Here are the Republican primary runoff candidates for Congressional District 30

The top two vote-getters in the March 3 Republican primary for Texas Congressional District 30 are competing again in the May 26 runoff. The winner will face off in November with Democratic nominee Rev. Frederick D. Haynes III.

Here are the Republicans’ responses to the Star-Telegram candidate questionnaire, in the order they’ll appear on your ballot.

Everett Jackson

Did not respond.

Sholdon Daniels

Age (as of March 3): 39

Campaign website: danielsforus.com

Best way for voters to reach you: campaign@danielsforus.com Occupation: Public Interest Lawyer

Education: Texas Southern, Juris Doctorate Degree ; UT-Dallas, Bachelor’s Degree

Have you run for elected office before? Yes, Sherman City Council Place 1-2018

Please list the highlights of your civic involvement/activism in Dallas County and Tarrant County.

My early work in Dallas County began around 2008, when I participated in efforts challenging the mismanagement of Dallas ISD funds and advocating for fiscal accountability. During that same period, I contributed to a DART community study focused on expanding public transit access in South Dallas. I also served as Outreach Manager for former Richardson City Councilman Mark Solomon (2008–09) and worked with policy and economic development programs at UT Dallas.

My ties to North Texas are personal and generational: my mother is from Grayson County, and my father’s family is rooted in Dallas and Tarrant Counties. After losing a close cousin in Sherman, Texas, I led a successful effort to advocate for and pass local legislation improving protections for cyclists and pedestrians.

In Tarrant County, I have represented clients in local courts, supported locally owned businesses, and maintain close family ties. My civic work has focused on accountability, access, and practical solutions.

Have you ever been arrested, charged with a crime or otherwise been part of a criminal proceeding? Yes, I have been arrested before.

Have you been involved in a civil lawsuit or bankruptcy proceeding? I sued a place for injuring me.

Who are your top three campaign contributors?

Everyday people giving small donations.

Why are you seeking this office?

To protect the future of this country by bringing more government transparency and accountability, supporting families and small businesses, to make our cities safer, and to put the American People first in Washington DC.

If elected, what would your top 3 policy priorities be?

Term Limits; Banning Private Equity Firms From buying up single family homes, duplexes, triplexes, and four-plexes; and Healthcare Reform

How will you measure your success as a member of Congress?

By the number of bills I introduce and get passed, reduction of crime and illiteracy across America, and how many direct economic opportunities I create for people in TX30.

Why should voters choose you over your opponents?

Voters should choose me because I offer real independence, real courage, and real representation. I am the candidate who stepped forward when running seemed unlikely—not because it was easy, but because this district deserves a representative chosen by the people, not hand-picked by party insiders or special interests. I am running to restore trust and ensure this community has a genuine voice in Washington. I bring a smart, common-sense approach grounded in real-world experience in law, public policy, small business, and community service. I understand how policy affects families and neighborhoods because I have worked directly with them. I am young, capable, and prepared for the responsibility of office. I am not motivated by fame or fortune. I am committed to a life of effective service to Texas, my family, and this country, and to delivering accountable leadership that puts people first.

What is the biggest challenge facing Congress? How would you address it if elected?

The biggest challenge facing Congress is that it has lost its connection to the people it serves. Too many members stay in office for decades, accumulate power and wealth, and begin to act like royalty rather than representatives. As a result, Congress spends more time grandstanding, fundraising, and protecting its own interests than solving real problems—and the American people see little improvement in their daily lives.

If elected, I would focus on restoring accountability and productivity. That means supporting term limits, enforcing ethics and transparency rules, and refocusing Congress on its core responsibilities: legislating, oversight, and fiscal discipline. I would work across factions to pass practical, common-sense reforms and oppose performative politics that waste time and taxpayer dollars. My goal is simple: a Congress that works for the people again, not itself.

What is the number one challenge your constituents are facing, and how do you plan to resolve it?

The number one challenge my constituents face is a lack of real representation in Washington, D.C. Too many families feel ignored while policies are made that don’t reflect their needs, values, or lived reality. For years, people have been led by destructive policies that promise progress but deliver fewer opportunities, higher costs, and less stability. As a result, many are struggling to access good jobs, affordable housing, reliable transportation, and positive role models for the next generation.

I plan to address this by being a present, accountable, and independent voice for the people I represent. That means advocating for policies that expand opportunity—supporting job creation, workforce training, homeownership, and small businesses—while opposing ideas that keep people dependent or stagnant. My focus will be on restoring dignity through opportunity and ensuring this district has leadership that fights for better outcomes, not excuses.

How would you interact and work with members of the opposite party? Are there specific policy ideas where you see opportunities for bipartisanship?

I would work with members of the opposite party by staying focused on results, not labels. My approach is grounded in serving the people first and finding common ground where it exists, rather than defaulting to partisan conflict. Effective governance requires listening, negotiating in good faith, and being willing to work with anyone committed to improving outcomes for the public.

