WACO, Texas (KLTV) – Congressman Pete Sessions (R-TX17) is running for a 14th term in Texas’ 17th Congressional District against Democratic candidate Dr. Mark Lorenzen. The district includes Nacogdoches, Lufkin, Huntsville, and Waco.
Sessions, 69, served as the Dallas-area congressman from 1997 to 2019, losing in 2018 to Colin Allred, who gave up his seat to run for the U.S. Senate. Sessions returned to his hometown of Waco to run for the 17th Congressional District, which he won in 2020.
Mr. Sessions’ plan to improve the economy includes ramping up domestic energy production and restricting federal workers to working from home. He said he would vote in favor of extending tax breaks enacted under the Trump administration, many of whose provisions expire next year.
“Raising taxes hurts workers and hurts the economy,” Sessions said.
Lorenzen, 72, grew up in Edna, Texas, and has worked as a pediatrician for decades. He said he entered the election out of concern about the erosion of democracy in the United States.
Lorenzen said Sessions’ vote against certifying the 2021 electoral system was a “terrible mistake.”
“This was a free and fair election,” Lorenzen added. Sessions defended his vote, saying the state Legislature needed more time to “reevaluate” the results. There is no evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
Dr. Lorenzen’s economic policies include raising the minimum wage and expanding the child tax credit. He said he plans to vote not to extend the 2017 Trump tax cuts.
Lorenzen said he would vote to codify Roe v. Wade if elected to Congress. Sessions said abortion laws should be left up to each state and that he would not support a nationwide abortion ban similar to Texas’ heartbeat bill.
Mr. Sessions supports building a wall along the entire southern border, unlike Mr. Lorenzen, who wants to implement more “compassionate” policies to curb illegal immigration.
“Maybe we can rebuild and help other countries and our neighbors and create a safe and healthy place for our citizens so they don’t have to come here,” Lorenzen said.
Sessions supports Israel in its conflict with Hamas. Lorenzen called Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide” and said there should be an immediate ceasefire.
Early voting has already begun in Texas and will run until November 1st. Voting day is November 5th.
Dr. Mark Lorenzen (D) provides background on Texas’ 17th Congressional District.
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