Fort Worth-native and six-term congressman Marc Veasey is hoping for another two years in Washington D.C. as he faces off against Republican Patrick Gillespie to represent Texas’s 33rd congressional district.
The district covers parts of east Fort Worth and the north side before stretching along the West Fork of the Trinity River to carve out pieces of Carrolton, Dallas, Irving and Grand Prarie.
It includes the Central City Flood Control Project , which benefited from a $403 million cash injection brought about by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021.
The project still needs roughly $26 million in federal and state matching funds , according to a June 2024 quarterly update.
Veasey’s legislative priorities are to deliver move affordable healthcare options, increase career opportunities in low income communities, curb gun violence and promote quality education.
Gillespie has prioritized halting, “the progression of Communist principles infecting from our school boards to our military,” according to his website .
He’s also advocated for better vetting of immigrants entering the United States, and improving mental health access as a way to reduce gun violence.
Here are the candidates responses to our survey.
Patrick Gillespie
Political Party: Republican
Did not respond
Marc Veasey
Political Party: Democrat
Age: 53
Campaign website: www.marcveasey.com
Best way for voters to reach you: campaign@marcveasey.com
Occupation: Member of Congress
Education: BA Mass Communications
Have you run for elected office before? (Please list previous offices sought, with years): Yes, Texas House of Representatives District 95, 2004-2012
Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism: Since I was sworn into the House of Representatives in 2013, my offices in Dallas and Fort Worth have always worked to help constituents by helping with government agencies and access to essential benefits. We also work with local nonprofits to help obtain funding for projects. Since 2021, I have helped our community secure over $40 million in community funding. I also helped create the Affordable Connectivity Program, which is helping over 1 million people in Texas, not to mention those across the country, connect to affordable internet and bridge the digital divide across our nation.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? If yes, please explain: No
Who are your top three campaign contributors?: Vaughn Vennerberg,
Why are you seeking this office?: I am a lifelong North Texas resident and am running once again to give diverse communities across Texas’ 33rd district a voice in Washington, DC. The district I represent faces many pressing issues, such as access to good-paying jobs, updating our infrastructure, improving public education, access to the sacred right to vote, and lack of access to quality, affordable healthcare. I have worked to combat these issues head-on during my time in Congress and want to continue tackling them.
What are your top 3 policy priorities?: Our state faces many pressing challenges. Access to affordable health care, better career opportunities for people and families who live in low-income communities, protecting reproductive freedom, access to the right to vote, safe and travelable infrastructure, curbing gun violence, and good education for Texas kids are some of the biggest problems facing the state right now. Democrats in Congress are doing our best to work with reasonable Republicans to pass legislation to help our constituents and address these issues.
Would you support the bipartisan border security bill that failed in the current Congress? Why or why not? If not, what changes would need to be made to win your vote?: Yes. Republicans must stop playing partisan politics and work with Democrats to finally pass a much-needed immigration reform package that will fix the broken system and secure the border. We need cooperation and collaboration with countries to get to the root of the migration problem and should work to strengthen Latin American economies and democracies.
Do you support extending provisions of the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act set to expire in 2025? Why/why not?: No.The Republican tax bill helps the wealthiest families avoid paying their fair share of taxes, slashes the corporate tax rate in half, unfairly shifts the burden of taxes onto hardworking Americans living paycheck to paycheck, and keeps loopholes that allow corporations to ship jobs overseas. Tax reform that affects millions of Americans should be accomplished in a bipartisan fashion to ensure fairness for all. That is why I provided my suggestions on how to improve the bill to help struggling families, which was ultimately blocked by House Republicans.
Would you support a Federal ban on abortion? Why/why not?: No. My Democratic colleagues and I are working around the clock to enshrine reproductive freedom and codify Roe v. Wade into law at the federal level. In the last few years, Democrats have worked to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act to make the protections of Roe v. Wade the law of the land. We are also working to get the Ensuring Women’s Right to Reproductive Freedom Act passed that would stop Republicans from criminalizing, fining, or suing women who exercise their constitutional right to travel across state lines to obtain an abortion.
What role should the Federal government play in addressing the affordable housing crisis?: In Congress, we must come together to pass legislation supporting working families. I will continue to fight to reinstate the Child Tax Credit because while it was in effect during the pandemic, it reduced child poverty by 17%. I also have supported the Biden-Harris Administration’s efforts to reduce housing costs by cutting red tape that has historically blocked the growth of the housing supply.
Will you accept the results of your election regardless of the outcome?: Yes
What’s a Federal policy impacting Texas that’s important to you, but not necessarily as high profile? Why do you think it’s important?: Access to affordable internet. In 2020, I helped launch the Emergency Broadband Benefit program, which became the Affordable Connectivity Program. It has helped millions of low-income families access affordable internet. This vital program will run out of federal funding in the next few months unless Congress acts. Republicans must work with Democrats and President Biden to get this vital program more funding.
Why should voters choose you over your opponent?: I have proudly served in Congress for over six terms. During this time, I have used my position to create jobs, expand affordable and accessible health care, bolster our infrastructure in North Texas, protect voting rights, fight for comprehensive immigration reform, and help my constituents access critical COVID-19 relief and resources. I also have the opportunity to serve on the Energy and Commerce and House Armed Services Committee. Given Texas’s dominance in the energy sector and the number of service members and defense companies that call North Texas home, I have used these positions to deliver critical resources to our state. I am also proud of my work with the Biden-Harris Administration and the Congressional Leaders to secure key funding directly benefiting North Texas.
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