MO-04: Mark Alford (R)

REPLACING:

Vicky Hartzler (R)[i]

WORK HISTORY:

Mark Alford Designs (Lead Designer); ReeceNichols Real Estate / Mark Alford Realty Group (Realtor Team Lead / Licensed Realtor); VortexKC / Chartwell (Team Lead Manager); Fox 4 (Co-Anchor)[ii] [iii]

EDUCATION:

Diploma, Baytown Sterling High School; BA, The University of Texas at Austin[iv]

CAMPAIGNED ON:

Election Integrity; Robust Economy; Secure Borders; Pro-Life; Law Enforcement; Gun Rights; Veterans; School Choice; Term Limits[v]

ON THE ISSUES

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

During the campaign, Alford said he was “100% pro-life, no exceptions,” supported cutting funding for Planned Parenthood, and backed states that “create pro-life legislation.”[vi] He touted the Dobbs decision and has advocated for states’ rights in determining local abortion laws.[vii] [viii]

ECONOMY, JOBS & TAXES:

According to his now-defunct campaign website, to reduce inflation and spur economic growth, Alford advocates for cutting corporate and personal income taxes, removing certain regulations, and ending “out-of-control spending.”[ix] In an August 2022 tweet in opposition to the Inflation Reduction Act, Alford dismissed the bill as the “Inflation DECEPTION Act.”[x]

HEALTHCARE & SOCIAL SAFETY NET:

Alford opposed several COVID-19 mandates and federal policies, including claiming in a Facebook post, “Daily COVID cases reached a new all-time high yesterday making the United States the first country to hit over 1 million new cases in a single day. Can we finally admit that these government mandates aren’t effective?!”[xi]

IMMIGRATION & BORDER SECURITY:

Alford has expressed support for funding the completion of the border wall between the United States and Mexico, as well as for US border patrol. He has advocated for ending catch-and-release policies and deporting “all illegal aliens.”[xii]

CRIME & PUBLIC SAFETY:

An advocate of “adequate” funding for law enforcement, Alford campaigned on improving police staff and training, stopping “violent criminals from walking the streets,” and “protecting the men and women in blue.”[xiii] Notably, in a February 2022 Facebook post, Alford expressed support for reforming the bond system and adding more prisons to the US criminal justice system.[xiv]

GOVERNMENT INSTITUTIONS & ELECTION SECURITY:

During the campaign, Alford contended, “We all know that something wasn't right with the election in 2020,” positing, “Multiple states circumvented The Constitution of the United States in the name of a man-made virus.” To restore election integrity, he has called for enacting a voter ID law, opposing the For the People Act, and “fully” investigating the 2020 election. He also supports adding a term limits amendment to the Constitution. [xv]

EDUCATION:

Alford supports ending teaching “Critical Race Theory” in schools and bolstering parents’ rights by encouraging school choice, allowing students to pray in school, ceasing “immoral investigations of parents,” and stopping “anti-American” instruction.[xvi]

CLIMATE CHANGE, ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT:

A supporter of American energy independence, Alford has contended that states should “determine their own paths as it relates to energy independence” and that the federal government is “picking winners and losers in the energy sector.”[xvii]  He has criticized President Biden’s policies regarding the fossil fuel industry, stating in a debate, “I feel President Biden — the first thing he did was to demonize fossil fuels and continue his march towards trying to get in line with the crazy wacky climate change people.”[xviii]

BIG TECH & DATA PRIVACY:

Alford has criticized large technology companies for its privacy issues, posting in May 2019, “Between them [Facebook] and amazon Alexa spying on you at home…we are doomed!!!”[xix] [xx] In a later post, he accused Facebook of “censoring what I read,” exclaiming, “I don’t need gatekeepers who may or may not be educated telling me what is true and what is not!”[xxi]

GUN SAFETY:

Of the belief that there is “no such thing as ‘gun violence’ it’s ‘human violence,’” Alford has pledged to “fight anti-gun legislation,” defend legal gun ownership, and “reduce the powers” of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.[xxii]  He has expressed opposition to red flag laws, assault weapons bans, and universal background checks on firearm purchases.[xxiii]

FOREIGN POLICY:

Alford campaigned on “hold[ing] China accountable,” has criticized US policy for being “dependent” on China for “our drugs,” and has charged that the country has “us in a stranglehold.”[xxiv] [xxv]