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Ballotpedia, Craig Goldman

Craig is from Fort Worth, Texas. He holds a bachelor's degree in political science and government from the University of Texas at Austin.

Craig previously ran a retail gourmet food and fine wine store in Fort Worth and worked on political campaigns. He is also a partner in several real estate investment companies. He previously served board of directors of the Women’s Center of Tarrant County, Cowtown Executive Association, and is a founding board member for the Tarrant County College Foundation. 

Craig Goldman currently serves as a state representative in State House District 97. He was elected to this position in 2012 and is serving his fifth term. He is the chairperson of the Texas House Republican Caucus and of the Texas House Energy Resources Committee. 

Candidate website

Supports reducing taxes and eliminating the Texas franchise tax.

Opposes government regulation of businesses.

Wants government to reduce regulations for businesses.

Opposes government regulation of financial transactions and privacy.

Opposes government regulating citizens of financial transactions and privacy.

Believes the private sector, not government planners, drives economic growth.

Believes the private sector drives economic growth, not government planners in Washington, D.C. 

Supports agriculture and has defended private property rights, water rights, and producers’ right to farm.

As a state representative, Goldman made efforts to defend private property rights, water rights, and producers’ ability to farm.

Believes the "strong, robust Texas economy" was built by conservative policies.

Believes the new digital economy "holds great promise and potential to create another wave of jobs, technological innovation and economic opportunity. "

Believes "that free markets work best..."

- Supports reducing taxes and eliminating the Texas franchise tax.
- Wants government to reduce regulations for businesses.
- Opposes government regulating citizens of financial transactions and privacy.
- Believes the private sector drives economic growth, not government planners in Washington, D.C. 
- As a state representative, Goldman made efforts to defend private property rights, water rights, and producers’ ability to farm.
- Supports reducing property taxes.
- Believes the "strong, robust Texas economy" was built by conservative policies.
- Believes the new digital economy "holds great promise and potential to create another wave of jobs, technological innovation and economic opportunity. "
- Believes "that free markets work best..."

Economy

As a State Representative, voted to make "Constitutional Carry the law in Texas."

As a State Representative, Goldman voted to make "Constitutional Carry the law in Texas."

As a state representative, authored "Molly Jane’s Law" to help police identify sexual predators, passed a law to combat human trafficking, and supported measures to prevent large cities from defunding their police departments.

As a state representative, passed a bill to protect children from online sexual predators.

As a state representative, Goldman passed a bill to protect children from online sexual predators and prohibit sexually explicit performances and drag shows in areas where children are present. 

Opposes the "defund the police" movement, believing it undermines public safety and community security.

Opposes the "defund the police" movement and believes "radicals intent on undermining public safety and placing our communities at risk."

Believes the federal government's failure to secure the southern border has led to an increase in fentanyl deaths in Texas. Plans to continue efforts to track down drug dealers.

Believes the federal government's failure to "secure" the southern border has led to an increase in fentanyl deaths in Texas. 

Supports "tough" border security measures, Second Amendment rights, and law enforcement.

As a state representative, authored and passed legislation to identify patterns of violent sexual predators to prevent future attacks.

Voted for the NRA-backed Firearms Industry Non-Discrimination Act (2021).

As a state representative, voted for the NRA-backed Travelers’ Protection law (2021).

Supports legislation that allows for the removal of District Attorneys who refuse to enforce laws.

Supports legislation that allows for the removal of District Attorneys "who refuse to enforce laws."

Supports protecting religious liberty and preventing government interference in religious practices. As a legislator, supported a law to prevent local governments from closing churches and houses of worship during emergencies like COVID-19.

Supports protecting religious liberty and preventing government from interfering in religious practices. 

