Lance Gooden

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Lance Gooden
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 5th district
Assumed office
January 3, 2019
Preceded byJeb Hensarling
Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 4th district
In office
January 10, 2017 – January 3, 2019
Preceded byStuart Spitzer
Succeeded byKeith Bell
In office
January 11, 2011 – January 13, 2015
Preceded byBetty Brown
Succeeded byStuart Spitzer
Personal details
Born
Lance Carter Gooden

(1982-12-01) December 1, 1982 (age 41)
Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
Spouse
Alexa Calligas
​
(m. 2016)​
Children2
EducationUniversity of Texas at Austin (BA, BBA)
WebsiteHouse website

Lance Carter Gooden[1] (born December 1, 1982) is an American politician serving as the U.S. representative for Texas's 5th congressional district since 2019.[2] His district includes parts of eastern Dallas, as well as a large swath of exurban and rural territory to Dallas's east.

A member of the Republican Party, Gooden previously served as the Texas State Representative for the 4th district (Henderson County and Kaufman County) from 2011 to 2015. He lost his reelection bid in the 2014 Republican primary election but was returned to office in the 2016 election for a non-consecutive third term in the state legislature before he ran for Congress.

Early life and education[edit]

A native of Terrell in Kaufman County, an eastern suburb of Dallas, Gooden graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, from which he received a Bachelor of Arts in government in 2001 and a BBA in finance in 2004.

Texas House of Representatives[edit]

In the 2010 primary election, Gooden won 50.5% of the vote, upsetting six-term incumbent Republican Representative Betty Brown.[3] Gooden had formerly been Brown's legislative assistant.

Upon taking office in 2011, Gooden worked on the state budget in an attempt to eliminate wasteful spending. He served on the House Appropriations, County Affairs, and House Administration committees, the last of which handles employment by the House. In 2010, Gooden had no Democratic opponent in his heavily Republican district.[4][5] In 2011, he assisted hotel mogul Monty Bennett in his fight against the Tarrant Regional Water District, pushing legislation to designate Bennett's 1,000-acre ranch as a municipal utility district and granting immunity from a proposed water pipeline through the property.[6]

Gooden won renomination to a second term in the Republican primary held on May 29, 2012. He polled 6,385 votes (53.5%) to his opponent Stuart Spitzer's 5,545 (46.5%).[7][8] Gooden was unopposed for a second term in the November 6 general election. In 2014, Gooden again faced Spitzer for reelection, and this time lost to Spitzer in a close race.[9]

In 2016, Gooden staged a comeback and unseated Spitzer in the March 1 Republican primary, 14,500 votes (51.8%) to 13,502 (48.2%). He returned to the State House in January 2017.[10]

U.S. House of Representatives[edit]

Elections[edit]

2018[edit]

See also: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas § District 5

Gooden won the Republican nomination for the 5th congressional district and the November 6 general election, receiving 62.7% of the vote.[2]

2020[edit]

See also: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Texas § District 5

Gooden was reelected on November 3, receiving 62% of the vote.

Tenure[edit]

2020 election[edit]

In December 2020, Gooden was one of 126 Republican members of the House of Representatives to sign an amicus brief in support of Texas v. Pennsylvania, a lawsuit filed at the United States Supreme Court contesting the results of the 2020 presidential election, in which Joe Biden defeated[11] incumbent Donald Trump. The Supreme Court declined to hear the case on the basis that Texas lacked standing under Article III of the Constitution to challenge the results of an election held by another state.[12][13][14]

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a statement that called signing the amicus brief an act of "election subversion." She also reprimanded Gooden and the other House members who supported the lawsuit: "The 126 Republican Members that signed onto this lawsuit brought dishonor to the House. Instead of upholding their oath to support and defend the Constitution, they chose to subvert the Constitution and undermine public trust in our sacred democratic institutions."[15][16] New Jersey Democratic Representative Bill Pascrell, called for Pelosi to not seat Gooden and the other Republicans who signed onto the brief supporting the suit, arguing that "the text of the 14th Amendment expressly forbids Members of Congress from engaging in rebellion against the United States. Trying to overturn a democratic election and install a dictator seems like a pretty clear example of that."[17]

