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Casey Gray (Texas)

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Casey Gray
Image of Casey Gray
Elections and appointments
Last election

March 1, 2022

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1999 - 2018

Personal
Birthplace
Odessa, Texas
Religion
Non Denominational
Profession
Senior advisor for a defense contract firm
Contact

Casey Gray (Republican Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 81. He lost in the Republican primary on March 1, 2022.

Gray completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Casey Gray was born in Odessa, Texas. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1999 to 2018. His career experience includes working as a senior advisor for a defense contract firm.[1]

Elections

2022

See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

The general election was canceled. Incumbent Brooks Landgraf won election in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 81.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 81

Incumbent Brooks Landgraf defeated Casey Gray in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 81 on March 1, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Brooks Landgraf
Brooks Landgraf
 
80.0
 
10,246
Image of Casey Gray
Casey Gray Candidate Connection
 
20.0
 
2,565

Total votes: 12,811
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

2020

See also: Texas' 11th Congressional District election, 2020

Texas' 11th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)

Texas' 11th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)

General election

General election for U.S. House Texas District 11

August Pfluger defeated Jon Mark Hogg and Wacey Alpha Cody in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 11 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of August Pfluger
August Pfluger (R)
 
79.7
 
232,568
Image of Jon Mark Hogg
Jon Mark Hogg (D) Candidate Connection
 
18.3
 
53,394
Image of Wacey Alpha Cody
Wacey Alpha Cody (L) Candidate Connection
 
2.0
 
5,811

Total votes: 291,773
Candidate Connection = 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 11

Jon Mark Hogg advanced from the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 11 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jon Mark Hogg
Jon Mark Hogg Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
16,644

Total votes: 16,644
Candidate Connection = 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 11

The following candidates ran in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 11 on March 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of August Pfluger
August Pfluger
 
52.2
 
56,093
Image of Brandon Batch
Brandon Batch Candidate Connection
 
15.1
 
16,224
Image of Wesley Virdell
Wesley Virdell Candidate Connection
 
7.1
 
7,672
Image of Jamie Berryhill
Jamie Berryhill Candidate Connection
 
7.0
 
7,496
Image of J. Ross Lacy
J. Ross Lacy Candidate Connection
 
4.5
 
4,785
Image of J.D. Faircloth
J.D. Faircloth
 
4.0
 
4,257
Image of Casey Gray
Casey Gray
 
3.8
 
4,064
Image of Robert Tucker
Robert Tucker
 
2.9
 
3,137
Ned Luscombe
 
1.9
 
2,066
Gene Barber
 
1.5
 
1,641

Total votes: 107,435
Candidate Connection = 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.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 11

Wacey Alpha Cody defeated Brian Holk in the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 11 on March 21, 2020.

Candidate
Image of Wacey Alpha Cody
Wacey Alpha Cody (L) Candidate Connection
Image of Brian Holk
Brian Holk (L)

Candidate Connection = 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.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Casey Gray completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gray's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I was born and raised in Ector County. I joined the US Navy and served in Naval Special Warfare starting at the age of 17 and deployed multiple times. I transitioned from Active Duty to the Reserves and eventually to the CIA in 2006. In 2011 while serving in Iraq with the CIA I was recalled to Active Duty in the US Army and deployed, ultimately I was injured in a helicopter crash that ended my career and required 24 reconstructive surgeries. I am running for State Representative because I believe that our State needs to rid itself of corrupt politicians and vote in Statesmen that will protect our Constitutional rights. Texas is the greatest Conservative bastion in the nation and we need to lead the way for others to follow.
Reducing or eliminating private property taxes for senior citizens and retirees. Making sure that parents have a choice in education of their children to include education vouchers. Protect the right to life for unborn children. To establish harsher punishment for all that intend to do harm to children as they are our must valuable resource. We must be good stewards of our environment while we use our natural resources to benefit society, in doing so we assure the economy is robust and our children have the land to enjoy in the future. Protecting our most valuable amendment, the 2nd because without it we have no ability to defend the others from those who seek to destroy our Country.
Chip Roy, Louie Gohmert, Trey Gowdy, Jason Chaffetz, Massie and Ron Paul.
Honesty, integrity, morality and honoring your vows.

