Gordon Heslop: Republican Candidate for the 32nd Congressional District of Texas

Gordon Heslop

Email: gordon@heslopforcongress.com

Retired Educator

For most of the last 20 years I was on the faculty at Texas A&M-Commerce, now renamed East Texas A&M University. I am now retired.

Degrees: Doctor of Business Administration, Bachelor of Laws with Honours, Master of Business Administration, Master of Commerce with Honours, Bachelor of Commerce

Certifications: CPA, CMA, CIA, CFM (all non-active)

Most Admired People: Ronald Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, Winston Churchill, Judge Frank Caprio

I'M A MANA CANDIDATE

Make America Normal Again

Laser focused on strengthening the middle class while reducing the national debt and maintaining America's role as leader of the free world.

Endorsed by Dallas Morning News

WE CAN'T CONTINUE LIKE THIS: The last 10 years have been a very unsettling period in U.S. political life. It started with the Democrat pushed Russian hoax, which was gleefully promoted by much of the national media and which sucked much of the energy out of the first 26 months of President Trump's first term. The Covid 19 pandemic struck in early 2020, leading to a huge death toll, massive economic dislocation, shutdowns, public debate and controversy, and massive increases in government spending and debt. In May 2020 the death of George Floyd led to huge protests and the largest man-made insurance losses in U.S. history. It also resulted in the BLM movement becoming much more prominent nationally. Eventually it was shunned by many local black leaders who claimed it didn't help their community and only stirred up trouble. Two of the three founders were "trained Marxists". BLM spent millions buying expensive homes, millions more were paid out to family/friends, and only a low percentage of donations were given to charities.

Joe Biden won the 2020 election and Donald Trump embarked upon a still running false claim that he actually won the election and it was rigged. He has basically forced this false claim on elected office holders or forced them into silence. The Biden years brought a disastrous border policy which allowed millions of undocumented people to cross into the U.S. The recovery from Covid 19 also caused many difficulties, including higher than normal inflation. After winning the 2024 election President Trump has sealed the border and enjoyed many other successes. However, a number of his policies have been controversial, including a very chaotic roll out of a tariff policy. Regrettably President Trump has massively increased his vitriolic behavior. This is just not appropriate or dignified for any politician, especially for the leader of the free world. It's also a terrible example for our children. I urge him to act in an appropriate manner and stop all of this nonsense. Many of the problems mentioned above were created by our politicians and we definitely now need to make significant changes.

NO SUIT PLEDGE: As a protest against what I view as the worst incident I have seen from the White House over the last 40 years, I will not be wearing a suit until at least the primary. The treatment of President Zelenskyy of Ukraine by Donald Trump, J.D. Vance and Marjorie Taylor Greene's boyfriend was not only disgusting but false. President Trump berated President Zelenskyy and stated he didn't have any cards to play. That is totally false. Ukraine has the biggest card of all - the flame of freedom beating in the heart of every brave Ukrainian. In 2024 I fulfilled a long-time ambition - to visit Scotland. At the Bannockburn National Memorial, on the base of the statue of Robert The Bruce, are some of the greatest words I have ever read.

"We fight not for glory, nor for wealth, nor honour but only and alone we fight for freedom which no good man surrenders but with his life".

That is why Ukraine is fighting. Defying all expectations they have resisted the Russian invasion for almost four years now.

I AM NOT MAGA - HERE'S WHY. As President Trump states, he decides what MAGA believes. To get his electoral endorsement a candidate must pledge support for MAGA. Once in office, he demands members of Congress vote the way he wants. If a member opposes him, he launches into a vitriolic attack on him/her and promises to have them primaried. So basically, a member of Congress has to become an automaton. They lose their free will. Voters elect members of Congress to represent them, not simply to follow orders from a different branch of government.

I'M 50/50 on TRUMP: I have been a conservative my entire adult life and a Republican for 44 years. I have voted for Donald Trump all three times - in 2016, 2020, and 2024. However, in this new term I don't support all of his policies. If elected, I will support his policies I believe in but oppose those I disagree with. Some I will oppose very strongly. I commend him, for example, for sealing the southern border, bringing home Americans wrongly imprisoned in a number of different countries overseas, and appointing conservative judges, amongst other achievements. I oppose his tariff policies, his pardoning of January 6 protestors who assaulted police, his Putin friendly handling of Ukraine, and his stated wish to take over Canada and Greenland.

NAMING THINGS AFTER HIMSELF: I strongly oppose anything being named after any currently serving politician. My preference is that this only be done after the death of the person, as an honor and remembrance. President Trump is attaching his name to so many buildings, programs etc., all of which in my opinion should be removed.