- As a State Representative, Goldman voted to make "Constitutional Carry the law in Texas."
- As a state representative, authored "Molly Jane’s Law" to help police identify sexual predators, passed a law to combat human trafficking, and supported measures to prevent large cities from defunding their police departments.
- As a state representative, Goldman passed a bill to protect children from online sexual predators and prohibit sexually explicit performances and drag shows in areas where children are present. 
- Opposes the "defund the police" movement and believes "radicals intent on undermining public safety and placing our communities at risk."
- Believes the federal government's failure to "secure" the southern border has led to an increase in fentanyl deaths in Texas. 
- Opposes gun control. 
- As a state representative, authored and passed legislation to identify patterns of violent sexual predators to prevent future attacks.
- Voted for the NRA-backed Firearms Industry Non-Discrimination Act (2021).
- As a state representative, voted for the NRA-backed Travelers’ Protection law (2021).
- Supports legislation that allows for the removal of District Attorneys "who refuse to enforce laws."
- Supports protecting religious liberty and preventing government from interfering in religious practices. 

Public Safety

Opposes gender modification surgeries on minors.

Voted to prohibit gender reassignment surgeries on minors. 

Supports the Texas Heartbeat Act, saying it "has protected at least 35,000 lives."

As a State Representative, voted to defund abortion providers and fund alternatives to support mothers who choose life.

As a State Representative, Goldman voted to defund abortion providers and fund alternatives to support mothers "who choose life."

Authored HB 6, which makes it a criminal offense to supply fentanyl if such dealings result in death.

- Voted to prohibit gender reassignment surgeries on minors. 
- Supports the Texas Heartbeat Act, saying it "has protected at least 35,000 lives."
- As a State Representative, Goldman voted to defund abortion providers and fund alternatives to support mothers "who choose life."
- Opposes abortion access. 
- Authored HB 6, which makes it a criminal offense to supply fentanyl if such dealings result in death.

Healthcare

Voted for the Save Women’s Sports Act, which bans transgender women from participating in women's sports at the collegiate level.

Voted for the Save Women’s Sports Act, which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women's sports at the collegiate level.

Believes parents and guardians should regularly supervise their children’s online activities.

Plans to continue working on child protection legislation.

Plans to continue support for child protection legislation.

Opposes teaching "divisive and corrosive" topics such as race and racism in schools.

Opposes allowing schools to teach "divisive and corrosive" topics such as race and racism in schools.

Opposes allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' high school sports.

- Voted for the Save Women’s Sports Act, which prohibits transgender athletes from participating in women's sports at the collegiate level.
- Believes parents and guardians should regularly supervise their children’s online activities.
- Plans to continue support for child protection legislation.
- Opposes allowing schools to teach "divisive and corrosive" topics such as race and racism in schools.
- Opposes allowing transgender girls to compete in girls' high school sports.

Education

As Chairman of the Texas House Energy Resources Committee, supported legislation to bolster the Texas oil and gas sector.

Opposes the "so-called Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) movement" and its influence on the energy industry, believing it injects a liberal agenda into marketplace decisions.

Believes the "so-called Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) movement seeks to inject a liberal political agenda" and opposes ESG policies. 

- As Chairman of the Texas House Energy Resources Committee, supported legislation to bolster the Texas oil and gas sector.
- Believes the "so-called Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) movement seeks to inject a liberal political agenda" and opposes ESG policies. 

Energy & the Environment

As a legislator, supported a law to prevent local governments from closing churches and houses of worship during emergencies like COVID-19.

Authored as a passed a bill to " stop the process of illegal ballot harvesting."

- As a legislator, supported a law to prevent local governments from closing churches and houses of worship during emergencies like COVID-19.
- Authored as a passed a bill to " stop the process of illegal ballot harvesting."

Voting & Elections

Supports stringent border security measures, including deploying the Texas State Guard, using military equipment, and constructing security barriers.

Supports strong national defense and preparing for international threats from China, Russia, and Iran.

Supports strong national defense and preparing for "international threats" from China, Russia, and Iran.

Supports Israel and believes the U.S. must "unequivocally" support Israel's right to defend itself and dismantle Hamas.

Supports Israel and believes the U.S. must "unequivocally" support Israeli defense and wants to "dismantle Hamas."

