Don Cole
Bio | Cole served as speech writer for the Agriculture Secretary under the Trump Administration. He served in the US Army and went on to get his bachelor’s and master’s degree from Georgia Southern College. |
Status and Position | Former Candidate of N/A |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Republican, N/A |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 House of Representatives Election GA-02 | GA-02 | Yes | Running | N/A |
Campaign Financing | The majority of Cole’s campaign is financed by individual contributions, with a small minority of it coming from PACs and self-financing. Source: https://www.opensecrets.org/races/candidates?cycle=2020&id=GA02&spec=N |
Voting Rights | Cole advocates accessible voting for all and encourages anyone eligible to vote to exercise their right to do so. Source: https://wfxl.com/news/local/beyond-the-podium-with-us-rep-candidate-don-cole-for-georgias-2nd-congressional-district-10-07-2020 |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | Nuance | Cole has expressed support for expanding accessible healthcare to those with conditions such as developmental disabilities, while also advocating against for more sweeping measures such as Obamacare. Source: https://cole4congress.com/about, https://doncole.com/lessons-learned-from-obamacare-replacement/ Cole has a track record of advocating for the disabled supports the expansion of Medicaid to those with developmental disabilities, however he does see measures that make healthcare more widely accessible to the public at large despite their level of ability, such as Obamacare, as overly complicated and inconvenient for those with private insurance plans. Source: https://cole4congress.com/about, https://doncole.com/lessons-learned-from-obamacare-replacement/ |
| Socialized Healthcare | Nuance | Although he has not disclosed much of his views on other aspects of healthcare, Cole advocates for additional Medicaid waivers for those with developmental disabilities so that they can get affordable, accessible care. Source: https://cole4congress.com/about |
| Private Healthcare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| LGBT Rights | Nuance | Cole values religious freedom, however, he opposes legislation that guarantees equal rights to sexual and gender minorities. Source: http://doncole.com/tag/lgbt/ Cole sees measures such as The Equality Act as a threat to freedom of religion and individual liberties, and views sexual orientation and gender identities as private matters that should not be discussed in policy one way or the other. Source: http://doncole.com/tag/lgbt/ |
| Taxes | Nuance | Cole supports major amendments to the current tax code and tax system, potentially eliminating the IRS. Source: https://doncole.com/the-birth-of-a-monster-the-16th-amendment-and-the-irs Cole views the current tax code as unnecessarily complicated and lengthy and advocates for a shorter, more comprehensible tax code that would reduce the need for the IRS and simplify taxes. Source: https://doncole.com/the-birth-of-a-monster-the-16th-amendment-and-the-irs/ |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. Cole views the current tax code as unnecessarily complicated and lengthy and advocates for a shorter, more comprehensible tax code that would reduce the need for the IRS and simplify taxes. Source: https://doncole.com/the-birth-of-a-monster-the-16th-amendment-and-the-irs/ |
| Abortion | Against | Cole advocates against abortion and for all pregnancies to come to full-term. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues Cole sides with the National Right to Life, seeing a baby as “a gift of God” that ought to be protected through anti-abortion legislation as a basic human right. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues |
| Gun Control | Against | Cole defends the second amendment’s right to bear arms and sees gun ownership and self-protection as a human right. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues Cole sees the right to own guns as an assurance of individuals’, and the public at large, safety and well-being. He sees the outlawing of guns as paradoxical worsening the issue of mass shootings by leaving civilians defenseless and vulnerable in the incidence of gun violence. Source: https://doncole.com/paradox-in-pennsylvania/ |
| Assisted Suicide | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. Cole sees the right to own guns as an assurance of individuals’, and the public at large, safety and well-being. He sees the outlawing of guns as paradoxical worsening the issue of mass shootings by leaving civilians defenseless and vulnerable in the incidence of gun violence. Source: https://doncole.com/paradox-in-pennsylvania/ |
| Government Interference | Nuance | Cole is largely against government interference in issues such as the right to bear arms and freedom of religion, however he supports government interference and regulations in matters of abortion rights and welfare to those affected by developmental disabilities. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues |
| Planned Parenthood | Against | Cole is against Planned Parenthood and for the National Right to Life. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues |
| Welfare | Nuance | Although largely silent on his views on welfare, Cole does support additional aid to those who have developmental disabilities. Source: https://cole4congress.com/about Cole advocates for additional Medicaid waivers for those with developmental disabilities so that they can get affordable, accessible care. Cole’s stance on other aspects of welfare is not known. Source: https://cole4congress.com/about |
| Welfare | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Death Penalty | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Military Spending | Nuance | Cole has not disclosed much about his views on military spending, however as a veteran he is highly supportive of veteran affairs and wants to focus on supporting military bases and training. Source: https://wgxa.tv/news/beyond-the-podium/beyond-the-podium-with-us-rep-candidate-don-cole-for-georgias-2nd-congressional-district |