NOBEL PEACE PRIZE: As an interested observer I have paid attention for many years to any announcement of the prize winners for Peace, Medicine, and Science. I have never heard of anyone basically campaigning for the award until the recent actions of Donald Trump. I view the claims of many that Donald Trump deserved the recently awarded prize as ridiculous. Can anyone detail what Donald Trump did in the area of peace between his swearing in on January 20, 2025, and the close of nominations on February 1, 2025? In that less than two-week period all I can remember from Washington, D.C. are chainsaws and the firing of thousands of government employees. If he were to be awarded it would have to be towards the end of this year (2026) or later.

GREENLAND: Greenlanders, like any other people, have a right to self-determination. Both Denmark and Greenland are perfectly happy to allow the U.S. to construct and operate any military base we deem necessary in Greenland. I strongly oppose invading Greenland. Doing so would have disastrous consequences for our wonderful Western civilization. It would likely lead to the breakup of NATO, which has protected us for 80 years from the terrible world wars we experienced last century. So many countries would no longer trust the U.S. Each country would have to fend for itself, and Russia and China would exploit the situation and make inroads into many nations. If elected, and President Trump invades Greenland I WILL vote to impeach him. If elected after we control Greenland, I will vote to return it to its residents. The time of taking new territory ended about 160 years ago.

TAXES: The middle class must not pay a higher rate of tax than higher earners.

SHUTDOWNS: Federal government shutdowns should not occur. Citizens have a right to expect access to government services at all times. A simple way to prevent shutdowns is to have a law which approves government funding to continue at existing levels until new funding is approved by Congress.

FOOD COSTS: All tariffs on food need to be abolished because they have increased food costs for all consumers. Lowering fuel costs would also help decrease food costs as transportation costs account for a significant part of the total cost of all products.

EDUCATION: The cost of higher education in recent years has increased much faster than the general rate of inflation. A bachelor's degree needs to become a three-year degree rather than a four-year degree. This would reduce the total cost by 25%. The traditional first year can be covered in high school, as it currently is by many students. Additional cost savings could be made by decreasing the number of administrators, whose numbers have increased far faster than student numbers. This is especially true because administrators are paid much more than the instructors who actually teach the students. At the high school level, we need large numbers of students leaving high school after the 10th grade and entering trade schools or apprenticeships. We have a severe shortage of skilled trades workers. Also, income levels are higher than they are for many university graduates in low demand fields.

HEALTH CARE: This is an incredibly complex, expansive, and expensive area. I am opposed to a national universal government run health care system due to its inefficiency and potential for fraud. The recently exposed massive fraud in some government run programs in Minnesota is a perfect example of the fraud which is more common in government operated areas than exist in the private sector. Obamacare needs to be abolished, and a return made to the private market. In medicine, prevention is cheaper than a cure. In that regard I have a couple of suggestions of specific government provided services which are very limited in scope and therefore also in cost and which are fraud resistant. Age levels would be determined by medical experts, but I will use 50 years old as an example. All citizens and permanent residents would be eligible for a yearly blood test, accessed by social security number and available anywhere in the country and without visiting a doctor first. Results would be sent to each individual, and their doctor (if desired). Such a system would save unneeded doctor visits if the results were normal but identify problems if indicated by test results. For males, the PSA test would be included. For females, a separate mammogram test would be provided. Tests for those under 50 would be provided less frequently, as determined by medical experts. With this program there would be no possibility of adding other tests to charge more. People would register online and then report to the testing center, for example on a Saturday morning. The program would be done under contract and easily audited because the number of registrations would need to match the number of tests given and then the number of reports issued by the analysis center. Cost efficiencies would be gained by the mass volume of people receiving a quick standardized test. The vital information provided to each person would definitely improve health care, in some cases providing a service which many people have never had or have not had for a long time. A healthy citizen is the desired result.

HOUSING: There is an urgent need for more housing in the U.S. and a need for an increased percentage of home ownership and a decrease in the average age of the first-time home buyer. If elected, I will be very focused on providing starter homes for thousands of people in the 32nd district. I have a plan with some innovative features. So many people are paying rents of from $1,000 up to $2,000 per month. My plan would provide homes for less than $1,000 per month. Owning a home provides certainty and stability. It also freezes the monthly payment so there is no threat of rent increases or having to move to a different apartment. For those with children it allows the children to return to the same home every day, year after year, unless you buy a new home, and to build relationships in the community. There are builders in Texas currently building new homes for around $155,000. They are provided with an oven, microwave, and dishwasher. I would add a fridge/freezer and washer and drier, so I am going to use a figure of $160,000 for this example. This would be better than you buying these appliances separately because that would be a short-term loan with a significant monthly payment. At an interest rate of 5% the monthly payment on a 30-year mortgage would be $858.91. At 6% it would be $959.28. Depending on an individual's situation I would use a $3,000, $2,000, or $1,000 down payment, but you would get this money back. Using the $3,000 number, the last payment of the first year would be paid from that deposit, effectively allowing you to skip that payment from your current income. The same would happen at the end of the second and third years. Any remaining balance from the initial deposit would go to reducing principal. Also, after the first year there would be 3 skip payment months which you could use, no approvals required - with only one per year allowed. In the case of a single mother with no savings the deposit could be waived if she had a good employment history and respectable credit. The whole point with such a plan is to allow people to "get their foot in the door" and not be forced to continue renting and watching housing prices rise even further.