Gooden voted against certifying the electors from Arizona and Pennsylvania in the 2020 United States presidential election[18] and voted against the second impeachment of Donald Trump following the 2021 United States Capitol attack.[19]

George Floyd Justice in Policing Act[edit]

On March 3, 2021, Gooden was the only House Republican to vote for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed 220–212. Later that evening, he tweeted that he voted for the bill "accidentally", claiming he pushed the wrong button, a mistake he failed to notice in time.[20] Gooden then tweeted that he had "arguably the most conservative/America First voting record in Congress", and "Of course I wouldn't support the radical left's, Anti-Police Act". According to Gooden, he had the official record changed to reflect his opposition.[21]

Iraq[edit]

In June 2021, Gooden was one of 49 House Republicans to vote to repeal the Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq Resolution of 2002.[22][23]

Immigration[edit]

Gooden voted against the Further Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2020 which authorizes DHS to nearly double the available H-2B visas for the remainder of FY 2020.[24][25]

Israel[edit]

Gooden voted to support Israel following the 2023 Hamas attack on Israel.[26][27]

LGBT rights[edit]

On July 19, 2022, Gooden did not vote for the Respect for Marriage Act, which would codify the right to same-sex marriage in federal law.[28]

In August 2022, he co-sponsored a bill put forth by Marjorie Taylor Greene that would criminalize gender-affirming health care for trans youth.[29]

Hong Kong[edit]

In October 2022, Politico reported that Gooden criticized some US-based financial executives for attending the Global Financial Leaders' Investment Summit, saying: "The hypocrisy is staggering and every financial institution enabling China's atrocities should be ashamed."[30]

Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023[edit]

Gooden was among the 71 Republicans who voted against final passage of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 in the House.[31]

Committee assignments[edit]

Caucus membership[edit]

Electoral history[edit]

Republican primary results[33]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lance Gooden 17,501 29.9
Republican Bunni Pounds 12,895 22.0
Republican Sam Deen 10,102 17.2
Republican Kenneth Sheets 7,011 12.0
Republican Jason Wright 6,675 11.4
Republican Danny Campbell 1,767 3.0
Republican David Williams 1,603 2.7
Republican Charles Lingerfelt 1,023 1.8
Total votes 58,777 100.0
Republican primary runoff results
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lance Gooden 18,364 54.0
Republican Bunni Pounds 15,634 46.0
Total votes 33,998 100.0
Texas's 5th congressional district, 2018[34]
Party Candidate Votes %
Republican Lance Gooden 130,617 62.3
Democratic Dan Wood 78,666 37.6
Independent Phil Gray (write-in) 224 0.1
Total votes 209,507 100.0
Republican hold

Personal life[edit]

On October 1, 2016, Gooden married Alexa Calligas, whose family is from Shreveport, Louisiana.[35] They reside in Terrell with their two children.[36]