Making sure you are accountable to the voter/tax payer.
I was in the US Navy when September 11 happened. I was 19 at the time and was stationed in Virginia Beach, VA and deployed shortly after with Naval Special Warfare Squadron Eight.
I worked in the oil field at National Oil Well Varco during the summers in high school. I also worked at a gas station changing tractor tires, pumping gas and changing oil. During the school year I worked as a volunteer fire fighter and I poured concrete after school and on weekends for Vasquez Concrete Construction. I also worked as a lifeguard for the central texas baptist encampment.
I believe their should be a strong relationship of trust and team work to do what is best for the Citizens and the taxpayers.
There should be two chambers so that debate and quality intellectual discussion has an opportunity to be heard.
No. I believe the intent of the Constitution was correct when it said the legislators will come from the people and return to the people.
Its always beneficial to have good relationships with other legislators.
Fair and balanced representation of the political diversity of the area.

Energy Resource Committee, Agricultural and livestock committee, Defense and Veterans affairs , Homeland Security and public safety
Many families in our district have lost family members to accidents on highways due to poor roadway conditions. This is something that drove me to run for office and change this problem.
I do not believe it is acceptable to compromise on your morals. We must stand strong on our beliefs and be the Constitutional Representatives that the constituents elect. It reminds me of my favorite quote

“I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live by the light that I have. I must stand with anybody that stands right, and stand with him while he is right, and part with him when he goes wrong.”

Abraham Lincoln

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.

2020

Casey Gray did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign website

Gray’s campaign website stated the following:

Oil and Gas / Energy independence
The 11th District produces a majority of the energy for the United States right here in the Permian Basin and we see higher fuel prices than some of the other States that have nothing to do with energy production. Our hard work is being abused and it is time that we see some of that hard work returned to the very district that it comes from.

I would propose through legislation that 10% of the sales of all oil and gas production stay in the district where it is produced so that the Constituents can see an improvement in their daily lives and have a return on the energy we proudly produce right here in the great state of Texas.

Agriculture
Agriculture is a major issue in the State of Texas and the 11th district. Currently Hemp and Marijuana are on the cusp of being legalized. Hemp was legalized Federally through the 2018 farm bill and Marijuana is close behind.

I propose through legislation that we will deschedule Marijuana and make it legally available to be used as a medication nationwide. Through legalization we will provide Veterans and other critically ill patients the opportunity to see the benefits and have an alternative to deadly opiates.

I have personal experience with the negative effects of opiates after my helicopter crash and I have seen friends die from accidental overdoses. I believe that someone with experience and personal knowledge is important to have in this situation.

Furthermore I believe that the taxes acquired through legalization should be designated to eliminate property tax for senior citizens. We sell the American Dream of being able to be a stakeholder in America and own a piece of this great Country, however we tax the owners until their death and they never truly own the property. When senior citizens reach retirement age they, more often than not, cannot afford to continue to pay their property taxes and continue to survive. We literally MUST stop taxing people to their deaths.

Border Security
I am the only candidate that is a physical security specialist. I have worked on the diplomatic missions in Israel for the United States Department of State. During this time I traveled through the wall protecting Israel on a daily basis in an armored vehicle using my diplomatic passport to make passage. The wall in Israel works and it protects the States people and assets and gives them an opportunity to live out their lives with a level of safety that they otherwise would not be afforded.

WALLS WORK.

We are the only Country in the world that awards people for breaking our laws and illegally entering a nations sovereign territory. Democrats want to keep you in harms way although I can guarantee you that every single one of them live behind a wall that keeps unwanted people out and gives them a sense of security that they want to deprive you of.

I believe we need to provide our Federal Agents with the latitude to protect out borders while fully funding the wall and fully funding their operations. Once we have secured the wall and get reports back from the men and women protecting the border that we are secure, we will reduce the budget while keeping it at a level that is appropriate.

Immigration Reform
I propose that we reform immigration and start a guest worker system that will provide immigrants an opportunity to fast track their immigration status through a system that will track their contributions to society.

This system will include an e-verification system that business owners will be required to fund to get the workers to the desired location. The workers will scan their government provided ID card at the border, then again within 24 hrs at their place of employment. They will have taxes taken from their checks by their employer, thus contributing to society. Once a threshold is met, such as $10,000 in taxes paid, they will be provided a fast track to a green card and an opportunity to immediately become a Citizen. This will give us the most motivated people and give the hard chargers that truly want and need to be here the gift that they need. It will be a hand up, not a hand out.

