{"id":127,"name":"Michael Katz","first_name":"MICHAEL","last_name":"KATZ","middle_name":"S DR.","suffix":null,"bioguide_id":null,"fec_candidate_id":"S6DE00206","ocd_person_id":null,"govtrack_id":null,"opensecrets_id":null,"votesmart_id":null,"office_id":1,"party":"Republican","status":"candidate","photo_url":null,"website":null,"campaign_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM","email":null,"phone":null,"social_twitter":"drmikekatz","social_facebook":null,"social_instagram":"drmikekatz","social_youtube":"https://youtube.com/@UCri58CNI5GIPZkZJFtnfSqg","state":"DE","district":"00","city":null,"assumed_office":null,"term_end":null,"born":null,"source":"fec","source_url":"https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/S6DE00206/","source_updated":"2026-08-21 08:00:51","first_seen":"2026-05-09 07:51:37","last_seen":"2026-06-19 11:24:36","created_at":"2026-05-09 07:51:37","updated_at":"2026-06-19 11:24:36","canonical_id":null,"fec_checked_at":"2026-09-12 06:38:13","contact_email":"info@drmikekatz.com","contact_source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM","contact_captured_at":"2026-07-07T12:23:12.607Z","office_name":"U.S. Senator","level":"federal","branch":"legislative","office_chamber":"senate","positions":[{"topic":"Abortion","stance":"licensed medical personnel from working in unaccredited clinics. The bill did not fund or expand abortion; it was a patient-safety bill designed to hold clinics to the highest medical standards. When ","detail":"licensed medical personnel from working in unaccredited clinics. The bill did not fund or expand abortion; it was a patient-safety bill designed to hold clinics to the highest medical standards. When a near-identical bill (HB 144) was later pushed through by other lawmakers, Dr. Katz opposed it, arguing that it watered down key protections. Opposing lawmakers publicly complained that Dr. Katz's legislation \"skewed too much in favor of his profession\" and protected doctors too heavily. INTRODUCED Government Reform SR 9 Open and Transparent Redistricting Process with Public Participation","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/record.html","source_date":"2026-09-02"},{"topic":"Agriculture","stance":"families even as major pharmacy chains have reduced their presence in underserved communities. Rural Delaware — Kent and Sussex counties — has long faced shortages of specialists and primary care phys","detail":"families even as major pharmacy chains have reduced their presence in underserved communities. Rural Delaware — Kent and Sussex counties — has long faced shortages of specialists and primary care physicians, forcing families to travel hours for care that residents in Wilmington take for granted. Delawareans pay some of the highest health insurance premiums in the region. Meanwhile, the mental health crisis continues to devastate communities statewide. To deliver high-quality, affordable healthcare regardless of zip code, my architecture focuses on three non-negotiable pillars. 1. Lower","source_url":"https://www.drmikekatz.com/issues","source_date":"2026-07-04"},{"topic":"Healthcare","stance":"Where Dr. Katz Stands","detail":"The full platform — from border security and voter integrity to cost of living, healthcare, and the issues that matter most for Delaware families. Download Platform PDF Platform · Border Security & National Sovereignty","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Immigration","stance":"Where Dr. Katz Stands","detail":"The full platform — from border security and voter integrity to cost of living, healthcare, and the issues that matter most for Delaware families. Download Platform PDF Platform · Border Security & National Sovereignty","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Immigration","stance":"Border Security & National Sovereignty","detail":"Stop the bleeding, stabilize the crisis, and enforce the law. When a patient is in critical condition, you don't downplay the symptoms, and you don't double down on treatment that has already failed. You stop the bleeding, stabilize the situation, and implement a proven, aggressive plan to fix the root cause. Right now, our southern border is in a state of operational crisis. The Biden administration's hands-off posture has compromised our national security, strained our local economies, and fueled a public health emergency right here in Delaware through the uncontrolled flow of illegal drugs like fentanyl. As a physician, I have spent my career leading teams through high-stakes environments where outcomes matter and there is zero margin for error. In business, I have built organizations rooted in strict accountability. It is time to bring that exact same culture of urgency, accountability, and decisive execution to our nation's borders. To restore sovereignty and protect American communities, my border security architecture focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Voting Rights","stance":"Voter Integrity","detail":"Securing the ballot with zero-margin-for-error accountability. In medicine, when a patient is in critical care, we maintain a strict, unbreakable chain of custody for every lab result, every medication dosage, and every patient chart. Why? Because the tiniest administrative error can corrupt the entire outcome and put a life at risk. Our election system demands that exact same culture of precision, transparency, and absolute accountability. A country cannot maintain its sovereignty if it does not secure its borders, and it cannot maintain its liberty if it does not secure its ballot boxes. With an ongoing border crisis that has allowed millions of undocumented individuals into our country, verifying who is participating in our democracy is no longer just an administrative task — it is a vital pillar of our national security. Washington insiders and partisan obstructionists have spent years treating voter integrity as a talking point to dodge real responsibility. Delaware families deserve an electoral system that is completely transparent, mathematically secure, and rule-of-law driven. To bring structural accountability back to our elections, my framework for voter integrity focuses on three non-negotiable principles.