REPLACING:

Kathy Manning (D)

WORK HISTORY:

Blue Cross Blue Shield (Lobbyist); Office of Congressman Ted Budd (Constituent Liaison)

EDUCATION:

BS, University of North Carolina at Charlotte

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Securing the Border, Protecting Our Jobs, Defending the 2^nd Amendment, 100% Pro-Life, Strand with Crypto, Secure Elections [i]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

McDowell believes that “every life, born or unborn, is a precious gift from God,” and has stated his commitment to being “100% pro-life” and championing pro-life causes. He has criticized the Biden administration, accusing them of using taxpayer resources to pay for and promote abortions and not allowing “limits on abortion, even up to the 9^th month.” McDowell has also stated that he intends to champion pro-family policies that ease the burden of childbearing. [ii]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

McDowell, who lost a younger brother to a fentanyl overdose, has stated his commitment to securing the Southern border and “stop[ping] the flow of illegal drugs into our country.” [iii] In January 2024, McDowell commented on border security, writing, “Our border is a complete disaster. Just last year alone, our country had more than TWO MILLION illegal immigrants (that were reported) pour across our Southern Border in addition to the crime and deadly drugs that they bring with them into our communities. For me, this issue is personal. 7 years ago [sic], I lost my brother Luke to a fentanyl overdose. No one should have to endure that heartache and grief. We must stop this madness that Biden has allowed to go on for so long.” [iv]

ECONOMY & JOBS:

McDowell opposes the “free-trade agenda,” and instead supports “President Trump’s America First Agenda that protects and promotes American jobs.” [v] He also believes the United States should be a leader in creating a “forward-looking, pro-innovation” crypto policy. McDowell opposes efforts to create central bank digital currencies. [vi]

TAXES:

McDowell made a “No New Taxes” promise in February 2024. [vii] He has expressed an intention to lower taxes in social media posts. [viii]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

McDowell has been critical of “skyrocketing” crime in major cities. [ix]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

McDowell’s commentary on energy policy has been limited, but he has commented publicly on the cost of gas being too high. [x]

FOREIGN POLICY:

McDowell has expressed support for Israel, stating “Israel has the absolute right to defend itself against Iranian aggression. I will always stand with Israel and its people.” [xi]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

McDowell, whose wife is a therapist, has called for better access to mental healthcare. “We need to be able to provide people the care they need — if that’s being creative with things like telehealth or loosening up the licensing requirements on the states that my wife could practice in — maybe that’s something we do,” McDowell said in an interview with FOX8. [xii]

DEMOCRACY:

McDowell has stated that he will oppose all efforts to federalize elections. He also supports mandatory voter identification laws, and that states should only get federal grants if they require a voter ID to vote. McDowell wants to tighten restrictions on absentee voting, so that all votes are received by election day & signature verification is used to “ensure voter fraud doesn’t occur.” [xiii]

SOCIAL ISSUES:

McDowell has criticized recognition of transgender individuals, stating, “In Biden/Harris America, the government recognizes men who want to be women and women who want to be men, but won’t fully recognize the Lumbee Tribe - the largest tribe east of the Mississippi. Make it make sense. The United States MUST right this historical injustice against these strong and wonderful people.” [xiv]