Opposes illegal immigration, saying it "makes a mockery of those who follow the law" and is "an unsustainable burden to American taxpayers."

Opposes undocumented immigration, saying it "makes a mockery of those who follow the law" and is "an unsustainable burden to American taxpayers."

Supports "a strong national defense" and "demanding that Washington... finally secure the border."

Supports  "demanding that Washington... finally secure the border."

Supports Israel, calling it "the only true democracy in the Middle East."

Believes the "federal government has failed Texas by failing to secure the border." resulting in Texas needing to "spend billions on border security in order to combat a flood of illegals, drug cartels, human trafficking, and an influx of deadly fentanyl."

- Supports stringent border security measures, including deploying the Texas State Guard, using military equipment, and constructing security barriers.
- Supports strong national defense and preparing for "international threats" from China, Russia, and Iran.
- Supports Israel and believes the U.S. must "unequivocally" support Israeli defense and wants to "dismantle Hamas."
- Opposes undocumented immigration, saying it "makes a mockery of those who follow the law" and is "an unsustainable burden to American taxpayers."
- Supports  "demanding that Washington... finally secure the border."
- Supports Israel, calling it "the only true democracy in the Middle East."
- Believes the "federal government has failed Texas by failing to secure the border." resulting in Texas needing to "spend billions on border security in order to combat a flood of illegals, drug cartels, human trafficking, and an influx of deadly fentanyl."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Craig Goldman

Craig Goldman is a 4th generation native of Fort Worth, Texas, and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Texas in Austin.

Craig Goldman is a Texas State Representative for District 97. He previously ran a retail gourmet food and fine wine store in Fort Worth and has worked on campaigns to elect Republican officeholders at various levels. He is also a partner in several real estate investment companies.

Craig Goldman has served as a Texas State Representative since 2012, representing District 97. He has been appointed Chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resources and serves on the House Committees on Licensing and Administrative Procedures and Redistricting. He is also the Chairman of the Texas House Republican Caucus.

Believes in strong fundraising efforts to support economic policies. His campaign raised over $500,000 in just two weeks.

Raised over $500,000 since announcing his candidacy for Congress in CD 12, a key fundraising milestone achieved in just over two weeks.

Believes the "strong, robust Texas economy" is the result of intentional efforts and plans to support Craig Goldman in continuing those efforts.

Endorsed by the Texas Farm Bureau (TFB) AGFUND.

Believes in supporting small businesses to boost the economy.

Supports reducing property taxes and ensuring a strong Texas economy.

As a state representative, co-authored and voted for the NRA-backed open carry law in 2015.

As a Texas House Representative, co-authored and voted for the National Rifle Association-backed campus carry law (2015).

Believes in preventing violent crimes by ensuring dangerous individuals do not have the opportunity to commit such acts.

As a state representative, voted for NRA-backed emergency powers reform law (2021).

Endorsed by the Fort Worth Police Officers Association.

Opposes abortion and supports pro-life policies, and is endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Texas Alliance for Life.

Believes in "Protecting Our Children’s Innocence" in education.

Endorsed by Rick Perry, former Secretary of Energy in the Trump Administration and former Texas Governor.

As chairman of the House Committee on Energy Resources, Goldman oversaw the state's energy policies and initiatives.

Endorsed by Rick Perry, a former Secretary of Energy.

Supports voting rights and fair elections.

Supports the "strongest election integrity bill in the history of Texas."

Believes in the importance of voting rights and fair elections to ensure positive change for the nation.

Supports prioritizing border security and American taxpayers.

Supports strong national defense and border security.

Believes in "defending our border" and plans to continue advocating for record funding and the use of the National Guard to combat human trafficking and sexual predators.

Endorsed by former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm.

Believes in strengthening national defense to address international threats from Iran, Russia, and China.

Believes in "A Strong National Defense for a Safe and Secure America."

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Texas currently has 36 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Texas for at least seven years before their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.