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Social Security","stance":"2. Standardizing and Auditing Voter Rolls","detail":"Clean, accurate voter registries are the foundation of a secure election. Over time, state voter lists naturally degrade as people move, pass away, or change their legal status, creating administrative vulnerabilities. The Solution. Mandate that states actively audit and cross-reference their voter registration lists with the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration. Running voter lists through these secure databases to identify and immediately remove non-citizens and inactive entries is not a partisan issue; it is a basic administrative duty.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Voting Rights","stance":"3. Restoring Certainty at the Ballot Box","detail":"True election integrity requires verifying that the person registered is the actual person casting the ballot. The expansion of unverified mail-in voting has weakened the essential oversight required for a trusted outcome. Nationwide Voter ID for In-Person Voting. Implement nationwide photo identification standards. Mail-in voting should be scaled back strictly to legitimate exceptions — such as overseas military personnel, travelers, or individuals with severe medical disabilities — and must always be paired with strict signature and identity verification. Free Federal ID for Those Without Means. Create a federal process so that citizens without a government ID or passport can receive free identification based on income. Free Election-Day Transportation. Pass a federal law providing free community transportation on Election Day to citizens who lack the means to get to the polls. Election Day as a Federal Holiday. Introduce legislation to make Election Day a federal holiday so working Americans have the time to participate.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"Economy & Cost of Living","detail":"Reining in inflation and restoring fiscal discipline. In medicine, if a treatment is causing the patient's condition to deteriorate, you don't double down on it. You change the treatment. You stop the bleeding, re-examine the data, and implement a strategy that actually works. Right now, Delaware families are paying the price for a failed economic prescription. From the grocery store checkout line to the gas pump, and from monthly utility bills to skyrocketing housing costs, Delawareans are being squeezed by a cost-of-living crisis manufactured by career politicians in Washington. As a business owner, I have spent decades managing budgets, evaluating risk, and building organizations where accountability is mandatory. In business, if you continuously run a massive deficit without a path to viability, you go bankrupt. Yet Washington insiders like Chris Coons continue to run our nation's balance sheet like a failed enterprise, treating your hard-earned tax dollars as an unlimited credit card. It is time to bring a second opinion to Washington. We need a culture of strict fiscal discipline, operational accountability, and common-sense economic growth. To lower costs and protect the financial health of Delaware families, my economic architecture focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"1. Defeating Inflation through Fiscal Responsibility","detail":"Inflation isn't an accident; it is the direct symptom of reckless, unchecked federal spending. When the government prints and spends trillions of dollars we do not have, the value of the dollar drops, and the cost of everything you buy goes up. Halt Wasteful Federal Spending. I will stand firmly with President Trump to halt wasteful federal spending and demand structural accountability in the federal budget. Government must live within its means, just like every family and small business in Delaware has to do. Protect Seniors from Inflation. I will fight to protect seniors on fixed incomes from having their savings eroded by inflation. No New Taxes on Working Families. Oppose any efforts by Washington insiders to raise taxes on working families.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"2. Cutting the Red Tape for Small Businesses and Jobs","detail":"Delaware runs on people who work. Small businesses are the engine of our local economy, but they are currently being suffocated by over-regulation, high corporate burdens, and red tape that drives up the cost of doing business. Pro-Growth Tax Cuts. In the State Senate, I previously introduced legislation like SB 100 to reform corporate burdens and keep employers here in Delaware. In the U.S. Senate, I will advocate for permanent pro-growth tax cuts and a massive rollback of federal bureaucratic overreach. Lower Costs, Higher Wages. When we lower the regulatory costs on employers, they can invest in their workforce, raise wages, and lower prices for consumers.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Housing","stance":"3. Lowering Costs for Essential Needs: Energy & Housing","detail":"Two of the heaviest burdens on Delaware families right now are rising utility bills and the steep cost of housing. Delaware families pay some of the highest electricity rates in the mid-Atlantic region. Getting into a home in Delaware has become out of reach for a generation of young families — Delaware's median home price surged from $221,100 in 2018 to $339,400 in 2023, a 53% increase in just five years.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Climate","stance":"Energy Affordability and American Energy Dominance","detail":"True affordability requires addressing the cost side structurally. We must unlock American energy dominance to lower prices at the pump and stabilize the electrical grid. Diversified, Reliable Energy. I support a diversified, reliable energy strategy — including safe nuclear power with the right safeguards — to meet long-term demand and drive down utility bills. I support the Advanced Act that promotes efficient project permitting and advanced nuclear technology development. Delaware as an Energy Innovation Hub. I will work with energy-producing companies to identify areas in Delaware for self-produced clean energy, using Delaware as an example to attract more businesses to the state. Protect Delaware's Coast. Delaware's coastal geography makes it uniquely vulnerable to the environmental consequences of energy policy. I will protect Delaware's clean water and air, beaches and open spaces — while ensuring federal decisions on grid investment, permitting, and offshore wind don't price Delaware families out of their own homes.