| War on Terrorism | For | Cole sees terrorism and international security as a serious issue that warrants concern and action, however he does express that he does not wish that we "spy" on each other and breach individual privacy in ensuring the nation's security. Source: https://wgxa.tv/news/beyond-the-podium/beyond-the-podium-with-us-rep-candidate-don-cole-for-georgias-2nd-congressional-district |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | Nuance | Cole has expressed support for both strict, hard-lined foreign policy as well as more lenient, forgiving policy through his backing of Trump's various foreign policy decisions throughout his presidency. Source: https://doncole.com/trump-holsters-missile-strikes-on-iranians/, https://doncole.com/trump-wins-again-mexico-acts-positively/ Cole has supported Trump's decision to press pause on the Iranian missile strikes, applauding his calculation and assessment of the situation, yet has also supported Trump's hard-line stance against illegal immigration and the funding and building of the wall. Foreign policy that Cole has expressed disagreement with include the China Climate Change Agreement and the Iran Deal. Thus, it seems Cole's stance on foreign policy and international interventions varies depending on the severity of the issue at hand and how long the issue has persisted. Source: https://doncole.com/trump-holsters-missile-strikes-on-iranians/, https://doncole.com/trump-wins-again-mexico-acts-positively/, http://doncole.com/china-climate-change-agreement-a-ruse-to-cover-epas-assault-on-the-american-economy/, http://doncole.com/foreign-relations-and-david-perdue/ |
| United Nations power | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Nationalism | For | Cole supports the enhancement of the United States' economic and political power, viewing it as beneficial for the well-being of the world as a whole. He actively supports the "America First" platform advocated by Donald Trump, clarifying that it does not mean "America alone". Source: https://doncole.com/the-state-of-the-union/ |
| Free Markets | For | Cole supports a smaller influence of the government and a larger influence of the individual in the economy. Source: https://doncole.com/relaxing-the-grip-of-government/ Cole views the role of the government as influential but not deterministic in regulating the economy. Instead, he believes that the bulk of economic power should be in the hand of individuals and small businesses, especially when it comes to decisions about how to conduct business in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. Source: https://doncole.com/relaxing-the-grip-of-government/ |
| Brexit | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Affirmative Action | Nuance | Although Cole has expressed that he supports equality for everyone regardless of race and ethnicity, he also does not believe that race, ethnicity, or any other demographic category should be deterministic of one's treatment or public regard, according to his response to the 2017 Congressional baseball shooting. Source: http://doncole.com/slapping-martin-luther-kings-dream-in-the-face/ |
| Government Spending | Nuance | Cole has expressed support for government funding in the realms of economic development and Medicaid waivers/assistance to the disabled, but has not disclosed other aspects of his fiscal strategy. |
| Charter Schools | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Common Core | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Clean Energy | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Religious Freedom | For | Cole advocates religious freedom as a fundamental part of the U.S.’s constitutional rights. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues Cole believes that religious freedom involves the right of individuals to practice whichever religion they choose in the privacy of their homes as well as in their communities and within public institutions. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues |
| Separation of Church and State | Nuance | Cole does not believe that the government should mandate a specific religion, however he does believe it is the right of individuals to practice their respective religions openly in both the public and private spheres, including within a variety of public institutions. Source: https://cole4congress.com/issues |
| Slavery Reparations | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Border Control | For | Cole has expressed support for strict border control policy, backing Trump's funding of a wall between the United States and Mexico. Source: http://doncole.com/trump-wins-again-mexico-acts-positively/ Cole takes a strong stance on border security, advocating that the U.S. adopt strict policy, stronger border patrol, and political consequences for Mexico in response to the flow of illegal immigrants across the Mexico-United States border. Source: http://doncole.com/trump-wins-again-mexico-acts-positively/ |
| Passenger Profiling | Nuance | Cole has not directly addressed the issue of profiling, however he does express concern over the judgement of individuals based on race, ethnicity, gender, etc. alone, which points to some degree of concern over the issue of profiling. Source: http://doncole.com/slapping-martin-luther-kings-dream-in-the-face/ |
| DACA | Unknown | No clear stance on issue. |
| Sanctuary Cities | Against | Cole supports the defunding of sanctuary cities and a strict stance on immigration policy and border patrol. Source: http://doncole.com/we-won-stop-playing-defense/ |
| Legalizing Marijuana | Nuance | Cole has not expressed clear views on the legalization of marijuana, although he is concerned about the illegal trafficking of drugs across the border. Source: http://doncole.com/trumps-line-in-the-sand/ |