Alex Gallegos
Alex Gallegos was a 2018 Republican candidate who sought election to the U.S. House to represent the 1st Congressional District of Idaho.[1]
Biography
Gallegos enlisted in the U.S. Army after high school. He earned a commission in the U.S. Army through the Reserve Officers' Training Corps Green-to-Gold Scholarship. Gallegos retired from the U.S. Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He earned two master's degrees; one in human resource management and another in national security and strategic studies.[2]
Elections
2018
General election
General election for U.S. House Idaho District 1
The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. House Idaho District 1 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Russ Fulcher (R) | 62.8 | 197,719 |
 | Cristina McNeil (D)  | 30.8 | 96,922 | |
 | Natalie Fleming (Independent) | 2.0 | 6,188 | |
 | W. Scott Howard (L) | 1.7 | 5,435 | |
 | Paul Farmer (Independent) | 1.4 | 4,479 | |
 | Pro-Life (Constitution Party) | 1.0 | 3,181 | |
| Gordon Counsil (Independent) | 0.3 | 1,054 | ||
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.0 | 91 | ||
| Total votes: 315,069 (100.00% precincts reporting) | |||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1
Cristina McNeil defeated James Vandermaas and Michael Smith in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cristina McNeil | 69.7 | 19,073 |
 | James Vandermaas | 15.8 | 4,337 | |
 | Michael Smith | 14.5 | 3,964 | |
| Total votes: 27,374 | |||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Donald Miller (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1
The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Idaho District 1 on May 15, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Russ Fulcher | 43.1 | 42,790 |
 | David Leroy | 15.5 | 15,414 | |
 | Luke Malek | 14.3 | 14,152 | |
 | Christy Perry | 11.2 | 11,108 | |
 | Michael Snyder | 10.4 | 10,288 | |
 | Alex Gallegos | 3.5 | 3,478 | |
 | Nick Henderson | 2.0 | 2,003 | |
| Total votes: 99,233 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
- Combat Veterans for Congress[3]
Campaign themes
2018
Gallegos' campaign website stated the following:
| “ |
Fiscal Responsibility The budget process is broken and Congress has done nothing to fix it. Instead, Congress continues to leverage our children’s future. We spend more money than we generate, and the interest on our debt threatens to surpass our government expenditures. Twenty trillion-dollars is too much, we must suppress Congress’ appetite for spending and cut back entitlement spending. As your representative, I will call for an immediate audit of federal agencies and departments whose existence is not outlined in the U.S. Constitution, and I will hold Congress accountable for eliminating wasteful spending. Where it makes sense, I will propose handing over responsibilities of federal agencies and programs to the states. America can flourish when government releases the reins. A pro-business climate and deregulation has boosted a stagnant economy and paved the way for economic growth. Higher wages, tax relief for families, and bonuses equate to increased discretionary spending. Increased revenue and decreased spending will bring down our deficit. Likewise, deregulation of natural resource industries including coal, oil, natural gas, nuclear power, hydropower, and rare minerals will eliminate our dependence on foreign energy. Energy independence is critical to our sovereignty. Despite this positive economic outlook, Idahoans receive the lowest average weekly wages in the country. Idaho pay is now at 16% below the market rate. We have a disproportionate amount of low-paying and service-related jobs. While there are jobs to be had in specific career fields, our workforce lacks the skills necessary to compete for those jobs. Every Idahoan should prosper in a period of increased economic growth. I will continue to work toward eliminating our dependence on the federal government and work with local, state, and federal representatives to address our workforce challenges, attract new businesses, and increase our international footprint. Less government - more growth! I am encouraged by recent efforts to eliminate our trade deficit. It is essential that the U.S. preserve free and fair-trade agreements. As the U.S. looks to renegotiate or withdraw from bad trade deals including unfair subsidies, high tariffs, and Value Added Taxes, we must be careful to avoid unintended consequences. We must go about this effort in a disciplined manner. When we discuss trade, we should think about the people who most directly participate in it. We want free and fair trade that benefits American farmers and ranchers. Idaho exports exceed two-billion dollars annually. Though not perfect, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and the North America Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) had integral roles in our economy. The withdrawal from the TPP risked beef exports and gave ground to Canadian pork, beef, and