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Technology","stance":"Energy Affordability and American Energy Dominance","detail":"True affordability requires addressing the cost side structurally. We must unlock American energy dominance to lower prices at the pump and stabilize the electrical grid. Diversified, Reliable Energy. I support a diversified, reliable energy strategy — including safe nuclear power with the right safeguards — to meet long-term demand and drive down utility bills. I support the Advanced Act that promotes efficient project permitting and advanced nuclear technology development. Delaware as an Energy Innovation Hub. I will work with energy-producing companies to identify areas in Delaware for self-produced clean energy, using Delaware as an example to attract more businesses to the state. Protect Delaware's Coast. Delaware's coastal geography makes it uniquely vulnerable to the environmental consequences of energy policy. I will protect Delaware's clean water and air, beaches and open spaces — while ensuring federal decisions on grid investment, permitting, and offshore wind don't price Delaware families out of their own homes.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Housing","stance":"Housing Affordability and the American Dream","detail":"Owning a home is foundational to stable families, stable communities, and the American Dream. For a young Delaware family trying to save for a down payment while managing rent, groceries, childcare, and student loans, the current math simply does not work. Eliminate Federal Barriers. Eliminate federal barriers that drive up the cost of housing construction. First-Time Homebuyer Pathways. Create targeted federal pathways — tax incentives, lending standards, and construction support — that give first-time homebuyers a fair shot at building a future here. Expand the Affordable Housing Supply. Augment the supply of affordable homes through zoning reform partnerships, construction incentives, and reduced compliance costs for projects that meet community needs.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"1. Backing the Blue: Zero Tolerance for Violent Crime","detail":"The primary, constitutional duty of government is to secure the domestic tranquility and protect the lives of its citizens. We cannot build a prosperous economy or stable communities if our families do not feel safe walking down their own streets. Fund and Equip Law Enforcement. I will stand firmly with President Trump to provide our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with the funding, advanced tactical resources, and legal protections they need to do their jobs safely. Increase Federal Penalties for Violent Crime. I support heavily increasing federal penalties for violent crimes and expanding support for localized police recruitment. Hold Sanctuary Jurisdictions Accountable. Withhold federal grants from progressive jurisdictions and rogue prosecutors who refuse to enforce the law and protect their citizens.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Criminal Justice","stance":"1. Backing the Blue: Zero Tolerance for Violent Crime","detail":"The primary, constitutional duty of government is to secure the domestic tranquility and protect the lives of its citizens. We cannot build a prosperous economy or stable communities if our families do not feel safe walking down their own streets. Fund and Equip Law Enforcement. I will stand firmly with President Trump to provide our federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies with the funding, advanced tactical resources, and legal protections they need to do their jobs safely. Increase Federal Penalties for Violent Crime. I support heavily increasing federal penalties for violent crimes and expanding support for localized police recruitment. Hold Sanctuary Jurisdictions Accountable. Withhold federal grants from progressive jurisdictions and rogue prosecutors who refuse to enforce the law and protect their citizens.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Gun Control","stance":"3. Preserving Bill of Rights Freedoms: The First and Second Amendments","detail":"Our individual liberties are under constant bureaucratic pressure. We are seeing unprecedented federal attempts to regulate free speech, label dissent as \"misinformation,\" and infringe upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Protect the First Amendment. Keep the federal bureaucracy entirely out of the business of policing American speech and religious expression. Protect the Second Amendment. As a strict defender of individual liberty, I will oppose any federal red-flag mandates, firearm registries, or unconstitutional restrictions that infringe upon the Second Amendment right of law-abiding Delawareans to protect their families and property.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Taxes","stance":"3. Preserving Bill of Rights Freedoms: The First and Second Amendments","detail":"Our individual liberties are under constant bureaucratic pressure. We are seeing unprecedented federal attempts to regulate free speech, label dissent as \"misinformation,\" and infringe upon the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens. Protect the First Amendment. Keep the federal bureaucracy entirely out of the business of policing American speech and religious expression. Protect the Second Amendment. As a strict defender of individual liberty, I will oppose any federal red-flag mandates, firearm registries, or unconstitutional restrictions that infringe upon the Second Amendment right of law-abiding Delawareans to protect their families and property.