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Joseph Trahan (Texas state senate candidate)

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This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.
Joseph L. Trahan
Image of Joseph L. Trahan
Elections and appointments
Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Clear Lake High School

Personal
Birthplace
Freeport, Texas
Religion
Baptist Christian
Profession
Businessman
Contact

Joseph L. Trahan (Republican Party) ran for election to the Texas State Senate to represent District 15. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Trahan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Joseph L. Trahan was born in Freeport, Texas. He earned a high school diploma from Clear Lake High School. His career experience includes working as a businessman.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Texas State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Texas State Senate District 15

Incumbent Molly Cook defeated Joseph L. Trahan in the general election for Texas State Senate District 15 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Molly Cook
Molly Cook (D) Candidate Connection
 
61.9
 
200,680
Image of Joseph L. Trahan
Joseph L. Trahan (R) Candidate Connection
 
38.1
 
123,515

Total votes: 324,195
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary runoff election

Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Senate District 15

Incumbent Molly Cook defeated Jarvis Johnson in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas State Senate District 15 on May 28, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Molly Cook
Molly Cook Candidate Connection
 
50.2
 
9,506
Image of Jarvis Johnson
Jarvis Johnson Candidate Connection
 
49.8
 
9,444

Total votes: 18,950
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.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15

The following candidates ran in the Democratic primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jarvis Johnson
Jarvis Johnson Candidate Connection
 
36.2
 
17,953
Image of Molly Cook
Molly Cook Candidate Connection
 
20.6
 
10,213
Image of Todd Litton
Todd Litton Candidate Connection
 
15.8
 
7,859
Image of Michelle Bonton
Michelle Bonton
 
10.7
 
5,291
Image of Alberto Cardenas Jr.
Alberto Cardenas Jr. Candidate Connection
 
10.5
 
5,196
Image of Karthik Soora
Karthik Soora Candidate Connection
 
6.2
 
3,091

Total votes: 49,603
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 Texas State Senate District 15

Joseph L. Trahan advanced from the Republican primary for Texas State Senate District 15 on March 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Joseph L. Trahan
Joseph L. Trahan Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
23,627

Total votes: 23,627
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 finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Trahan in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Joseph L. Trahan completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Trahan's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

The most exciting time for Texas Senate district 15 in 40 years.

Since the 1960's our family businesses have been in SD 15, my businesses in Midtown since 1990's and it's where my daughters and I live.

I will work to make Texas Election Integrity the Global Standard, better than Florida. No compromise.

We must seal the border w Mexico, protect Texans & end Cartels raiding our state...legal immigrant process ONLY.

END Property Tax...tax belongs in commerce, not our homes at the point of forfeiture, ever increasing each year.

2 term or 8 year limit, whichever is first. Citizen Government

Parents rights & School Choice...your money, your children, you deserve choices...not being dictated to by lobbyists.

Smaller Govt, reduce regulations End Corporate Welfare End Tax Payer Funded Lobbying.

Texas produces enough electricity for itself and 6 other states. We will NEVER have rolling blackouts again in Texas to sell power across state lines for a nickel more per kWh...and they sell it in the terawatts...let that soak in.

NO property ownership in Texas by foreign governments & certainly not China's CCP. Texas farmers and ranchers are the best in the nation producing the finest produce, livestock & Textiles.

My goal is to launch a Senate investigation into Harris County and City of Houston corruption, voter fraud & authorize the Texas Rangers under our elected State Attny Gen to investigate & prosecute.

Always Texas First, Always TEXANS FIRST
  • Global standard election integrity is job 1. The people must believe in their vote and I will see to it that we all can.
  • Safe and clean community is what we all want for our families and businesses. We cleaned up Midtown when we began developing there in the 1990's and we will clean up parts of SD15 that need it so it can thrive.
  • Clear the judicial backlog and stop this activist judicial from exacerbating crime. I will introduce legislation to force expedient judicial under the watchful eyes of community oversight. We MUST get this right for all of us.
Liberty is an interesting thing, in that, you can't create liberty by writing a law

Laws "restrict" liberty

You live under 1.5M laws, regs, codes, ordinances, rulings

Laws create tax

"Inalienable Rights" or Liberty, presumes freedom already exists & laws "LIMIT" liberty through regulatory, fines, taxes, permits, reporting, audit, prosecutorial, judicial and jail. All of these "restrictions" are taxes & obstruct fair market competition, innovation, limit choices & quality for consumers.

There are 9 lobbyist for every appointed & elected official from dog catcher to the Governor's mansion & they work against you & I every single day. THAT must end & it is my personal mission to END tax payer funded lobbying & their corporate welfare programs costing you & I billions like Chapter 313 (now 403).

