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Mat Pruneda
Mat Pruneda (Democratic Party) ran for election to the U.S. House to represent Texas' 26th Congressional District. He lost in the Democratic primary on March 3, 2020.
Pruneda completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Pruneda grew up in Kerrville, Texas. His career experience includes working as a financial analyst.[1]
Elections
2020
See also: Texas' 26th Congressional District election, 2020
Texas' 26th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Republican primary)
Texas' 26th Congressional District election, 2020 (March 3 Democratic primary)
General election
General election for U.S. House Texas District 26
Incumbent Michael C. Burgess defeated Carol Iannuzzi and Mark Boler in the general election for U.S. House Texas District 26 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Michael C. Burgess (R) | 60.6 | 261,963 |
 | Carol Iannuzzi (D) | 37.3 | 161,099 | |
 | Mark Boler (L) | 2.1 | 9,243 | |
| Total votes: 432,305 | |||
 = 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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Michael Moates (L)
- Jay Taylor (Independent)
- William Cunningham (Independent)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 26
Carol Iannuzzi defeated Mat Pruneda and Neil Durrance in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Texas District 26 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Carol Iannuzzi | 55.3 | 31,019 |
 | Mat Pruneda | 28.0 | 15,701 | |
| Neil Durrance | 16.6 | 9,329 | ||
| Total votes: 56,049 | |||
| = 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 26
Incumbent Michael C. Burgess defeated Jack Wyman, Michael Armstrong, and Jason Mrochek in the Republican primary for U.S. House Texas District 26 on March 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Michael C. Burgess | 73.6 | 51,312 |
 | Jack Wyman | 11.2 | 7,816 | |
 | Michael Armstrong | 8.2 | 5,745 | |
 | Jason Mrochek | 7.0 | 4,846 | |
| Total votes: 69,719 | |||
| = 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 26
Mark Boler advanced from the Libertarian convention for U.S. House Texas District 26 on March 21, 2020.
Candidate | ||
| ✔ | | Mark Boler (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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2018
General election
General election for Texas House of Representatives District 64
Incumbent Lynn Stucky defeated Andrew Morris and Nick Dietrich in the general election for Texas House of Representatives District 64 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Lynn Stucky (R) | 52.8 | 36,239 |
 | Andrew Morris (D) | 44.5 | 30,535 | |
| Nick Dietrich (L) | 2.7 | 1,852 | ||
| Total votes: 68,626 | |||
| = 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 runoff election
Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 64
Andrew Morris defeated Mat Pruneda in the Democratic primary runoff for Texas House of Representatives District 64 on May 22, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Andrew Morris | 54.0 | 1,549 |
| Mat Pruneda | 46.0 | 1,318 | |
| Total votes: 2,867 | |||
| = 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 64
Mat Pruneda and Andrew Morris advanced to a runoff. They defeated Matt Farmer in the Democratic primary for Texas House of Representatives District 64 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mat Pruneda | 41.7 | 3,063 |
| ✔ | | Andrew Morris | 38.7 | 2,842 |
| Matt Farmer | 19.7 | 1,445 | ||
| Total votes: 7,350 | |||
| = 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 64
Incumbent Lynn Stucky defeated Mark Roy in the Republican primary for Texas House of Representatives District 64 on March 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Lynn Stucky | 64.3 | 8,575 |
 | Mark Roy | 35.7 | 4,754 | |
| Total votes: 13,329 | |||
| = 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
2020
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Mat Pruneda completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pruneda's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am the father of two kids who attend public schools. My family lives in a quiet neighborhood in my district. I am an average person. I commute to work every day, I work on regulatory reporting for the Federal Reserve Board. I have a background in finance and have worked to keep institutions in compliance with the Federal Reserve Board. I like Johnny Cash and the Clash, Coca-Cola and Shiner Beer, street tacos and barbecue. I don't like driving in traffic but I love riding my motorcycle. I love politics and the ideals of standing up for other people.