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Taxes","stance":"Ending the Weaponization of Government","detail":"Restoring accountability, blind justice, and institutional integrity. In medicine, the diagnostic and treatment tools we use are designed for one purpose: to heal the patient. If a physician ever weaponized a clinical instrument to intentionally harm a colleague or punish a patient who disagreed with them, they would lose their license, face criminal charges, and be permanently cast out of the profession. There is an absolute ethical firewall. Unfortunately, Washington insiders have completely torn down that ethical firewall within our federal government. Over the last several years, we have witnessed an unprecedented and highly dangerous shift: federal agencies — from the Department of Justice and the FBI to the IRS and intelligence bureaus — being actively weaponized to target political opponents based on political party, shield well-connected insiders, and silence everyday citizens who dare to voice a dissenting opinion. As a business owner, I know that an organization is only as good as its culture of accountability. When leadership corrupts the core mission of an institution, the entire enterprise loses its legitimacy. I stand firmly with President Trump in the fight to dismantle this corrupt, two-tiered system of justice. We must strip the politics out of our federal bureaus, restore the rule of law, and guarantee that the power of the state is never again used as a weapon of political warfare. To clean out the rot and restore institutional integrity, my architecture focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Technology","stance":"Ending the Weaponization of Government","detail":"Restoring accountability, blind justice, and institutional integrity. In medicine, the diagnostic and treatment tools we use are designed for one purpose: to heal the patient. If a physician ever weaponized a clinical instrument to intentionally harm a colleague or punish a patient who disagreed with them, they would lose their license, face criminal charges, and be permanently cast out of the profession. There is an absolute ethical firewall. Unfortunately, Washington insiders have completely torn down that ethical firewall within our federal government. Over the last several years, we have witnessed an unprecedented and highly dangerous shift: federal agencies — from the Department of Justice and the FBI to the IRS and intelligence bureaus — being actively weaponized to target political opponents based on political party, shield well-connected insiders, and silence everyday citizens who dare to voice a dissenting opinion. As a business owner, I know that an organization is only as good as its culture of accountability. When leadership corrupts the core mission of an institution, the entire enterprise loses its legitimacy. I stand firmly with President Trump in the fight to dismantle this corrupt, two-tiered system of justice. We must strip the politics out of our federal bureaus, restore the rule of law, and guarantee that the power of the state is never again used as a weapon of political warfare. To clean out the rot and restore institutional integrity, my architecture focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Technology","stance":"2. Protecting Free Speech from Bureaucratic Censorship","detail":"True accountability requires absolute transparency, but federal agencies have been caught actively colluding with massive tech conglomerates to censor American citizens, suppress political debate, and label inconvenient facts as \"misinformation.\" Criminalize Government-Tech Censorship Collusion. Pass strict legislative prohibitions that make it a federal crime for any government bureaucrat to pressure, incentivize, or collude with private entities to censor, suppress, or shadow-ban legal speech. Defund Domestic Narrative Management. Agencies that engage in domestic narrative management should face immediate budgetary defunding.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"Protecting Delaware Jobs and Keeping Business Here","detail":"Reversing regulatory flight and restoring our competitive edge. In business, if your overhead is too high, your regulations are too complex, and your tax structure penalizes growth, you don't survive. You are forced to restructure, downsize, or relocate to an environment that allows you to operate cleanly and efficiently. Right now, federal policies are forcing a dangerous economic migration. For generations, Delaware has been the economic capital for American business — the place where companies choose to incorporate because we offered stability, predictability, and a serious, rule-of-law approach to commerce. But reckless over-regulation, punitive federal tax policies, and bureaucratic overreach from Washington insiders are breaking that foundation. Companies are fleeing Delaware and American soil, and small businesses right here in Delaware are being choked out by compliance costs they cannot afford. As a business owner, I have managed corporate infrastructure from the inside. I know what it takes to sign the front of a paycheck, manage risk, and keep a balance sheet in the black. When I served as a State Senator, I looked at the structural facts and introduced SB 100 to specifically reform corporate burdens and protect employers right here at home. Now, we must take that exact same fight to the federal level. Working alongside President Trump's pro-growth agenda, I will lead a structural overhaul to stop Washington from driving business away and ensure that Delaware remains the premier environment to invest, innovate, and create jobs. My federal architecture for economic competitiveness focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"1. Stopping Federal Regulatory Overreach","detail":"Unaccountable federal bureaucrats have weaponized the regulatory state, bypassing Congress to impose endless compliance mandates that act as a hidden tax on every business in Delaware. From arbitrary labor rules to extreme energy restrictions, the federal government is making it logistically impossible for local manufacturers and small businesses to compete globally. One In, Multiple Out. I will aggressively support President Trump's mandate to cut job-killing federal regulations. For every one new federal rule proposed, we must structurally eliminate multiple outdated, burdensome regulations. Congressional Oversight of Bureaucratic Rules. I will demand strict congressional oversight so that unelected bureaucrats can no longer unilaterally create rules that squeeze out Delaware employers and destroy local jobs.