EPSTEIN: The entire Epstein "case" has been handled very poorly, resulting in a betrayal of society's duty to his young victims. His original state jail sentence in 2008 was ridiculously short, even allowing him work release. He was arrested on federal charges in July 2019 and died in jail the following month. Apart from questions regarding how he died there was relatively little activity until the 2024 election campaign when MAGA supporters demanded the release of the Epstein files. Although during the campaign he committed to releasing the files, once assuming office President Trump fought very hard to keep the files sealed until he was forced to agree when 4 Republicans joined with House Democrats in demanding their release. Following demands for further investigation the House leadership moved to keep control of the issue by having the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform investigate the case. This is showing signs of a typical political ploy, used by both parties in the past, to control the narrative on the subject under review. No Republican members attended the deposition of Les Wexler in Ohio last week despite 2 members being from Ohio. Given that Wexler is thought to be the source of Epstein's wealth this indicates a lack of seriousness on the part of the Republicans. The appearance of Attorney General Pam Bondi before the committee a few days earlier was a complete disgrace. So many questions from opposing members were met with a tirade of vitriolic responses, ignoring the questions. If the roles were reversed Republicans would be loudly complaining. In view of the current situation, including the fact that approximately 3 million pages are still not released, I suggest the following: 1. Pam Bondi needs to be replaced due to her handling of the Epstein case and also the fact that in many respects she is acting more like the President's attorney, which is not her role and 2. A highly respected, clearly impartial judge be appointed to fully review the case, recommending criminal charges against any man who raped an underage girl within the entire Epstein setup. Society must promptly prosecute anyone who commits sexual acts against underage girls. The possibility that girls as young as 13 and 14 were raped in this case is just horrific. I understand that much time has passed in this case and that makes taking action more difficult. Some participants may have passed away. Also, the Democrats don't need to cover themselves in glory on this issue because I don't recall their current response being evident during the 4 years of the Biden presidency.

Dallas Morning News Endorsement:

We recommend in the Republican primary for 32nd Congressional District

Gordon Heslop, Paul Bondar, Ryan Binkley vie for nomination in 9-person race.

By Dallas Morning News Editorial

Gordon Heslop is an independent thinker, an underdog and a breath of fresh air in a race otherwise crowded with partisans and empty slogans. He’s a long shot, but voters should give him a chance.

Redrawn last year, the new Republican-leaning 32nd Congressional District stretches from Carrollton almost to Longview.

Most of the nine candidates in this race are MAGA parrots. Heslop has made the theme of his campaign MANA: Make America Normal Again.

“MAGA doesn’t make any sense. You have to agree with everything Trump says. If you don’t agree, he pushes you out,” Heslop said in our candidate interview. “A representative is meant to represent their district, not another branch of government.”

Several of Heslop’s opponents averred their own independence but, when pressed, couldn’t produce a single issue on which they disagree with the White House.

Heslop praised the president for some of his actions, especially increased immigration enforcement at the border. He called President Joe Biden’s failures there “egregious.” But he condemned Trump’s handling of several other matters, such as the war in Ukraine, questionable ethics and divisive rhetoric.

“There’s got to be a level of decorum,” Heslop said. Amen.

Heslop called himself a Reagan conservative with loyalties to principles of freedom and private enterprise, not crony capitalism. He supports sweeping reforms to reduce federal debt and deficits.

We can’t endorse all his proposals — he favors a tax on unrealized capital gains — but several of them, such as removing the cap on Social Security payroll tax for those making more than $184,500, could be effective. Heslop was the only candidate in this field who acknowledged to us that the formulas for entitlements need to be adjusted on both the revenue and expense sides. His opponents were mostly content to repeat the word DOGE ad nauseam.

Heslop, 73, is a retired professor who taught accounting at East Texas A&M University. He came to the U.S. from New Zealand at 30 to get a doctorate degree.

Heslop’s campaign is overshadowed by opponents buying radio ads and interstate billboards. Those include Paul Bondar and Ryan Binkley, whose campaigns have raised millions, as well as frequent candidates Darrell Day, 69, and likely front-runner Jace Yarbrough, 39.

Bondar, 46, who ran for Oklahoma’s 4th Congressional District in 2024, strikes a conciliatory tone about political polarization, which we appreciate. He said it’s time to turn down the volume of our rhetoric.

Binkley, 58, is a businessman and pastor who self-funded a brief campaign for president in 2024.

Also running are Abteen Vaziri, 47, Aimee Carrasco, 53, Monty Montanez, 46, and James Ussery, 52.

This race will likely go to a runoff. We hope Heslop is in it, giving Republican voters more time to hear his message.