When I was 17 the US Military and the great people of the United States gave me an opportunity to prove my commitment to this Country and be provided employment and an opportunity to succeed. I took that opportunity and ran with it. I became a member of the Military and I excelled. I worked hard and I achieved my goals through hard work and a hand up, their were no hand outs provided to me and I do not believe we should be provided that to anyone without a chance to show us why they want to be a Citizen.

2nd Amendment issues
I am a NRA instructor with almost all of the instructor certifications that are possible, I am a chief range safety officer and a Naval Special Warfare Chief Range Safety Officer.

I strongly believe in the 2nd amendment and will not allow ANYTHING to compromise that.

I believe that red flag laws are unconstitutional and should be immediately repealed. We have a something called due process here in the United States and I will not allow ANY process that takes that away.

I am strong supporter of repealing the NFA.

I am also a supporter of the hearing protection act.

I support a national constitutional carry bill that would allow for concealed or open carry for all Citizens of the United States. I will not approve of any bill that attempts to cause a registration of guns or guns owners.

Redistricting
We in the 11th district cannot allow redistricting to split Odessa and Midland. WE are one and if it is up to me I will keep it that way.

Constituent Contact
I will gladly sign an MOU (memorandum of understanding) or LOI (letter of intent) with any group or any individual Constituent to hold me accountable on campaign promises.

I have developed a smart phone application that will use VUID number to verify that each constituent is validated to be a district Constituent, this app will be used to poll the district on ANY AND ALL legislation / co-sponsorship / resolutions prior to being voted upon. I will guarantee that ALL information on these bills will be provided in advance. I will take these polling numbers and I will vote based on what the majority of the Constituents direct me to do.

On the application on the Constituents smart phone / tablet there will be a PDF that can be accessed and read. Once the PDF is completely read, the Constituent will have an option to vote YEA or NAY. This will populate Congressman Grays cellular phone and he will be able to see the number of Constituents voting and what their preference is. He will then vote on behalf of the Constituents wishes. Immediately upon voting the Constituents will receive a notification of how the Congressman voted and a graph showing how he has historically voted. The application will have a direct access messaging system to the Congressman so that he can immediately interact with the Constituent.

With this unique app you will have direct contact with me, your elected representative. You will read and vote on every proposed bill, every co-sponsor vote and every current event I am involved in.

I will be accountable.

Furthermore I will not politically appoint ANY person to my staff. I will make proposals that the individual Counties will nominate and vote on ALL staff. I will also allow the Constituents to decided where the district office will be located. The plan will be to not use brick and mortar but to utilize current Republican Party HQ buildings and save the TAXPAYER money. This plan will allow for all Counties to have a voice and a representative of their choosing in my office. I will not dismiss any County employees without the consent of the voters in said County.

I will have an open door policy at all times, anytime a Constituent wants to see me, they will have access, provided I am in the available area.

I will also work 365 days a year. I will be in the district taking notes and meetings when not in DC. I have heard other candidates speak of coming back to district twice a year, that is laughable. They should be here at minimum twice a month and be available to the people at all times that they are being paid by the taxpayer.

Term Limits
I strongly feel that the United States Congress (House and Senate) should have two terms of four year that will be off set. Half of the House will be up for election at one time and half the Senate so that we never have a complete turn over. I believe that there should also be a moratorium placed on going from House to Senate and vice verse. There should be a required 4 year gap between service in each and that they are capped in each chamber at the end of term .

Tax Reform
There are 443 regulatory agencies according to USA.gov as of 2016. These regulatory agencies require funding which drives up the average amount that a taxpayer pays and the overall national debt comes close to $183,000 per taxpayer and $68,400 per citizen as per the foundation of economic education. We simply cannot continue this trend of spending money that we have no realistic way to pay for. I would suggest that we get back to our Conservative roots and start deregulating and dissolving federal agencies. Many of them are redundant and technically there is no authorization for them to even exist. One such agency is the Department of Education. The DOE should be abolished and the power returned back to the States as it is a States rights issue and not something that the federal government should be involved in.

I often say that the closest thing that we have to everlasting life is the establishment of a federal government agency, because once they are established they never go away.