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Taxes","stance":"1. Stopping Federal Regulatory Overreach","detail":"Unaccountable federal bureaucrats have weaponized the regulatory state, bypassing Congress to impose endless compliance mandates that act as a hidden tax on every business in Delaware. From arbitrary labor rules to extreme energy restrictions, the federal government is making it logistically impossible for local manufacturers and small businesses to compete globally. One In, Multiple Out. I will aggressively support President Trump's mandate to cut job-killing federal regulations. For every one new federal rule proposed, we must structurally eliminate multiple outdated, burdensome regulations. Congressional Oversight of Bureaucratic Rules. I will demand strict congressional oversight so that unelected bureaucrats can no longer unilaterally create rules that squeeze out Delaware employers and destroy local jobs.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Taxes","stance":"2. Making Permanent Pro-Growth Tax Reforms","detail":"When Washington corporate tax rates are uncompetitive, companies do not disappear — they relocate their capital, factories, and jobs to foreign countries. High federal taxes don't hurt corporate elites; they directly penalize the middle-class workers whose wages are suppressed and the small business owners who cannot afford to expand. Make the Tax Cuts Permanent. I will vote to make the pro-growth tax cuts permanent, protecting Delaware's working families and small businesses from massive tax hikes. Keep Capital and Headquarters Onshore. By maintaining a highly competitive federal tax architecture, we incentivize global enterprises to keep their capital, intellectual property, and head offices right here in the United States, driving sustained economic investment into our state.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Gun Control","stance":"Defending the Second Amendment","detail":"Opposing red flag laws and protecting your right to self-defense. In medicine, before you prescribe a treatment or perform an invasive procedure, you must have clear diagnostic data, absolute certainty, and a strict adherence to established protocols. You never strip away a patient's autonomy or enact a high-stakes clinical intervention based on rumors, unverified assertions, or subjective hearsay. Doing so violates the most fundamental ethical standards of the profession. Yet, when it comes to the constitutional rights of law-abiding citizens, Washington insiders and gun-control activists are pushing policies that completely throw out the legal equivalent of a diagnostic protocol: due process. Chief among these unconstitutional overreaches are federal and state \"Red Flag\" laws. As a business owner, a former State Senator, and a firm believer in the United States Constitution, I look at the structural facts. The Second Amendment is not a second-class right, nor is it a regulatory option that can be altered by bureaucratic whim. It is an absolute firewall designed by the framers to protect the individual liberties of the people and ensure their right to protect their families, their property, and their communities. I stand firmly with President Trump in absolute opposition to federal \"Red Flag\" mandates and any attempts to undermine the Second Amendment. Law-abiding Delawareans should never have their constitutional rights infringed upon by a weaponized bureaucratic state. My federal architecture for protecting your right to keep and bear arms focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Gun Control","stance":"1. Absolute Opposition to Unconstitutional Red Flag Laws","detail":"\"Red Flag\" gun confiscation orders are a direct violation of both the Second and Fifth Amendments. They allow the state to seize an individual's legally owned property and strip away their constitutional rights before they have ever been convicted of a crime — and in many cases, before they have even had the opportunity to appear in court to defend themselves. No State or Federal Red Flag Frameworks. I am completely against \"Red Flag\" laws at both the state and federal levels. Turning our legal system on its head by forcing a citizen to prove their innocence just to regain a constitutional right that was taken without due process is a dangerous precedent. Block Federal Incentives. In the U.S. Senate, I will vote to block any federal funding, grants, or legislative frameworks designed to incentivize or implement \"Red Flag\" confiscation schemes.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Technology","stance":"1. Absolute Opposition to Unconstitutional Red Flag Laws","detail":"\"Red Flag\" gun confiscation orders are a direct violation of both the Second and Fifth Amendments. They allow the state to seize an individual's legally owned property and strip away their constitutional rights before they have ever been convicted of a crime — and in many cases, before they have even had the opportunity to appear in court to defend themselves. No State or Federal Red Flag Frameworks. I am completely against \"Red Flag\" laws at both the state and federal levels. Turning our legal system on its head by forcing a citizen to prove their innocence just to regain a constitutional right that was taken without due process is a dangerous precedent. Block Federal Incentives. In the U.S. Senate, I will vote to block any federal funding, grants, or legislative frameworks designed to incentivize or implement \"Red Flag\" confiscation schemes.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Gun Control","stance":"2. Safeguarding Due Process and Preventing Federal Registries","detail":"Defending individual liberty requires keeping the federal bureaucracy entirely out of the business of tracking law-abiding gun owners. History and business logic demonstrate that whenever a government establishes an administrative registry of private assets, it is inevitably used to restrict, regulate, or penalize those assets down the road. No Back-Door Federal Registry. I will oppose any attempts to establish a back-door federal firearm registry. Protect Private Transfers. Oppose universal background check mandates that criminalize private transfers between family members. No Mandatory Waiting Periods. Oppose waiting periods that only serve to delay a citizen's ability to protect themselves in an immediate crisis. Law-abiding citizens are not the cause of violent crime, and the federal government must stop treating them like suspects.