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Abel Mulugheta
Abel Mulugheta (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 30th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 1, 2022.
Mulugheta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Abel Mulugheta was born in Dallas, Texas. Mulugheta earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 2011 and a J.D. from SMU Law School in 2015. His career experience includes working as a chief of staff, general counsel, and legislative director in the Texas House of Representatives. Mulugheta has been affiliated with Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. and the Human Rights Campaign.[1]
Elections
2022
See also: Texas' 30th Congressional District election, 2022
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 30
Jasmine Crockett defeated James Rodgers, Zachariah Manning, Phil Gray, and Debbie Walker in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 30 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Jasmine Crockett (D)  | 74.7 | 134,876 |
 | James Rodgers (R) | 21.7 | 39,209 | |
 | Zachariah Manning (Independent) | 2.1 | 3,820 | |
 | Phil Gray (L) | 1.0 | 1,870 | |
 | Debbie Walker (Independent) (Write-in) | 0.4 | 738 | |
| Total votes: 180,513 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Eric LeMonte Williams (Independent)
Democratic primary runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 30
Jasmine Crockett defeated Jane Hamilton in the Democratic primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 30 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jasmine Crockett | 60.6 | 17,462 |
 | Jane Hamilton | 39.4 | 11,369 | |
| Total votes: 28,831 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Republican primary runoff election
Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 30
James Rodgers defeated James Harris in the Republican primary runoff for U.S. House Texas District 30 on May 24, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Rodgers | 56.9 | 3,090 |
 | James Harris | 43.1 | 2,339 | |
| Total votes: 5,429 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 30
The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 30 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Jasmine Crockett | 48.5 | 26,798 |
| ✔ | | Jane Hamilton | 17.1 | 9,436 |
 | Keisha Lankford | 7.8 | 4,323 | |
 | Barbara Mallory Caraway | 7.7 | 4,277 | |
 | Abel Mulugheta | 5.9 | 3,284 | |
| Roy Williams Jr. | 5.0 | 2,746 | ||
 | Vonciel Jones Hill | 3.4 | 1,886 | |
 | Jessica Mason | 3.4 | 1,858 | |
 | Arthur Dixon | 1.2 | 677 | |
| Total votes: 55,285 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 30
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 30 on March 1, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | James Harris | 32.9 | 3,952 |
| ✔ | | James Rodgers | 31.3 | 3,754 |
 | Kelvin Goodwin-Castillo | 16.8 | 2,023 | |
 | Lizbeth Diaz | 11.8 | 1,416 | |
 | Dakinya Jefferson | 5.9 | 703 | |
| Angeigh Roc'ellerpitts | 1.3 | 160 | ||
| Total votes: 12,008 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Libertarian convention
Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 30
Phil Gray advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 30 on March 19, 2022.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Phil Gray (L) |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
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2020
Campaign themes
2022
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Abel Mulugheta completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Mulugheta's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Abel received his entrepreneurial spirit and hard work ethic from watching his father, a small business owner in East Dallas and his mother, a housekeeper and childcare worker, working from morning to night to make a loving home for him and his siblings. His parent’s journey from a war-torn region in the Horn of Africa to Italy and eventually to the place they call home today—Dallas, was instrumental in his decision to enter public service.
After attending public schools in Dallas County, Abel earned degrees from the University of Texas at Austin and SMU Law School. He immediately joined the office of State Representative Rafael Anchía, where he served as Chief of Staff, General Counsel and Legislative Director. Time and again, the office led on efforts to better the lives of all Texans: passing legislation to assist the wrongfully imprisoned, pursuing common sense gun safety measures, fighting against bigoted policies designed to intimidate the Black and Latino communities, and defending the rights of the LGBT community. And throughout 2021, Abel was on the ground in the state's capitol engaged in the fight to defend our freedom to vote.- Texas has the 9th largest economy in the world. If Texas were a country, our economy would be larger than Australia, Canada, Spain and Russia. Although an ever-increasing number of companies are expanding or relocating to Texas, southern Dallas county continues to be overlooked. It's high time for southern Dallas and the Best Southwest to sit atop the geographic wish list of companies looking to relocate. I will serve as CD30's chief marketing officer, encouraging businesses of all stripes to not only consider our area, but in fact call the district their new home.