wheat. Trade negotiations between longtime buyers of U.S. commodities are essential, but discipline in these negotiations is paramount. As your representative, I will advocate for the export of Idaho goods and services and fight to sustain trade agreements that benefit Idaho farms and ranches. The responsibility of the President of the United States and Congress is to ensure the security and safety of the American people. Diplomacy is the preferred method for maintaining peace. It is important to build our allies’ capacity to defeat hostile actors and hold them accountable for the preservation of their own security. We must also eliminate foreign aid to nations who fail to live up to their financial obligations, do not invest in their defense, sponsor terror, advance an anti-American agenda, and undermine our interests. In instances where diplomacy will not work, the best way to mitigate acts of aggression is through deterrence. The President’s policy of deterrence through strength is essential to our national security. Money and readiness go hand in hand. Congress’ inability to pass a budget directly impacts the ability of our military to execute its missions and places the lives of our service members in jeopardy at home and while deployed. Subjecting our service men and women to inadequate training, aging equipment, abysmal maintenance levels, and insufficient resources, is not commensurate with the ideas and principles that made us the most powerful Nation in the world. Threats to our national security extend beyond the use of military force, asymmetrical warfare, or rogue actors. As experience has taught me, we must also be prepared to respond to natural disasters and stop the spread of a pandemic disease. In order to preserve the safety of the American people we must also secure the border and prevent criminals, gangs, illegal immigrants, and terrorists from entering the country. We have a moral obligation to stop the flow of illicit drugs and human trafficking, and our sovereignty requires that we secure the border and protect our citizens. Congress must exercise discipline and stop politicizing our national security. We must hold our Representatives accountable for the development of comprehensive immigration reform. Numerous administrations have attempted to address this complex issue and failed. My grandparents immigrated to the U.S. in search of the American Dream. Through adherence to the law, hard work, grit, and determination they were able to amass a small nest egg, purchase several homes, and raise a Family of eight children. Three of my uncles served in Vietnam. My nephew represents the third generation of proud Idahoans that serve their country in defense of our freedom. I was inspired by my grandparent’s work ethic and their careers at Simplot and Amalgamated Sugar, and I enjoyed working with my grandfather on farms and fields spread throughout Idaho. However, as my 94-year-old grandmother would attest, times have changed. Our nation faces threats from actors that aim to harm Americans and take advantage of programs funded by our hard-earned tax dollars. Current immigration laws are not enforced and criminals who participate in the sale of illicit drugs and human trafficking are provided safe haven in sanctuary cities. The notion that the U.S. does not welcome foreigners is a myth. Our nation permits over one-million people to obtain permanent resident status every year. We take in 70% of all UN refugee and asylum seekers, and our population of legal and illegal immigrants is roughly 13%. Comprehensive immigration reform will include a merit-based system, an end to the diversity visa lottery system, and an end to chain migration. It makes sense to assess an individual’s criminal history, job skills, education, and ability to make a positive contribution to society. Lastly, I am an advocate of background checks, biometrics, and E-Verify. An overwhelming majority of Americans are in favor of providing legal status to children enrolled in Deferred Action Child Arrivals (DACA) program, and I support the President’s plan to provide 1.8 million dreamers a permanent legal status now. Legal status will permit children of DACA to stop living their lives in fear and it is the ethical thing to do. Permanent legal status should not be misconstrued for amnesty. Unlike amnesty which encourages illegal immigrants to break the law, the extension of a permanent legal status will permit dreamers to apply for citizenship just as other immigrants must – legally. The defense of our nation is dependent upon an All-Volunteer Force (AVF) that represents 1% of our population. Service members and their families sacrifice a great deal so that Americans can enjoy the freedoms for which many have fought and died. As President George Washington noted: “The willingness with which our young people are likely to serve in any war, no matter how justified, shall be directly proportional to how they perceive the veterans of earlier wars were treated and appreciated by their nation." If we