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Technology","stance":"2. Safeguarding Due Process and Preventing Federal Registries","detail":"Defending individual liberty requires keeping the federal bureaucracy entirely out of the business of tracking law-abiding gun owners. History and business logic demonstrate that whenever a government establishes an administrative registry of private assets, it is inevitably used to restrict, regulate, or penalize those assets down the road. No Back-Door Federal Registry. I will oppose any attempts to establish a back-door federal firearm registry. Protect Private Transfers. Oppose universal background check mandates that criminalize private transfers between family members. No Mandatory Waiting Periods. Oppose waiting periods that only serve to delay a citizen's ability to protect themselves in an immediate crisis. Law-abiding citizens are not the cause of violent crime, and the federal government must stop treating them like suspects.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Healthcare","stance":"1. Lower Costs and Expand Access","detail":"The status quo prices Delaware families out of care they need. Federal action on drug pricing, rural health funding, and insurance regulation can directly lower what Delawareans pay at the pharmacy counter and the doctor's office. Drug Pricing Reform. Move on prescription drug pricing in ways that protect patients without choking off the innovation pipeline that brings new treatments to market. Rural Care for Kent and Sussex. Fund rural health initiatives that put specialists and primary care physicians within reach of Delaware families in Kent and Sussex counties. Lower Premiums. Push back on the federal policies and market dynamics that have made Delaware's health insurance premiums among the highest in the region.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Education","stance":"2. Shift the System from Treating Illness to Preventing It","detail":"The American system is wired to pay for sick care, not health. We pay for procedures after the fact rather than for the work that keeps families healthy in the first place. That gets the incentives backwards. Prevention from the Start. Build a system that advocates healthy behaviors and lifestyles starting from prenatal care and early childhood. Coordinated Community Health. Move from fragmented, encounter-based care toward coordinated population and community health, with providers responsible for outcomes, not just billable visits. Integrate Mental Health into Primary Care. Treat the whole person — integrating mental health services into education and community health rather than continuing the artificial wall between physical and mental care.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Taxes","stance":"2. Shift the System from Treating Illness to Preventing It","detail":"The American system is wired to pay for sick care, not health. We pay for procedures after the fact rather than for the work that keeps families healthy in the first place. That gets the incentives backwards. Prevention from the Start. Build a system that advocates healthy behaviors and lifestyles starting from prenatal care and early childhood. Coordinated Community Health. Move from fragmented, encounter-based care toward coordinated population and community health, with providers responsible for outcomes, not just billable visits. Integrate Mental Health into Primary Care. Treat the whole person — integrating mental health services into education and community health rather than continuing the artificial wall between physical and mental care.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Healthcare","stance":"3. Break Down Silos and Restore Choice","detail":"Not-for-profit, academic, and for-profit health systems each have a role in delivering high-quality care. The wall between them — and the regulatory friction that keeps them from coordinating — hurts patients. Integrate Across Systems. Break down silos between not-for-profit, academic, and for-profit health systems to enhance choice, coordination, and operational efficiency. Federal Tools That Match the Problem. A U.S. Senator has direct influence over drug pricing, rural health funding, mental health parity, and the federal investment that determines what Delaware patients can access. Use those tools deliberately.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"National Security","stance":"3. Break Down Silos and Restore Choice","detail":"Not-for-profit, academic, and for-profit health systems each have a role in delivering high-quality care. The wall between them — and the regulatory friction that keeps them from coordinating — hurts patients. Integrate Across Systems. Break down silos between not-for-profit, academic, and for-profit health systems to enhance choice, coordination, and operational efficiency. Federal Tools That Match the Problem. A U.S. Senator has direct influence over drug pricing, rural health funding, mental health parity, and the federal investment that determines what Delaware patients can access. Use those tools deliberately.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Education","stance":"Education","detail":"Every child's future is determined by their potential, not their address. As a pediatric trained anesthesiologist and critical care physician, I understand the critical role that early childhood and secondary education play in enabling children to discover and develop their interests and talents, and for preparing young minds for success in both academic and life pursuits. The American education system has failed to ensure universal access to high-quality education for every child. This systemic shortcoming has hindered America from realizing its full potential — in well-being, prosperity, and the long-term sustainability of our society. The gap is starker in Delaware than most parents realize: Delaware's public school performance varies dramatically by zip code, and that gap has widened. The Wilmington schools crisis has persisted for decades, documented, debated, and largely unresolved. Delaware ranks near the bottom nationally for fourth-grade reading proficiency among low-income students. Workforce misalignment is also a real economic drag. Delaware employers consistently report difficulty finding qualified candidates for skilled trades, healthcare, and technical roles, even as young Delawareans struggle to find good-paying work. Federal education policy — Title I funding formulas, workforce training block grants, early childhood program investment — directly shapes what Delaware schools can offer. A Senator who understands both child development and economic competitiveness can push for the resources and reforms that move the needle. My education architecture focuses on three non-negotiable pillars.