Fort Worth native and six-term President Marc Veasey is hoping for another two years in Washington, D.C., where he will face Republican Patrick Gillespie to represent Texas’ 33rd Congressional District.
The district covers parts of eastern Fort Worth and the north side before stretching along the West Fork of the Trinity River and carving out parts of Carrolton, Dallas, Irving and Grand Prarie.
It includes the Central City Flood Control Project, which benefited from a $403 million cash infusion under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
According to a June 2024 quarterly update, the project still needs approximately $26 million in federal and state funds.
Veasey’s legislative priorities include providing affordable health care options, expanding career opportunities in low-income communities, curbing gun violence and promoting quality education.
Gillespie has prioritized stopping “the progression of communist principles from contaminating our school boards to our military,” according to his website.
He also advocates for better vetting of immigrants entering the United States, and for improving access to mental health care as a way to reduce gun violence.
Here you will find the candidates’ answers to our survey.
Patrick Gillespie
Political Party: Republican
Didn’t respond
Marc Veasey
Political Party: Democrat
Age: 53
Campaign website: www.marcveasey.com
Best way for voters to reach you: campaign@marcveasey.com
Occupation: Member of Congress
Education: BA Mass Communication
Have you stood for election before? (Please include previous offices searched, with years): Yes, Texas House of Representatives District 95, 2004-2012
Please include highlights of your community involvement/activism: Since I was sworn into the House of Representatives in 2013, my offices in Dallas and Fort Worth have always been committed to helping constituents by assisting with government agencies and access to essential benefits. We also work with local non-profit organizations to obtain funding for projects. Since 2021, I have helped our community raise over $40 million in community funding. I also helped create the Affordable Connectivity Program, which helps more than 1 million people in Texas, not to mention people across the country, connect to affordable internet and bridge our country’s digital divide.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime, or otherwise involved in a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Vaughn Vennerberg,
Why are you looking for this office?: I am a lifelong resident of North Texas and am once again committed to giving diverse communities in Texas’ 33rd District a voice in Washington, DC. The district I represent faces many pressing issues, including access to good-paying jobs, modernizing our infrastructure, improving public education, access to the sacred right to vote, and lack of access to quality, affordable health care. I have worked to tackle these issues head-on during my time in Congress and want to continue to tackle them.
What are your top 3 policy priorities?: Our state faces many pressing challenges. Access to affordable health care, better career opportunities for people and families living in low-income communities, protecting reproductive freedom, access to voting rights, safe and travelable infrastructure, reducing gun violence, and quality education for Texas children are some of the biggest problems currently facing the state. Democrats in Congress are doing our best to work with reasonable Republicans to pass legislation to help our constituents and address these issues.
Would you support the bipartisan border security bill that failed in the current Congress? Why or why not? If not, what changes need to be made to win your vote?: Yes. Republicans must stop playing partisan politics and work with Democrats to finally pass a much-needed immigration reform package that will fix the broken system and secure the border. We need cooperation and cooperation with countries to get to the root of the migration problem and work to strengthen Latin American economies and democracies.
Do you support extending the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, which expires in 2025? Why/why not?: No. The Republican tax bill helps the wealthiest families avoid their fair share of taxes, cuts the corporate tax rate in half, unfairly shifts the burden of taxes to hardworking Americans living paycheck to paycheck, and leaves loopholes in the law allowing companies to ship jobs abroad. Tax reforms that affect millions of Americans must be accomplished in a bipartisan manner to ensure fairness for all. That is why I made my suggestions on how the bill could be improved to help struggling families, which was ultimately blocked by House Republicans.
Would you support a federal ban on abortion? Why/why not?: No. My Democratic colleagues and I are working around the clock to enshrine reproductive freedom and codify Roe v. Wade into law at the federal level. In recent years, Democrats have worked to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to make Roe v. Wade’s protections the law of the land. We are also working to pass the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act, which would prevent Republicans from criminalizing, fining or fining women who exercise their constitutional right to travel across state lines to obtain an abortion to sue.
What role should the federal government play in addressing the affordable housing crisis? In Congress, we must come together to pass legislation that supports working families. I will continue to fight to restore the child tax credit because while it was in place during the pandemic, it has reduced child poverty by 17%. I have also supported the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to reduce housing costs by cutting red tape that has historically blocked housing supply growth.
Do you accept the outcome of your election, regardless of the outcome?: Yes
What federal policies impact Texas and are important to you, but not necessarily that noticeable? Why do you think it is important?: Access to affordable internet. In 2020, I helped launch the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which became the Affordable Connectivity Program. It has helped millions of low-income families access affordable internet. Unless Congress acts, this critical program will run out of federal funding in the coming months. Republicans must work with Democrats and President Biden to get more funding for this crucial program.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?: I proudly served more than six terms in Congress. During this time, I have used my position to create jobs, expand affordable and accessible health care, strengthen our infrastructure in North Texas, protect voting rights, fight for comprehensive immigration reform, and help my constituents gain access to critical COVID-19 relief and resources. I also have the opportunity to serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the House Armed Services Committee. Given Texas’ dominance in the energy sector and the number of military and defense contractors who call North Texas home, I have used these positions to provide critical resources to our state. I am also proud of my work with the Biden-Harris Administration and Congressional leaders to secure important funding that directly benefits North Texas.