- COVID-19 revealed the importance of access to high quality healthcare. Congressional District 30 (CD30) has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. Over 200,000 individuals, or nearly 1 out of every 4 people in CD30 do not have health insurance coverage, which is double the national rate. A person's job status or bank account balance should not be determinant of her/his access to care. Everyone, regardless of age, income, or preexisting conditions, deserves an opportunity to restore and maintain good health, without incurring massive debt.
- The foundation of our democracy is under attack—the freedom to vote. And through it all, our republic continues to serve as the gold standard to the world. But democracy is not guaranteed, nor self-sustaining. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Each of us has a duty to be active to ensure its vitality, constantly recommitting ourselves to the mission of the organizers of Freedom Summer. We must deliberately and forcefully prosecute individuals who work to undermine our system of government. Our ancestors died in pursuit of progress. These are trying times. We cannot afford to get distracted. I will work to restore our democracy and hold those who harm it to account.
I know firsthand how it feels to live without health insurance and to rely on the emergency room for routine care. In the wealthiest country in the world, it’s unacceptable that we are unable to provide affordable, high-quality healthcare to all Americans. I’ll work hard to eliminate this coverage gap by supporting legislation like the Medicare for America Act and Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s Cover Now Act, which would close the coverage gap in states like Texas that have not expanded Medicaid to uninsured adults. If Texas Republicans refuse to take the necessary steps to insure everyone has access to quality affordable healthcare, then it is incumbent on our leaders in Washington to step up and act.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Campaign website
Mulugheta's campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
[Promote economic development within CD30; implement a national living wage and close the ever-increasing wealth gap.] Texas has the 9th largest economy in the world. If Texas were a country, our economy would be larger than Australia, Canada, Spain and Russia. Although an ever-increasing number of companies are expanding or relocating to Texas, southern Dallas county continues to be overlooked. It's high time for southern Dallas and the Best Southwest to sit atop the geographic wish list of companies looking to relocate. I will serve as CD30's chief marketing officer, encouraging businesses of all stripes to not only consider our area, but in fact call the district their new home. Following a historic recession, our economy is finally roaring back. However, issues with global supply chain have led to inflation reaching its highest level in over a decade, and American families are beginning to feel the effects. It's high time for our government to recommit itself to its ultimate purpose: to serve the people. For decades, average Americans have been overlooked as our economy experiences record growth. Our workforce is more productive than ever before, however wages do not reflect this increase in production. The per capita income in CD-30 is $25,907, median household income is $51,819—nearly 30% and 25% lower than the national average, respectively. Congress must implement policies to shift the power back to the working class, and close the ever-increasing wealth gap—particularly for women and minority communities.
[Ensure everyone, regardless of age, income, or preexisting conditions, is covered without incurring massive debt.] COVID-19 revealed the importance of access to high quality healthcare. Congressional District 30 (CD30) has one of the highest uninsured rates in the country. Over 200,000 individuals, or nearly 1 out of every 4 people in CD30 do not have health insurance coverage, which is double the national rate. A person's job status or bank account balance should not be determinant of her/his access to care. Everyone, regardless of age, income, or preexisting conditions, deserves an opportunity to restore and maintain good health, without incurring massive debt.
[Prosecute individuals who work to undermine our system of government and restore our democracy.] The foundation of our democracy is under attack—the freedom to vote. And through it all, our republic continues to serve as the gold standard to the world. But democracy is not guaranteed, nor self-sustaining. Democracy is not a spectator sport. Each of us has a duty to be active to ensure its vitality, constantly recommitting ourselves to the mission of the organizers of Freedom Summer. We must deliberately and forcefully prosecute individuals who work to undermine our system of government. Our ancestors died in pursuit of progress. These are trying times. We cannot afford to get distracted. I will work to restore our democracy and hold those who harm it to account.