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Education","stance":"2. Align Education with the Modern Workforce","detail":"Education is not just about preparing students for the next test. It is preparation for employment, civic participation, and a flourishing life. Delaware's employer-side talent gap and its young-Delawarean opportunity gap are the same problem, viewed from two angles. Workforce-Aligned Curriculum. Invest in workforce and education alignment so Delaware students graduate ready for 21st-century careers, including skilled trades, healthcare, and technical fields. Federal Tools. Use Title I funding formulas, workforce training block grants, and federal apprenticeship support deliberately to move the needle on what Delaware schools can offer.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Healthcare","stance":"2. Address the Mental Health and Suicide Crisis","detail":"The veteran suicide rate is more than twice the rate of non-veterans. That is a national emergency. Far too many Delaware veterans have fallen through the cracks on mental health, with insufficient integration between mental health, addiction treatment, and physical care. Fund the Mental Health Pipeline. Invest in the clinical infrastructure that veterans actually need, not the political talking points around it. Integrate, Don't Silo. Coordinate mental-health care with physical care, addiction treatment, and primary care — the way good medicine works for any patient. Reach Veterans Where They Are. Telehealth, community-based partnerships, and on-the-ground outreach so a veteran in Sussex County is not a four-hour drive from the help they need.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"National Security","stance":"2. Address the Mental Health and Suicide Crisis","detail":"The veteran suicide rate is more than twice the rate of non-veterans. That is a national emergency. Far too many Delaware veterans have fallen through the cracks on mental health, with insufficient integration between mental health, addiction treatment, and physical care. Fund the Mental Health Pipeline. Invest in the clinical infrastructure that veterans actually need, not the political talking points around it. Integrate, Don't Silo. Coordinate mental-health care with physical care, addiction treatment, and primary care — the way good medicine works for any patient. Reach Veterans Where They Are. Telehealth, community-based partnerships, and on-the-ground outreach so a veteran in Sussex County is not a four-hour drive from the help they need.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Housing","stance":"3. Housing, Employment, and Transition Support","detail":"Veterans returning to civilian life face real obstacles outside the clinic. Delaware home prices rose 53% in five years. Civilian employers don't always know how to translate military experience. The transition is where promising lives get derailed. Veteran Housing. Push federal housing policy — VA loan programs, first-time homebuyer support, and rental assistance — that recognizes what veterans face in Delaware's market. Civilian Career Bridges. Strengthen the transition support that translates military skills into civilian careers, particularly in law enforcement and public safety where veterans already excel. Honor Continued Service. Many veterans continue serving as first responders, volunteers, and community leaders. Federal policy should support that continued contribution, not put obstacles in the way of it.","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-06-16"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"Economy & Fiscal Policy","detail":"Common Ground means a government that lives within its means and a tax code that works for everyone. Pass balanced budgets and implement a credible plan to reduce the national debt Reform the tax code for simplicity, fairness, and competitiveness, spurring investment and job creation Ensure financial stability through a well-regulated financial system Streamline and enhance government operations to improve efficiency Embrace fiscal responsibility by passing balanced budgets and implementing a plan to pay down America's national debt Read Full Policy → ⚒","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"},{"topic":"Economy","stance":"Jobs & Small Business","detail":"Common Ground means good jobs, thriving small businesses, and an economy built to last. Reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses and startups, and expand access to capital Promote small business growth and job creation through reduced regulatory burdens Incentivize private sector investment in research and innovation Invest in workforce development so Delaware workers are ready for the jobs of tomorrow Modernize transportation and energy infrastructure through public-private partnerships Read Full Policy → ♥","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"},{"topic":"Healthcare","stance":"Healthcare","detail":"Common Ground means no family's health depends on their zip code. Guarantee access to high-quality, affordable healthcare for every Delaware family, regardless of location Shift the system's focus from treating illness to preventing it, reducing long-term costs for families Integrate mental health services into education and community health, treating the whole person Break down silos between not-for-profit, academic, and for-profit health systems to enhance choice and efficiency Extend care from Wilmington's urban centers to Delaware's rural farmlands, leaving no community behind Read Full Policy → ✎","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"},{"topic":"National Security","stance":"Veterans & Military","detail":"Common Ground means we keep our promises to the families who served. Establish a new VA advanced medical center in Southern Delaware within his first 90 days Ensure the facility provides specialized cancer treatment, mental health services, and disability management Partner with federal, state, and Maryland regional agencies to maximize resources and reach Address the full spectrum of veteran needs: healthcare, employment, housing, and