Editor’s note: More than a dozen Democrats and Republicans are running in the May 14 primary election to be their party’s nominee in the race for the 6th Congressional District seat now held by Rep. David Trone (D), who is running for the U.S. Senate. MoCo360 is running profiles of the candidates based on questionnaire answers submitted for our voters guide. Beginning with the Republican candidates, a profile will be published every weekday until the May 2 start of early voting.
Today’s profile features Republican candidate Tom Royals.
Tom Royals
Party: Republican
Age: 38
Residence: Germantown
Education: U.S. Naval Academy; University of Virginia Darden School of Business
Current/most recent role: former Navy officer and combat aviator, currently an IT sales executive
Previous political experience: Not applicable
Campaign Website: https://tomroyalsforcongress.com/
Why are you running?
My name is Tom Royals. I’m a husband, father, veteran, and former Naval flight officer who is ready to take the values that guided me flying combat missions over Afghanistan and Iraq to fight for the conservative values of hardworking Maryland families in Congress.
In Congress, I will fight for the rights of parents, to stop out-of-control spending in Washington and to secure our nation’s southern border in order to stop the flow of lethal opioids and violent crime into Maryland.
As a father, I will fight for a safer, more prosperous future for every Maryland family.
If elected, what would your priorities be within your first 100 days in Congress?
When America was under attack on Sept.11, 2001, I stepped up to serve. Now, I see America under a different kind of attack, Left-wing politicians targeting the rights of parents, lawlessness on America’s border allowing crime and lethal drugs into Maryland’s communities, soft on crime policies putting our communities at risk and reckless spending and out of control debt threatening the livelihoods of hardworking Maryland families.
I’m ready to take the values that guided me on combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan to fight for our country. In Congress, I’ll fight to secure the border and reinvigorate our economy.
What district-specific issues are you most passionate about and how would you use your platform to address them?
I’ve heard from Marylanders in all five counties across the district who are under attack from inflation and reckless spending in Washington.
Our family, like many others, has a budget and never spends more than we can afford. That is why it is so frustrating to watch out-of-touch politicians carelessly throw away billions of dollars in hard-earned taxpayer money and increasingly push America further into a debt crisis.
In Congress, I’ll fight to balance the budget and ensure rules of the road maximize the competitiveness of Maryland businesses and support their success.
What do you think Congress’ role should be when it comes to public schools? What can you do to best support the schools?
In Maryland, parents’ rights are under attack.
School administrators are pushing books with sexually explicit material and extreme gender ideology on young students while other literature was rejected because it emphasized “American values.”
Parents have fundamental rights when it comes to their children’s education and health care. They deserve to know when they send their students off to school they are safe, that is why I support placing school resource officers in our schools.
I stand with every parent who believes Maryland should offer a world class education that prepares young people to compete and achieve success in the 21st century economy.
How should Congress address crime?
Anti-police rhetoric, soft-on-crime policies, increasing illegal drug trafficking, lawlessness on America’s southern border and an economy failing to provide opportunity all contribute to rising crime in Maryland communities, including recent spikes in crime in Frederick and Montgomery counties.
As a father with young children, I have zero tolerance for unchecked crime that puts the safety of families at risk. In Congress, I will increase funding for local police departments so they can address staffing shortages and provide more training opportunities to keep communities safe.
I am an unapologetic supporter of police and support policies that keep dangerous criminals behind bars.
How should Congress address gun violence?
I am an ardent supporter of Americans’ right to keep and bear arms.
Service in the military imbued me with a deep respect for firearms. I was trained on small arms in the Navy and issued a sidearm when flying combat missions overseas.
I will oppose any attempt by liberal politicians to infringe on the Second Amendment.
To address violence in our communities we need to increase funding for local police departments so they can address staffing shortages and provide more training opportunities to keep communities safe.
The Dobbs v. Jackson decision in 2022 that overturned Roe v. Wade has changed the face of reproductive care access across the country. What should Congress’ role be in the abortion conversation?
My wife and I are blessed with nine children. I believe America should be a country that values and protects life.
Left-wing politicians in Maryland seek to push the boundaries of extremism on this issue in our state, including enabling late-term abortions. We should elect leaders with the courage to reject their extremism and seek consensus, civility, and compassion in the protection of vulnerable lives.
The same Supreme Court decision has raised concerns about marriage rights and gender-affirming care access for LGBTQ+ people. How should Congress address this?
As a former combat aviator who put my life on the line to defend the personal freedoms of all Americans, I believe adults should be able to make their own decisions.
But in too many instances, ideological activists are trying to impose their agenda on our schools and children.
As a father and a veteran, I will always uphold the rights of parents, including the right to know what is happening with their child, to know what their school is teaching them, and to have full control over any health care decisions for their children.
What should Congress’ role be in addressing a changing climate?
America has some of the cleanest natural resources in the world.
We need to ban energy policies that make us more dependent on China and unleash American energy here at home. That starts with putting a stop to the Biden administration’s Green New Deal agenda, causing energy prices to skyrocket creating a massive burden for small businesses.
I will work to support manufacturing and agricultural sectors across Maryland. In order for our district to be an economic engine, it is vital we increase funding to upgrade critical infrastructure, unleash our energy production and reduce energy costs for families and businesses.
Is there anything else you want to share with prospective voters?
I’m running for Congress because I believe Maryland needs a fighter, not another career politician.
I fought for the country before on combat missions over Iraq and Afghanistan, and I’m prepared to do so again in Congress.
America is under attack from career politicians who have made their wealth in Congress putting their self-interest above the people they represent. Our district needs a fighter who will deliver on the issues facing it and secure a better future for every Maryland family.
When I get to Congress I will fight for hardworking Maryland families, our children, our police, and our veterans.
This is the third in a series of candidate profiles. Check out the first profile here.