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David Carstens
David Carstens (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Texas House of Representatives to represent District 66. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Carstens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
David Carstens was born in Richardson, Texas. He graduated from Trinity Christian Academy. He earned a bachelor's degree from Kenyon College in 2021 and a graduate degree from Miami University in 2024. His career experience includes working as a writer.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Texas House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 66
Incumbent Matt Shaheen defeated David Carstens in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 66 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Matt Shaheen (R) | 61.1 | 58,294 |
 | David Carstens (D)  | 38.9 | 37,098 | |
| Total votes: 95,392 | |||
| = 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 Texas House of Representatives District 66
David Carstens advanced from the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 66 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | David Carstens | 100.0 | 4,454 |
| Total votes: 4,454 | |||
| = 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 Texas House of Representatives District 66
Incumbent Matt Shaheen defeated Wayne Richard in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 66 on March 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Matt Shaheen | 63.7 | 11,037 |
| Wayne Richard | 36.3 | 6,276 | ||
| Total votes: 17,313 | |||
| = 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 finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Carstens in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
David Carstens completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Carstens' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- Education: My opponent is one of the major proponents of school voucher programs. I think these programs are a dangerous, dangerous idea that will not only weaken public schools, but weaken education as a whole in our state.
I believe they are part of a religious and ideological agenda, one that wants to push children into sectarian schooling while weakening secular schooling at whatever cost. If you don't believe me, read up on the donors backing these projects. They don't even bother to hide their intentions.
Maybe more importantly, I believe they simply do not function. I instead want to transform our state's education funds to raise per student allotments over time, with inflation. I also want to pay teachers far better. - Reproductive Freedom: A few months back, we saw our neighbors out in Alabama — women and families — stripped of the right to create their families and plan their lives. We saw this happen because of radical right wing ideologues more interested in abstract social ills than the lives of the individuals under their care. A few months before that, we saw Roe v. Wade overturned. We saw women robbed of the right to control their own bodies. In Texas, we lack basic, basic exemptions in our abortion ban for rape, for incest, and we lack a clear and enforceable exemption for when the mother's life is directly in danger. I pledge to support the right to choose, and the right to IVF in the state of Texas.
- Financial Responsibility: One of my more interesting and unique proposals is the establishment of a sovereign wealth fund, similar to the funds owned by Norway, Saudi Arabia, or Alaska. The plan is far too detailed to properly explain in 750 characters, but my website has more detail on the logistics. A properly managed sovereign wealth fund could lower taxes while creating the best social services America has ever seen. It could make Texas a model of good governance for the world.
Books (and media more generally) are my lifeblood. I could recommend these things for dats. Regarding politics specifically, I would highly recommend Bowling Alone by Robert Putnam, The Age of Reform by Richard Hofstadter, and Political Liberalism by John Rawls.
I get teased now for how often I speak about the importance of compassion, but a lack of it is fundamentally a disqualifying offense, in my personal opinion. If you are unable to empathize
It made me begin to question the ease of modern life, and to be suspicious of that which is relaxing, or fun. More than anything, it has made me keep my brain 'on' so to speak, at all times.
Youth Health & Safety, Select
Public Education
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
International Relations & Economic Development
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Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 8, 2024
