Robert K. Houton

A: No.

A: No.

A: Yes.

A: Yes.

A: Yes, there is absolutely a crisis at the U.S. southern border. Among the solutions I would support include: Ending the current policy of “catch and release” and replace with detect and deport. I also support the bipartisan border security bill announced in February by Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT), James Lankford (R-OK) which would authorize the U.S. Dept of Homeland Security to declare an emergency and immediately stop all incoming illegal migration. I also support this bipartisan bill since it would fund $450 million worth of technology equipment to detect and stop fentanyl from coming into the United States. I am the only candidate in the entire U.S. who began on January 3, 2023, advocating and championing the protection of our nation’s children from being poisoned and killed by illicit fentanyl. In fact, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8) co-sponsored the Fentanyl Safe Testing and Overdose Prevention Act and HR 3563 companion bill in the House (The STRIP Act) because I asked them to co-sponsor.

A: Yes, I absolutely would have voted for the bipartisan bill for the reasons stated above.

A: I would work to prevent a government shutdown by creating a bipartisan Caucus specifically for this purpose. No other Member of the U.S. Senate or House of Representatives is leading. We need to create and foster a collaborative spirit which is not being led currently by any U.S. Senator or Representative. We need not sit and wait to hope a handful of Congressional Members and the White House to repeatedly bring us to the brink of a government shutdown. Appropriators hold significantly more power than they are now exercising.

A: Hold a Summit and call all to accountability by inviting the media to ensure transparency. The horrific, barbarism of the Hamas terrorists inflicted upon innocent Israelis on October 7, 2023, demands a total defeat of Hamas. Innocent children and Palestinians’ lives must be supported through ongoing efforts of the United Nations and the global community.

A: Ukraine, the Israeli military, civilians in Gaza.

A: Yes. I support a national ban on military-style semiautomatic rifles because these are manufactured for military use, not civilian or sport and gaming. Additionally, the need for increased funding and research for mental and behavioral health is long overdue.

A: I support the filibuster as this parliamentary tool safeguard’s the right of the minority party in the U.S. Senate to have their voice heard. If the filibuster were to be eliminated, the result would mirror that of the U.S. House of Representatives whereby the party in power has Majority rule. Having Majority rule in both chambers — the Senate and House — would be crippling to the power the minority elected officials were voted in office to exercise. This is the genius of the founding fathers’ crafting the filibuster to protect.

A: 1.) Integrity 2.) Transparency and public disclosure of any conflicts the judges may have. 3.) Applying their legal training and intellect to conform to the intent of the law as it is written.

A: I ask all Maryland voters to vote for me on May 2nd (early voting) and May 14th for two core reasons. First, as a father to two young children, I have answered the call from Marylanders who have asked me for the past two years to represent their priorities and principles as the NEW GENERATIONAL LEADER and fighter with passion and energy to get the job done! Too many career politicians seek only power and the spotlight when they need to be bold in fighting for the constituents who sent them to Congress. Second, I am the only candidate in the entire United States who demonstrated singular leadership in having initiated advocacy in the 118th Congress last year on January 3, 2023, advocating and championing the protection of our nation’s children from being poisoned and killed by illicit fentanyl. In fact, U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) and Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD-8) co-sponsored the Fentanyl Safe Testing and Overdose Prevention Act and HR 3563 companion bill in the House (The STRIP Act) because I championed this legislation when no one else cared and I asked Senator Van Hollen and Congressman Raskin to act and to co-sponsor. And they did! This is the leadership I bring as your next U.S. Senator in Maryland.