intend to preserve the AFV, we must provide quality and timely care for our veterans - it is our solemn duty and obligation. The Representatives that we send to office in this election will create the policies that affect the care of our veterans for generations to come. Too many veterans are afflicted by mental illness, post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury and other ailments that affect their long-term health. A disproportionate number of veterans are homeless, unemployed, and commit suicide. We owe it to our veterans to ensure they receive timely and quality care. We can start by improving the Department of Veterans Administration (VA), expanding access to mental health care, and allocating appropriate resources towards programs that are aimed at prevention. While VA hospitals, administrations, and health care personnel differ from state to state, the expectation for the standard and quality of care is the same. The Department of VA must improve information technology systems, eliminate bureaucracy, and change the methods for the delivery of health care. How can we fix the VA if it cannot hold leaders accountable? As is the case in every federal agency, leaders are encumbered by hundreds of statutes, policies, and regulations that make it impossible to discipline, remove, and replace under-performing and incompetent employees. Finally, the freedom that we enjoy today is made possible by those who served a cause greater than their own and in so doing perished. For centuries, brave men and women have taken up arms and defeated our adversaries so that others can have the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is our solemn duty to care for our Gold Star Families. No one in this race is better suited to represent the 118,000 veterans and families that call Idaho home. As your representative and potential member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I would ensure that our veterans and their families receive the honor, dignity, and respect they so richly deserve. Our prosperity is tied to the success of future generations. When our children succeed, our communities flourish. We know that the federal government is not the answer. If we want to see our children achieve success in education, we must remove the federal government from the equation. I believe in local control of local schools. Money and socioeconomic factors should not hinder a child’s chance of success. A system that prevents students from reaching their full potential because they are forced to attend failing schools is a failed system. Plenty of studies have found that school choice provides for greater academic achievement. We should return taxpayer dollars to the states. Competition and free market principles can lead to higher efficiency, innovation, and a vast improvement in the quality of instruction that our children receive. It is not enough to afford our children opportunities to attend a school of their choice; we must also reassess the type and quality of instruction they receive. Common core is a common approach to failure. While college provides a path to gaining prosperity, it is not the only path. Vocational training, certification, and accreditation provide alternate means of achieving the American Dream. A shortage of skilled labor equates to higher paying jobs. Despite a growing need for employees who possess practical and technical skills, many school systems have all but eliminated vocational training. It is time to re-invest in skills-based certification and vocational training. We can attract new business if we have a workforce that will support it. The cost of college is nine times higher now than it was in 1982. If students decide to attend college, they should not be required to mortgage their future to earn a degree. The rise in the price of education is a byproduct of the federal government’s management of student loans. The federal government has tried to make college less expensive, and, just like with healthcare, the costs have skyrocketed. The federal government controls roughly 93% of all student loans. Guaranteed student loans have provided colleges the leverage necessary to raise tuition and fees. When you give people free money for their product, they generally charge more for it. We need to eliminate the federal government from our education systems. [4] |
” |
| —Alex Gallegos' campaign website (2018)[5] | ||
See also
- United States House of Representatives
- Idaho's 1st Congressional District election, 2018
- Idaho's 1st Congressional District
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Campaign website
- Alex Gallegos on Facebook
- Alex Gallegos on Twitter
Footnotes
- ↑ Idaho Press-Tribune, "Nampa veteran to run for 1st Congressional Distrct [sic]," February 21, 2018
- ↑ Alex for Idaho, "Meet Alex," accessed April 23, 2018
- ↑ Combat Veterans for Congress, "Lt. Col. Alexander Gallegos," accessed April 5, 2018
- ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Alex for Idaho, "Issues," accessed April 23, 2018