Keeping in mind that following the path of deregulating and abolishing these agencies would save hundreds of billions of dollars per year we also need to get back to the basics and get rid of the 6,550 pages of tax code that gets into the millions of words that are near indecipherable by the average citizen.

There are several ways to do such a thing and one that I think is easy is to get back to the basics. A simplified tax code for businesses and the average joe.

Health Insurance
The first step with be pushing a vote to end the “UNAFFORDABLE HEALTHCARE ACT” that Obama unconstitutionally pushed down our throats. Once we have removed it then we have a gap to fill. I will list several things to fix the system.

  • Allow interstate competition of insurance companies and pharmaceutical companies. Allow Capitalism to do its work and set it free.
  • Mandate that all doctors and hospitals have set fees and an estimate of care prior to admitting, just as a mechanic on a car is required to do. No more bureaucracy fueling health care and bloating the bills.
  • Reduce medicaid by removing all “illegal” immigrants from the roles.
  • Add rules to receiving government funded healthcare such as drug testing, work requirements and if the people are unable to work then they are required to do some type of public volunteer service to cover the cost. I.E.: able body individuals can clean streets, pickup trash, volunteer in public education programs, Veterans centers, work with at risk children. We have to end the belief that everything is free, because it is not.
  • “When the people find that they can vote themselves free money, that will herald the end of the Republic.” -Ben Franklin
  • Allow competition of pharmaceuticals from outside the United States, this will drastically lower costs and prevent situations such as the “PHARMA BRO” scenario from occurring

Descheduling of Marijuana
In 2018 the Farm Bill passed by Congressman Conaway legalized Hemp across the United States. This pushed for the Texas to push bills through to allow the immediate growth of HEMP and we are currently in the final phases of licensing.

This will have a large scale effect upon the economy is a great opportunity to catch some of the tax money and save the taxpayer millions of dollars in the short term future. I have several proposals for legislation to get that moving in the right direction.

  • Federally legislate and turn over all regulation of the Marijuana/ Hemp industry to the individual states. I believe that it is a States rights issue and the citizens of the states should be addressing the concerns and not the Federal Government.
  • In the legislation I would draft a very specific set of rules so that the captured tax funds at the Federal level would be returned to the states in the form of a trust fund that is designed to do three things
  • Eliminate the private property taxes of all social security aged individuals. The municipalities would then send vouchers for all qualified residents to the state and the state would issue a yearly check to cover these amounts.
  • After the states have paid all vouchers then the remaining money with be on a zero-based budget and at the end of the year the ENTIRE balance is returned to the taxpayer in the form of a TAX RETURN check that is divided up into all citizens that paid taxes in the previous 2 years withing the state. This would be considered to be a Co-op and would benefit the Taxpayer and the Economy.

Government Bailouts
I personally do not believe that the Government should be in the business of bailouts. We are a Country that was founded on capitalism and one of a free market. The great thing is that you as a voter get to vote with your money and you select to use it as you see fit. If you love a business, then you should support it by spending your hard earned money there. If there is ever a time and need for the Government to bail out a large business then the taxpayer should be heavily compensated on returns that benefit the taxpayer and not the politicians. This is why I am against lobby money, these large businesses fund Politicians and then the Politicians protect them. Its a quid pro quo issue and shouldn’t be legal.

Farm Bill
The farm bill has been a dangerous issue of having to kneel down to the demands of Democrats because they have pandered to the voter by giving them free items such as SNAP/Welfare benefits. Part of these issues lie in the fact that while Congressman Conaway had the best of intentions on passing some really great reforms, at the end of the day he caved to their demands and now we are stuck with a bill that has over $750 billion dollars in welfare (over 75% of the bill) with the means tested income requirement removed. This should be a huge scare to the taxpayer.

We need to get back to singe issue legislative issues and let the farm bill be the farm bill only. If there is a need for welfare it should be addressed on its own proposed legislative issue.

Pro Life
I am 100% unapologetically pro life and will never change my stance on this. I believe life starts at conception and there will never be an excuse to murder a baby. Make no mistake, abortion is murder. [2]

—Casey Gray[3]

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on February 1, 2022.
  2. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  3. Casey Gray's 2020 campaign website, “Issues,” accessed February 10, 2020


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