[Guarantee equal treatment of all Americans by passing the Equality Act.] Racism. Sexism. Homophobia. While none of these issues is more troubling than the other, we must work aggressively to pass policies that guarantee equal treatment of all Americans. Our differences are what make us the vibrant, culture rich society we are today. I'm running for Congress because I believe everyone deserves a life full of dignity, prosperity and equity—regardless of what they look like, how much money they have, or whom they love. We must continue to work to level the playing field and ensure everyone has an equal opportunity to reach their potential. Congress must pass the Equality Act, which will provide consistent non-discrimination protections for LGBT people.
[Integrate renewable and energy efficiency policies; transition to 100% renewable and clean energy by 2050, leading to better paying, more sustainable jobs.] This past year, Texas was hit by Winter Storm Uri. This storm killed 210 Texans, including 20 in Dallas County, taking more lives than Hurricane Harvey. The storm caused over $200 billion in damages—the costliest natural disaster recorded in the United States. The ripple effect caused by climate change is alarming. The United Nations categorized climate change as a "crisis multiplier." No other singular issue has the potential of causing complete destruction to humanities security—food production, access to fresh water and habitable temperature, particularly to low-income, vulnerable communities. We must begin transitioning to 100% renewable and clean energy, which will lead to better paying, more sustainable jobs. A stable climate is the greatest gift we can offer future generations.
[Replace artificial immigration caps with a more responsive system; establish a humane asylum/refugee program and improve overall enforcement.] As the son of immigrants, I am the American Dream personified. And to countless people around the world, the United States serves as an aspiration—the land of opportunity. One in six Texas residents is an immigrant. In Congressional District 30, that figure is slightly higher; approximately 150,000 residents (nearly 20%) are foreign born. Although more than one-third of all immigrants in Texas are naturalized U.S. citizens, an estimated 1.7 million are undocumented. They're our friends, our coworkers, our caregivers—they're part of our American family. Lawmakers have established that border enforcement is one piece of the puzzle. However, it's time we focus more energy bringing our neighbors out of the shadows and providing them a pathway to citizenship. I will support comprehensive immigration reform that replaces artificial caps with a system that incorporates the principles of supply and demand. Additionally, we must establish a humane asylum and refugee program and improve enforcement by instituting statute of limitations and committing to true due process.
[Prevent the politics of today from miseducating our future leaders by amplifying facts over fiction.] Since its inception, our country has constantly evolved. The people, the ideas, our beliefs, as time advances, so do our values—progress. The need for America’s development was forecasted by the framers, “We the people of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union…” However, though the times have changed, the truth remains truth. There are those in our country that loved America for what it once was but despise it as it currently is. We live in a world where disinformation reigns prevalent, and facts are too often dismissed as lies. From censoring the lesson plans of social studies and English teachers, to blocking health guidelines designed to protect our students, legislators are policing classrooms at an alarming rate. Running from the truth is one thing, spreading disinformation and systemically rewriting history is another. I will support legislation that empowers our educators and curbs the rampant propaganda that’s plaguing our society.
Require universal background checks; invest in community-based strategies to prevent gun violence before it happens. Every day, more than 100 Americans are shot and killed and over 200 more are wounded. In its latest Uniform Crime Report, the FBI revealed that homicides rose by 29% in 2020—76% of the homicides were committed using a firearm. And in the last 5 years in Dallas County alone, nearly 2000 people have been killed using a firearm. It's clear that these are the weapons of choice of violent criminals. In order to keep guns out of the wrong hands, I will support legislation that requires background checks on all gun sales. We must also invest in community-based strategies to prevent gun violence before it happens.[2] |
” |
| —Abel Mulugheta’s campaign website (2022)[3] | ||
See also
2022 Elections
External links
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Candidate U.S. House Texas District 30 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 17, 2022
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Abel for Texas, “Issues,” accessed January 31, 2022