There are clear opportunities for bipartisanship, particularly around affordability, opportunity, and government transparency. Issues such as lowering the cost of living, expanding workforce training, supporting small businesses, increasing housing access, and strengthening oversight to reduce waste and corruption are not partisan concerns—they are shared priorities. I will collaborate where progress is possible and stand firm where principles are at stake, always with the goal of delivering practical solutions for the people I represent.

How would you approach foreign policy as a member of Congress?

As a member of Congress, I would approach foreign policy with discipline, humility, and rigor. That means relying on data, consulting subject-matter experts, and carefully weighing intelligence and strategic consequences before taking action. Foreign policy is complex, and rushed decisions often create long-term costs for American lives, resources, and credibility.

I believe Congress must reclaim its role by asking hard questions, demanding clear objectives, and ensuring accountability for outcomes. My guiding principle would be protecting American interests while avoiding unnecessary entanglements—making decisions grounded in facts, realism, and a clear understanding of the regional, economic, and security implications involved.

What steps, if any, should Congress take regarding artificial intelligence, including regulation and/or safeguards?

Congress should approach artificial intelligence with balance and restraint. While reasonable safeguards are necessary, we must ensure that regulation does not become censorship disguised as guardrails or a tool to entrench powerful interests at the expense of free expression, innovation, and competition. Transparency, due process, and viewpoint neutrality should be central principles in any AI-related policy.

At the same time, Congress must ensure the American workforce is prepared for an AI-driven future. That means investing in education, vocational training, and upskilling programs so workers can adapt and thrive as technology evolves. AI should be used to expand opportunity, productivity, and economic growth—not to replace accountability or leave working Americans behind. My focus would be on protecting liberty, fostering innovation, and equipping people to succeed in the next economy.

What should be prioritized in federal spending and what, if anything, do you believe should receive less budget allocations?

Federal spending should be prioritized toward core responsibilities that directly improve the lives and security of Americans. That includes national defense, border security, infrastructure, public safety, and programs that strengthen the workforce through education, vocational training, and small-business support. Spending should also focus on caring for veterans and ensuring accountability in essential social programs so help reaches those who truly need it.

At the same time, Congress must rein in waste, fraud, and abuse, and reduce funding for bloated bureaucracies, duplicative programs, and initiatives that lack measurable outcomes. Too much federal spending today supports administrative overhead, ideological programs, and foreign commitments that do little to benefit American taxpayers. I believe every dollar should be justified, transparent, and tied to real results. Fiscal responsibility isn’t about doing less. It’s about spending smarter and putting the American people first.

What should Congress do to address healthcare?

Congress should prioritize making healthcare affordable, transparent, and accountable. That starts with holding large insurance companies responsible and requiring real pricing transparency so patients know costs upfront. Basic, life-saving medications like insulin and routine treatments must remain affordable for all Americans.

Congress should also expand access to care by empowering nurses and other qualified providers to perform basic healthcare services traditionally limited to physicians, especially in underserved areas. This would lower costs and improve access without sacrificing quality.

In addition, Congress should take public health seriously by regulating toxic food dyes, carcinogenic additives, and ultra-processed foods that contribute to chronic illness. Finally, we must address mental health by expanding access to treatment while rejecting the normalization of unhealthy outcomes instead of solving root causes.

How do you plan to ensure affordability for Texans in the day-to-day as well as in the housing market?

Affordability starts with recognizing that government costs are always passed on to the people. I will work to roll back unnecessary federal regulations that drive up costs for cities and counties and ultimately show up as higher local taxes, fees, and living expenses for Texans.

In the housing market, I will push to ban private equity firms from buying up single-family homes, which has distorted prices, reduced supply, and locked families out of homeownership. Homes should be places to live, not financial instruments for Wall Street.

I will also fight to reduce taxes and government fees that quietly raise everyday costs, including fees on gasoline, transportation, airfare, ammunition, and other essentials. My goal is simple: lower the cost of living by shrinking the hidden government burdens that make daily life more expensive and restoring affordability for working families.

What should Congress do, if anything, to address security along the U.S.-Mexico border and immigration policy?

Congress must secure the border while modernizing enforcement. That includes deploying advanced technology such as AI, drones, and real-time surveillance to improve border security, reduce strain on personnel, and deter illegal crossings more effectively.

Illegal border crossings should be federally criminalized and enforced consistently to restore respect for the rule of law and protect national sovereignty. Enforcement must be clear, predictable, and fair.

At the same time, immigration policy should reward those who strengthen America. I support expedited immigration pathways for immigrants nominated by American entrepreneurs who create jobs, invest locally, and hire American workers. Immigration should expand opportunity and economic growth — not undercut wages or displace working Americans. My approach prioritizes security, fairness, and an immigration system that serves the national interest.