Gooden grew up attending the Rockwall and Brin Church of Christ in Terrell, Texas, and remains a member of that congregation.[37]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Gooden v. Weaver et al.
  2. ^ a b "Lance Gooden wins bid for Texas' 5th Congressional District, a position not held by a Kaufman County resident in nearly a century". inForney.com. Forney, Texas. November 6, 2018. Retrieved November 16, 2018.
  3. ^ Ricks, Lauren (March 3, 2010). "Gooden upsets Brown". Athens Daily Review. Athens, Texas. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  4. ^ Formby, Brandon (January 4, 2010). "Tough fights for Texas House shape up in Dallas area". The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on May 4, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  5. ^ "New faces set to take office". The Kaufman Herald. Kaufman, Texas. March 4, 2010. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
  6. ^ Root, Jay; Svitek, Patrick (May 16, 2018). "Lance Gooden's biggest donor in the Texas Legislature is now spending big to get him into Congress. The two go way back". The Texas Tribune.
  7. ^ "2012 Republican Party Primary Election - RESULTS". Texas Secretary of State. June 6, 2012. Archived from the original on June 10, 2012. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  8. ^ "About Stuart Spitzer". stuartspitzer.com. Archived from the original on April 4, 2015. Retrieved December 3, 2014.
  9. ^ "HD 4: Spitzer Faces Gooden, Again". February 19, 2016.
  10. ^ "Republican primary returns". Texas Secretary of State. March 1, 2016. Archived from the original on March 6, 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
  11. ^ Blood, Michael R.; Riccardi, Nicholas (December 5, 2020). "Biden officially secures enough electors to become president". AP News. Archived from the original on December 8, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  12. ^ Liptak, Adam (December 11, 2020). "Supreme Court Rejects Texas Suit Seeking to Subvert Election". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  13. ^ "Order in Pending Case" (PDF). Supreme Court of the United States. December 11, 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  14. ^ Diaz, Daniella. "Brief from 126 Republicans supporting Texas lawsuit in Supreme Court". CNN. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 11, 2020.
  15. ^ Smith, David (December 12, 2020). "Supreme court rejects Trump-backed Texas lawsuit aiming to overturn election results". The Guardian. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  16. ^ "Pelosi Statement on Supreme Court Rejecting GOP Election Sabotage Lawsuit" (Press release). Speaker Nancy Pelosi. December 11, 2020. Archived from the original on August 14, 2022. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
  17. ^ Williams, Jordan (December 11, 2020). "Democrat asks Pelosi to refuse to seat lawmakers supporting Trump's election challenges". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 12, 2020. Retrieved December 12, 2020.
  18. ^ "Congressman Lance Gooden Votes Against Certification of Arizona & Pennsylvania Electors". January 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Congressman Gooden to Vote Against Impeachment of President Trump". January 13, 2021.
  20. ^ Budryk, Zach (March 3, 2021). "Sole GOP vote on House police reform bill says he 'accidentally pressed the wrong voting button'". The Hill. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  21. ^ Gooden, Lance [@Lancegooden] (March 4, 2021). "I have arguably the most conservative/America First voting record in Congress!..." (Tweet). Retrieved March 5, 2021 – via Twitter.
  22. ^ Shabad, Rebecca (June 17, 2021). "House votes to repeal 2002 Iraq War authorization". NBC News. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  23. ^ "Final Vote Results for Roll Call 172". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. June 17, 2021. Retrieved June 20, 2021.
  24. ^ "Text - H.R.1865 - 116th Congress (2019-2020): Further Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2020". December 20, 2019.
  25. ^ "Roll Call 689 Roll Call 689, Bill Number: H. R. 1865, 116th Congress, 1st Session". December 17, 2019.
  26. ^ Demirjian, Karoun (October 25, 2023). "House Declares Solidarity With Israel in First Legislation Under New Speaker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved October 30, 2023.
  27. ^ Washington, U. S. Capitol Room H154; p:225-7000, DC 20515-6601 (October 25, 2023). "Roll Call 528 Roll Call 528, Bill Number: H. Res. 771, 118th Congress, 1st Session". Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives. Retrieved October 30, 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  28. ^ Lai, Stephanie (July 19, 2022). "House Passes Same-Sex Marriage Bill Amid Concern About Court Reversal". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved July 19, 2022.
  29. ^ Migdon, Brooke; Brooks, Emily (August 19, 2022). "Marjorie Taylor Greene introduces bill to make gender-affirming care for transgender youth a felony". The Hill. Retrieved September 22, 2022.
  30. ^ "U.S. lawmakers slam U.S. corporate executives' Hong Kong trip plans". Politico. October 5, 2022. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  31. ^ "Republicans and Democrats who bucked party leaders by voting no". June 2023.
  32. ^ "Member List". Republican Study Committee. Retrieved December 21, 2017.
  33. ^ "2018 Primary Election Official Results". Texas Secretary of State. Archived from the original on March 7, 2018. Retrieved March 8, 2018.
  34. ^ "Texas Election Results". Texas Secretary of State. Retrieved December 5, 2018.
  35. ^ "Off to Rio". The Shreveport Times. Retrieved May 19, 2016.
  36. ^ "Meet Lance". Retrieved December 12, 2018.
  37. ^ Ross, Bobby Jr. (January 18, 2019). "Three members of Churches of Christ elected to U.S. House". The Christian Chronicle. Retrieved April 13, 2019.

External links[edit]

Texas House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 4th district
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Member of the Texas House of Representatives
from the 4th district
2017–2019 		Succeeded by
U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Texas's 5th congressional district
2019–present 		Incumbent
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded by United States representatives by seniority
247th 		Succeeded by
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