Candidate for US House District 13 in NC, Republican Josh McConkey, answers our questions
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Candidates for U.S. House District 13
The field of Republicans running to represent North Carolina’s 13th Congressional District is crowded, with 14 candidates vying for the GOP nomination: DeVan Barbour, Kelly Daughtry, Fred Von Canon, Brad Knott, Josh McConkey, Marcus Dellinger, David Dixon, Steve A. (Von) Loor, James Phillips, Siddhanth Sharma, Matt Shoemaker, Eric Stevenson, Kenny Xu, and Chris Baker. Frank Pierce is the only Democrat running for the seat.
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Name: Josh McConkey
District: 13th Congressional District
Political party: Republican
Age as of March 5, 2024: 46
Campaign website: joshmcconkey.com
Current occupation: Physician
Professional experience: Emergency physician, Army combat veteran, current Air Force Reserve commander, and prior professor at Duke University
Education: Bachelor’s Degree in Biology, Doctorate in Medicine, Graduate of Air Command & Staff College, Air War College, and National Security Course at National Defense University
What offices have you run for or held before? Have you had any other notable government or civic involvement? No government civilian office. Current Commander, 459th Aeromedical Staging Squadron, U.S. Air Force Reserves, Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland.
What is the issue that you see as most relevant to constituents in your district, and what will you do to address it?
Border security and the drugs pouring across that unsecured border. I will fight for our national security and save the lives of our families and children by funding border wall construction, investment in technology, and increase manning and funding for border security. Without a secure border you do not have national security!
Is there an issue on which you disagree with your party? What is your position on that issue?
Too broad of a question.
What is the government doing, if anything, that you see as a waste of taxpayer money?
The federal government swamp in Washington, D.C., is inefficient and wasteful. As a current military commander, I witness the wasting of taxpayer money every day.
Should spending increases trigger automatic increases to the U.S. debt limit so that political gridlock does not cause the country to default on its debts?
We need to reign in the reckless government spending and balance the budget. I do not support an automatic increase to the debt limit.
What federal legislation, if any, would you support on abortion?
The Supreme Court of the United States has held that this is a state issue.
What changes in U.S. immigration enforcement and restrictions would you support?
I am supportive of of enforcing our immigration laws and stopping illegal immigration. America does not have an immigration problem, we have an illegal immigration problem.
What legislation would you support to make Americans safer from mass shootings and other violent crime?
I will properly fund our law enforcement and stop the judicial activism that is preventing us from holding criminals accountable.
This story was originally published February 22, 2024 at 11:08 AM.