A weak & pathetic Harris County judiciary has caused the highest crime waive & highest murder rates in our history. They simply ARE NOT prosecuting...not trying cases. They do this in an effort keep crime numbers down when in actuality they are skyrocketing and cases are taking 2-4 years to go to trial. Some civil courts are backlogged 3-4 years to even get a hearing. This is nonsense.

Criminal case backlog at this time is 400,000 cases...it was 1,400 cases just 5 years ago. Our jails are over crowded, gangs run them; overflow goes to private prisons that pay bigly to these County Officials & Judges campaign funds.

Put me in this fight!

-Joseph L Trahan
I'm fortunate to have hero level parents that quietly and humbly lead by example. My father a Marine Vietnam era battle hardened warrior and a southern lady of charm and charity if there ever was one.

The first American Hero that caught my attention and lifelong respect is John Hancock. After years of hanging out with business associates and friends at taverns complaining about the British and going through draft after draft of the Declaration of Independence, as big as can be, centered, he boldly signed his own death warrant with the Crown, then turned that paper around, looked his friends in the eyes and handed them the quill pen. That's bold. That's leadership. That inspired me greatly.

Since the 1980's Donald J Trump caught my eye of course, because he was building a brand and was internally in the spotlight. He's had a significant impact due to his saying in interviews and books what I was already thinking as a teenager about governance and policy.

Andrew Jackson
Texas Ranger John "Coffee" Hays
Kit Carson
Teddy Roosevelt
William Barret Travis a relative
Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson 1st Viscount and 1st Duke of Bronte, the winningest Naval Commander in history

Let's be clear about this: I'm a sinner saved by grace and the Lord God Creator of the Universe sent the Christ so that we might live life abundantly. Holding our thoughts and actions captive to the model of Christ is a lifelong quest and I fail often, but, I know what is true, right and good in the sight of the Lord and that brings me back to center.

My favorite Christ fashioned a whip out of a cord of rope and walked onto the temple foyer turning over tables of the money changers and cracking a whip of righteous indignation with the monetizing of the house of worship. Lobbyists and woke socialists beware...you've exceeded our patience, tolerance and suspension of restraint to remove your nonsense in our governance.
Read the Declaration of Independence over and over

Read the Constitution of these United States over and over

The Jefferson Papers

The Texas Constitution and history of the Republic of Texas are essential

and a read through the Magna Carte would be helpful
Integrity in action and word and Depth of Character in actions
Listen, with wisdom, to the people. Be a friend. Get that crime rate down and slash taxes by ending property tax. Stand firm when needed. Have a great time in the district and help it thrive with commerce.
Apollo 11 Moon Landing was very significant in my life as were all things Space Exploration related and led to my company that performed Space and Defense work with NASA. It was 1969 when I watched with family, the historic moon landing. I was 4 and I was mesmerized. Technology and innovation shaped my world from that moment on.
The #1 job of the Governor is to protect the citizens and their property.

Property, as noticed by the Magna Carte, Constitution of these United States, the Jefferson Papers and our very own Texas State Constitution is this: "the quiet enjoyment of that which you own, land, real or otherwise and that for which you are responsible", which may be family, a business holding or a commodity, a physical object.

A Governor MUST secure the State such that citizens property is not at undue risk. 12 million invaders to Texas is not securing the state nor is protecting our citizens or their rights.

The Legislature's job is codify skillfully the protection of the citizens rights and properties.

If both are doing their job well, the people rejoice and thrive.

When one or the other politically strut, lobbyists effetely rape the citizens of value and liberty, ultimately damaging the state, the economy, liberty and the future. This is an abomination of governance and rife with corruption.

The relationship between the Governor and the Legislature is best when it is one of quality control in a cross check for the best outcome to afford innovation, protection of people from crime and removal of encumbrances to thrive.
Lobbyists and Deceitful foreign interests are now and will continue to be Texas biggest threat.

Corruption through bribery, propaganda and trickery abounds. It must be vetted out.

I'd like to see a legislature that locks arms with the other State Agency heads and Governor to force integrity, truth and fact in NEWS media reported and make Texas the global standard.

It should be a jailable offense to abuse the NEWS media to mislead the public.

This representative Republic is potentially the best possible form of governance. However, it can not thrive with lobbyists and propagandists pirating our thoughts and understandings with a fabric of lies.

I have no mercy for their tabloid style distraction from important, valid and real goings on. That breeds chaos and distrust and want to see a Texas leading the nation in stopping that despicable behavior.
Citizen Representatives

I want citizen representatives to serve their elected terms and then go back home to their communities and live with what they have done.

