained on solar and wind energy alone.[xv]

BIG TECH & DATA PRIVACY:

Self believes that Big Tech “poses a clear and present danger to freedom of speech and public debate” due to Twitter’s banning of President Trump. He has argued that Twitter “allowed the Taliban to tweet but banned an American president.” Self intends to fight for consumers to have more “legal tools to protect themselves” against the tech industry and social media companies.[xvi]

GUN SAFETY:

Self is a lifelong member of the National Rifle Association and has declared that he will “fight all efforts by the left” to establish stronger gun control laws.[xvii]