Who Is Sheriff Richard Mack and Why Is He Running for Congress?

image
Published: 21 May, 2012
2 min read

Richard Mack the former sheriff of Arizona's Graham County is running for Congress in the Texas 21st Congressional District. He is running against longtime Congressman Lamar Smith (R-TX) in the primary. Mack is one of two candidates running against Congressman Smith in the Texas Primary. Before serving as a sheriff in Arizona Mack was a police officer for over twelve years in Utah. He previously ran for US Senate representing Arizona as a Libertarian candidate in 2006.

The former sheriff was the first in the nation to sign on to a lawsuit protecting Second Amendment rights: In  Prinz v. United States, the Supreme Court ruled that the provision of the Brady Bill that required state and local law enforcement to work as agents of the federal government in running background checks on gun purchases was unconstitutional. Mr. Mack is also a founding member and board member of Oath Keepers which is a group of active and retired law enforcement and military personnel who have pledged not to enforce an unconstitutional or unlawful order.

The race for the 21st Congressional District should be getting a little more news since the incumbent, Lamar Smith, is the author of the controversial SOPA Bill.  The bill was stopped from going forward by outraged citizens who feared it was a first step toward Internet censorship.  The Stop Online Privacy Act was written in such a way that it allowed the government shut down websites due  to merely alleged copyright infringement in a single page or blog post. Lamar Smith has held his seat since 1987.

On the issues, Sheriff Richard Mack is a strong Second Amendment advocate as his role in the lawsuit against the Brady Bill shows.  He is also against any type of free speech infringement such as the SOPA Bill. As a sheriff in Arizona and a resident of Texas he sees the problems that arise due to illegal immigration and advocates for stricter border security. On gay marriage, Mack believes that marriage should be left to the individual and that the government should not be involved in regulating any type of marriage. On foreign policy, Mack sees himself as a "constitutional conservative" who understands that Congress is the only branch that is constitutionally permitted to take America to war.

Richard Mack says he is running for Congress to return our government to the people. His policy prescriptions and political philosophy are grounded in the idea that the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.

You Might Also Like

“Cartoon illustration of Americans facing the U.S. Capitol as light pierces through red and blue partisan cracks, representing independent voters and hope for political reform.”
New Poll: Voters Want New Leadership – and They’re Turning to Independents
A new poll from the Independent Center highlights a clear message from the public: Americans are fed up with the current political leadership, and they’re ready for change....
12 Nov, 2025
-
2 min read
Massachusetts voters.
Ranked Choice Voting Momentum Surges in Massachusetts as Cities Push for Local Control
Ranked choice voting (RCV) continues to see a surge in momentum across the U.S. However, the state that has seen the largest reform growth in the last 5 years -- Massachusetts -- has received little attention. This is because the 10 cities that have approved RCV have not been able to implement it due to state law....
14 Nov, 2025
-
5 min read
Caution tape with US Capitol building in the background.
Did the Republicans or Democrats Start the Gerrymandering Fight?
The 2026 midterm election cycle is quickly approaching. However, there is a lingering question mark over what congressional maps will look like when voters start to cast their ballots, especially as Republicans and Democrats fight to obtain any electoral advantage possible. ...
11 Nov, 2025
-
8 min read