I will debate with anybody and I prefer to do it in person, where we can have a heated argument. Then grin when it's done. I like it when somebody comes up with a point of view I'd never considered. That is how I grow and learn.- I will represent the people of this district and will vote in their interests.
- Affordable Education is key to maintaining our economic position in the world, as well as providing opportunity to everyone.
- I will work to provide tax real tax reform for everyday people.
Environment - Clean Air and Water
When I close my eyes and picture iconic Texas public servants, these two epitomize everything that makes Texas great - inspiring public speakers, larger than life personalities, gregarious and genuine, hard-edged and determined with an almost preternatural ability to make things happen.
Yes, complex and problematic in some ways but transcendentally, quintessentially Texan above all else.
As a progressive, the goals I have for all, are directly descended from the Great Society. LBJ's legacy cannot be overstated -Medicare, Head Start, the Voting Rights Act and the Civil Rights Act-these are the four cornerstones of progressive policy.
I volunteered for Ann Richards' gubernatorial campaign as a young person. I saw her speak at UNT in 1994. On a brilliant day, with a punk rock band, Hagfish, as her opening act, she took to the stage and gave the most memorable political performance I have ever witnessed. She was a rock star revivalist and a peerless presence. She fought for women's rights and minority rights. She opened the door for diversity in The Texas Rangers, which had been all white and male before.
A willingness to ask uncomfortable questions.
Understanding of when to fight and when to learn.
Understanding of when to let others learn.
I would like to be known as somebody who earned that reputation.
There were news items in between cartoon shows in Saturday mornings. I remember knowing that he was a peanut farmer and I liked peanuts.
When I was old enough, I went to work at Dairy Queen and stayed there for about 7 months.
Like most of Vonneguts work, it wraps profound philosophical ideas in comedy and absurdist science fiction.
I hated it as a kid. My dad played it all the time.
If you listen to it, there is a line "Chomp. Chomp. Chomp." that is ridiculous.
Overtime it adjusts proportionately to represent the will of the people based on population. This aspect provides the greatest potential. Unfortunately it also makes it most susceptible to outside influence and gerrymandering.
I do think it's important to have some kind of experience with accountability and a record. I serve on a city commission and I make decisions, on the record, based on facts and input from the people.
Healthcare is in dire need of reform. I believe in medicare for all. Too many Americans are suffering due to a system established with profit as its motive. I believe in Medicare for All. A government has a responsibility to its people and is accountable.
Foreign Affairs - Middle East, North Africa and International Terrorism
Oversight and Reform - Civil Rights and Civil Liberties
Energy and Commerce - Environment and Climate Change
Because media oversight is limited I support term limits at the municipal level.
For federal judges I would like a 12 year term limit.
For Congress, I have mixed feelings. I believe people should be able to keep a rep who serves a district well. I believe term limits negatively impact the ability to prepare an strong speaker. AOC taught us that incumbents can be beaten. Still, I think it's beneficial to even the playing field. I am open to discussion on number of terms. (See Senate response)
It is a really enthusiastic and fun organization.
At a meeting we attended, they had a drive for teddy bears and women's underwear. At lunch, we were discussing the Violence Against Women Act and the fact that our current rep voted against renewing it.
She talked about what VAWA funds and how it impacts people. In the middle of the conversation she asked me a question that I wasn't sure how to answer.
"Do you know why we collect underwear donations, Mat?"
I said, "I don't know."
She told me about her work helping victims of sexual assault and violence. "When they have to give up articles of clothing for evidence, they often don't have anything else with them. That is why we need these donations."
It was a dot that I'd never connected. I've asked several other people about it, including women. Only one person ever had the right answer.
The decisions we make affect lives in profound ways. Connect dots and understanding how law helps or hurts is important. A republican voted against VAWA because his party didn't want to offend men. It was an unconscionable disregard for basic safety. That I knew all along. The greater impact will stay with me.
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.
See also
2020 Elections
External links
- Search Google News for this topic
- Campaign Facebook page
- Campaign Facebook page
- Campaign Twitter page
- Texas Legislature website
Footnotes