THAT is what the Declaration of Independence presumed and that is what our Constitution provided. It is what our founding fathers did.

That is what I want.

The experience is: YOU are a citizen, vetted by your public and bring your understanding and skill to the job of governance.

Career politicians are like lobbyists and hookers. That's a crass way to put it, but, you know its the fact.
In as much so that it promotes the best outcomes for district, the state and the nation, YES.

Part of representing a House District or a Senate District and working with the district precinct chairs, volunteers and local party members is do your best to get it right with the best information you can get at the time. Cross check with other legislators is a critical quality control crosscheck.

Alliances and coalitions by the very definition of the word is a type of cartel...by another name, monopoly. This can be constructive or destructive.

How about, we get the truth out with the people and do the best thing we can support doing at the time.

The "agreement" I want with other legislators is that we agree to thoroughly research and discuss with the public, with industry, with experts and gain a bigger, stronger more complete understanding THEN legislate.
I really admire the work Thomas Jefferson did in the careful construction of the Constitution with tremendous vetting, research and debate to get it right and create a framework that would last the ages.

There have been many "man of the hour" that were the right personality and skill at critical times in our nation's history. Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, Mirabeau B Lamar, Stephen F Austin, Sam Houston all faced a very difficult combative and even violent set of dynamics when they entered office and navigated Texas or the United States into relative peace and prosperity. Study them. They deserve our admiration. Harry S Truman was as blunt and direct of a politician I've ever heard quoted and navigated the atomic age to end WW2.

These and others are remarkable men of history and each had great attributes from which to draw.

Of course, I admire Donald J Trump and there is a strength there we should all examine for our own betterment.
That is not my intention at all. I'm stepping up to solve problems and when they're solved, I'll re-evaluate.

I want to inspire citizen representatives to take charge of their government and their future and serve a term or two then come home and inspire the same.

I hope that's clear.

If I can reduce lobbying by outside entities, more people will be able to run and get elected in quicker succession as envisioned by our founding fathers. A government of the people, by the people and for the people.
The cell phone store owner/operator, a woman that has been robbed 7 times at gun point in the last 12 months pushed me across the edge. This nonsense must end.

Crime has a chilling effect on business like none other. Aside from the fact that she is so resilient she continues to open every day is a testament to her resolve. She is a single mother feeding her children making a go of her business.

If I can help bring that crime level down for people like her, I will have done something we can all be proud of.
Absolutely.

The Governor of Texas could have and should have called a special session so that the people have a voice in the matter.

Gov Greg Abbott failed in this regard and I sure looking back with the backlash he got then and is now still getting he might regret that.

The very purpose of a legislature is to vet issues like this and Abbott denied the voice of the people to be heard and ruled like a czar.

I will address that in legislation to make it mandatory and automatic we are called to session to represent our base and do a much better job than was done with COVID.

Rather than "compromise" which, by definition, means to dilute and "make less than", we are entering an age where the public education cycle on important issues is paramount. Rather than "identity politics" which is socialism and tribalism rife with short sited failure, we MUST debate, gather intel, education and agree to move forward on issues armed and fortified with knowledge, NOT superstition or fear restricting good policy.

I tirelessly research, debate, discuss, evaluate and expect all others to as well.

Bring your "A" game when making policy because we ALL have to live under it when its done, so, treat it with that level of importance.

If you don't, you'll never be able to wash the stink off.
Sweeping Election Integrity Reform to make Texas the Global Standard for election integrity.

Let me put it this way:

When Florida, who now has the best election integrity laws of any state, passed their sweeping election integrity reform it flipped the entire state RED. Even DADE County flipped RED.

I intend to make election fraud an offense just below murder in Texas.

You know if we create election integrity in Texas, business will thrive like none other and lobbyists will go back to California...LOL
Obviously, with my background in innovation, commercialization, space and defense I have a certain set of skills that should be put to use in areas where I can contribute the most.

The fact is, they'll put me where they want to and I'll bring everything I've got in my arsenal of experiences to do the very best for the people.

My experience in electrical power generation, IOT, big data, security, interoperability, Internet and telecommunication both satellite and terrestrial systems is a key benefit to the Senate.

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 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.


Joseph L. Trahan campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Texas State Senate District 15Lost general$0 $0
Grand total$0 $0
Sources: OpenSecretsFederal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

See also


External links

Footnotes

  1. Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 24, 2023


Current members of the Texas State Senate
Leadership
Senators
District 1
District 2
Bob Hall (R)
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
Vacant
District 10
Phil King (R)
District 11
District 12
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
District 20
District 21
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
District 28
District 29
District 30
District 31
Republican Party (19)
Democratic Party (11)
Vacancies (1)