Patrick Gillespie
Won the Republican primary runoff against John Sims
Patrick Gillespie is a Texas resident originally from West Virginia who has worked as a technical writer for companies including Boeing, BAE Systems and American Airlines, and previously served as vice president of a local Machinists and Aerospace Workers union.[3]
Basic profile — the most important sourced facts we found.
Positions on the issues
- SupportsExpand immigration enforcement and deportations
Calls for enforcing existing immigration laws and securing the border, saying millions of people have entered the country illegally.[3]
“We must have immigrants vetted and not allow an invasion of tens of thousands crossing our border illegally daily.”
- OpposesFaster transition away from fossil fuels
Opposes U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Accords and favors switching coal-fired electricity generation to natural gas rather than mandating faster transition away from fossil fuels.[3]
“The U.S. can switch to natural gas for all the electric generation done by coal in the U.S. Plus, get out of the Paris Climate Accords and demand our money back.”
- OpposesStricter gun laws
Opposes abolishing the Second Amendment and says red-flag laws have not proven to be a deterrent; supports enforcing existing gun laws and addressing mental health.[3]
“I will not propose the abolition of the 2nd Amendment.”
In their words — priorities
- Calls for stronger enforcement of existing immigration law and opposes what he describes as an "invasion" at the southern border.[3]
- Supports getting the U.S. out of the Paris Climate Accords and expanding domestic natural-gas electricity generation instead of coal.[3]
- Calls for balancing the federal budget and paying down the national debt.[3]
Background
- Born in Huntington, West Virginia; attended Huntington High School and Marshall University.[3]
- Worked as a technical writer at Boeing, BAE Systems, American Airlines and Flextronics International, and currently works at UPS Supply Chain Solutions.[3]
- Served as vice president of Local Lodge 2768 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers.[3]