Ballotpedia, Lance Gooden

Lance grew up in Terrell, Texas, where he lives today with his wife Alexa and their children. He earned degrees in finance and government from the University of Texas.

Lance spent 10 years working as an insurance broker and risk management consultant.

Lance Gooden is a US representative in Congressional District 5. He was elected in 2018 and is serving his 3rd term. He serves as the vice ranking member on the Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittee. He previously served 3 terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

Candidate website

Supports reducing the size of the IRS, simplifying the tax code, and minimizing government interference for small business owners.

Believes the national debt is "out of control" with the federal government spending "$7 million a minute" and facing a debt of nearly "$19 trillion."

Supports responsible budgeting and minimal state spending increases.

Supports allocating additional funds to reduce insurance premiums.

- Supports reducing the size of the IRS, simplifying the tax code, and minimizing government interference for small business owners.
- Believes the national debt is "out of control" with the federal government spending "$7 million a minute" and facing a debt of nearly "$19 trillion."
- Supports responsible budgeting and minimal state spending increases.
- Supports allocating additional funds to reduce insurance premiums.

Economy

Supports adding 250 new state troopers and expanding the workweek for all Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers statewide.

Believes in reducing firearm regulations, including lowering training hours and fees for Concealed Handgun Licenses, and supports repealing continuing education requirements.

- Opposes gun control.
- Supports adding 250 new state troopers and expanding the workweek for all Department of Public Safety (DPS) troopers statewide.
- Believes in reducing firearm regulations, including lowering training hours and fees for Concealed Handgun Licenses, and supports repealing continuing education requirements.

Public Safety

Believes allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines and supporting state-based reforms will reduce insurance costs and improve quality of care.

Opposes the expansion of Medicaid and the use of tax dollars for abortions.

Supports restricting abortion and increasing funding for alternatives to abortion.

Believes the Affordable Care Act has not improved access to quality, affordable health insurance and has led to "skyrocketing premiums."

- Believes allowing individuals to purchase health insurance across state lines and supporting state-based reforms will reduce insurance costs and improve quality of care.
- Opposes the expansion of Medicaid and the use of tax dollars for abortions.
- Supports restricting abortion and increasing funding for alternatives to abortion.
- Believes the Affordable Care Act has not improved access to quality, affordable health insurance and has led to "skyrocketing premiums."

Healthcare

Believes the federal government should "get out of the way" and stop using "one-size-fits-all policies" for public education.

As a state representative, Gooden increased funding for public and higher education, eliminated 2/3 of standardized tests, and prohibited the "Common Core Standards Initiative" from being implemented in Texas schools.

As a state representative, increased funding for public and higher education, eliminated 2/3 of standardized tests, and prohibited the "Common Core Standards Initiative" from being implemented in Texas schools.

As a legislator, allocated $350 million to increase the contribution rate and address the shortfall in TRS-Care, the health care program for retired teachers.

Allocated $350 million to increase the contribution rate and address the shortfall in TRS-Care, the health care program for retired teachers.

- Believes the federal government should "get out of the way" and stop using "one-size-fits-all policies" for public education.
- Supports public schools and teachers.
- As a state representative, increased funding for public and higher education, eliminated 2/3 of standardized tests, and prohibited the "Common Core Standards Initiative" from being implemented in Texas schools.
- Allocated $350 million to increase the contribution rate and address the shortfall in TRS-Care, the health care program for retired teachers.

Education

As of September 7, 2024, Lance Gooden’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Energy & the Environment

Voting & Elections

Believes in banning "sanctuary cities" to reduce illegal immigration.

Supports banning "sanctuary cities" to reduce undocumented immigration.

Supports strong border security measures.

Aims to "bring transparency, accountability, and improved service to benefit our veterans and every American taxpayer who finances the department."

- Supports banning "sanctuary cities" to reduce undocumented immigration.
- Supports strong border security measures.
- Aims to "bring transparency, accountability, and improved service to benefit our veterans and every American taxpayer who finances the department."

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Lance Gooden

Lance Gooden grew up in Terrell, Texas, and graduated from Terrell High School. He earned degrees in Finance and Government from the University of Texas. Lance and his wife, Alexa, live in Terrell with their son, Liam, and they attend Rockwall & Brin Church of Christ.

Lance Gooden is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives for Texas’ 5th District. He previously served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives and spent 10 years working as an insurance broker and risk management consultant.

Lance Gooden was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018, representing Texas’ 5th District. He serves on the House Committee on Financial Services and is the Vice Ranking Member on the Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittee. Prior to this, he served three terms in the Texas House of Representatives.

Believes the economy is not improving, saying "It has not reduced costs."

Opposes "the swamp and the growing calls for socialism in America."

Believes in supporting local economies and businesses.

Believes in advancing the conservative agenda to achieve economic victories for rural Texas families.

Supports low taxes and responsible budgets.

Believes the current level of debt is too high and opposes continuing to borrow more.

As a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, served as Vice Ranking Member on the Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Subcommittee.

Worked as an insurance broker for energy and energy-related companies, negotiating on their behalf in the insurance marketplace and helping to protect them from lawsuits and other business risks.

Believes current economic policies are "unsustainable" and supports cutting spending, implementing a balanced budget requirement for Congress, and ensuring future generations are not burdened by current financial mismanagement.

Believes that "securing our borders, enforcing immigration law, and streamlining legal immigration is one of the great challenges of our time."

Believes the Veterans Affairs (V.A.) system needs a complete overhaul.

Believes in protecting "God-given freedoms."

Supports measures to protect against fraudulent, abusive, inappropriate, or unlawful activity.

Believes in supporting law enforcement and opposes defunding the police.

Supports strong border security and immigration control.

Supports strong public safety measures to protect families and communities.

Believes protecting the American people is "one of the most important roles of Congress."

Opposes the Affordable Care Act (ACA), saying it has been a "miserable failure."

Believes education is "one of the defining issues of our time."

Supports increased funding for retired teacher health insurance to prevent higher premiums and deductibles.

Endorsed by teacher and retired teacher groups in Texas.

Believes Congress must address voting rights to ensure consistency across states.

Believes in protecting "our freedoms, our property, our values, and our tax dollars."

Believes in protecting voting rights and ensuring fair elections.

Promises to continue fighting for voting rights in Congress.

Believes the U.S. has "broken" borders and immigration systems, saying "the federal government has failed time and time again to secure our borders, which is our greatest national security risk today."

Believes the Obama Administration's policies have harmed national security, weakening the military and increasing threats from ISIS, Iran, North Korea, Russia, and China.

Believes in electing a Congressman who can work with President Trump to win the war against ISIS, end dangerous nuclear deals, and maintain America's leadership role in the world.

Believes taxpayer dollars are misused for settling sexual harassment claims, saying "It is unconscionable that we are spending taxpayer dollars to secretly settle sexual harassment claims against members of Congress..."

Supports strict immigration policies, including expanding operations along the Texas-Mexico border and penalizing "sanctuary cities" that do not enforce immigration laws.

- 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.