transition support Honor veterans' continued service as first responders and community leaders Read Full Policy → ✚","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"},{"topic":"Taxes","stance":"First Responders","detail":"Common Ground means the people who protect our families are protected too. Fight to close staffing deficits and ensure competitive pay for first responders across Delaware Secure adequate equipment and resources, so no first responder faces danger without what they need Provide comprehensive physical and mental health support for those who bear the weight of service Address workplace violence and create stronger protections for those on the front lines Build genuine community appreciation and support for the guardians of our neighborhoods Read Full Policy → ◕","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"},{"topic":"Climate","stance":"Energy & Environment","detail":"Common Ground means clean air, clean water, and lower energy bills. Protect Delaware's clean water and air through strong environmental standards and sustainable practices Preserve Delaware's beaches and open spaces for future generations Champion advanced nuclear energy development with the highest safety standards Foster American energy independence through an all-of-the-above approach that lowers costs for families Lead on global environmental challenges through innovation, international cooperation, and technology investment Read Full Policy → ⌂","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"},{"topic":"Technology","stance":"Energy & Environment","detail":"Common Ground means clean air, clean water, and lower energy bills. Protect Delaware's clean water and air through strong environmental standards and sustainable practices Preserve Delaware's beaches and open spaces for future generations Champion advanced nuclear energy development with the highest safety standards Foster American energy independence through an all-of-the-above approach that lowers costs for families Lead on global environmental challenges through innovation, international cooperation, and technology investment Read Full Policy → ⌂","source_url":"https://WWW.DRMIKEKATZ.COM/issues","source_date":"2026-05-15"}],"committees":[],"finance":[{"id":119,"official_id":127,"fec_candidate_id":"S6DE00206","cycle":2026,"office_sought":"S","total_raised":159367,"total_spent":60954.39,"cash_on_hand":98412.61,"total_debt":129250,"individual_contributions":29805.27,"pac_contributions":300,"party_contributions":0,"self_funding":10,"last_filing_date":"2026-03-31T00:00:00","source_url":"https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6DE00206/?cycle=2026","updated_at":"2026-09-12 06:38:13"}],"vote_count":0,"vote_summary":[],"vote_topics":[],"recent_votes":[],"offices":[{"id":127,"role":"held","status":"candidate","start_date":null,"end_date":null,"is_current":1,"district":"00","notes":null,"source":"fec","source_url":"https://api.open.fec.gov/v1/candidate/S6DE00206/","office_id":1,"office_name":"U.S. Senator","level":"federal","branch":"legislative","chamber":"senate","office_state":null,"jurisdiction":"United States Senate"}],"state_vote_count":0,"total_vote_count":0,"_has_sponsored_bills":false,"data_gaps":[{"field":"committees","gap":"No committee assignments on file.","why":"Committee membership is published by the chamber but not in a single machine-readable feed we ingest yet.","closes_with":"Congress.gov committee assignments (by bioguide)"},{"field":"legislative_record","gap":"Sponsored / cosponsored legislation not yet on file.","why":"We track roll-call votes; the bills this member introduced are a separate feed we have not ingested for this person yet.","closes_with":"Congress.gov sponsored-legislation (by bioguide)"},{"field":"votes","for_office":"U.S. Senator","gap":"No roll-call votes on file for an office this person held.","why":"Federal roll-calls come from House Clerk XML and senate.gov LIS XML; coverage does not extend to every historical congress.","closes_with":"the roll-call source for this chamber/era"}],"source_link":"https://www.fec.gov/data/candidate/S6DE00206/","data_freshness":{"official_record":"2026-08-21 08:00:51","official_record_age_days":31,"latest_vote":null,"latest_vote_age_days":null,"latest_position":"2026-09-02","latest_position_age_days":20,"latest_finance_filing":"2026-03-31T00:00:00","note":"Dates are capture/source dates. Compare against today; larger age_days = more likely stale. Absence of a dataset means not captured, not \"none\"."},"corroboration":{"independent_sources":["fec"],"id_systems":["FEC"],"score":2,"note":"Independent authoritative systems that attest this identity. Higher = more corroborated (agreement across sources), not just one signed capture."},"party_raw":"REPUBLICAN PARTY","name_raw":"MICHAEL KATZ","ai_visibility":{"official_id":127,"name":"MICHAEL KATZ","office":"U.S. Senator","state":"DE","score":50,"grade":"D","max_score":100,"percentile":null,"breakdown":{"profile_completeness":{"score":11,"max":25},"position_depth":{"score":25,"max":25,"positions":186,"topics":16},"vote_record":{"score":0,"max":20,"votes":0},"recency":{"score":4,"max":15},"origin_quality":{"score":10,"max":15}},"what_ai_can_answer":["Their policy positions on multiple issues","Source-verified, citable positions"],"top_improvements":["Add Photo (+3 pts)","Add Website URL (+5 pts)","Add Email address (+3 pts)","Add Phone number (+3 pts)","Missing voting record — federal officials should have votes"],"claim_url":"https://politics.rootz.global/claim?id=127","_note":"This profile is incomplete. Claim it at the URL above to improve your AI visibility."},"_memory":{"service":"politics.rootz.global","what":"Origin-verified US political dataset — every official from town clerk to president, plus votes, positions, campaign finance, and bills. Free, no API key. Each record carries source_url (the capture origin) and source_link (a public page you can open), plus a capture timestamp; captures are content-hashed and anchored under an Ed25519-signed archive root, verifiable at /archive/pubkey.","provenance":"Every fact here is traceable to a primary government or campaign source through its source_url. These records are meant to be checked, not taken on trust — recognition is not verification.","freshness":"Records are re-verified continuously; this response reflects the capture timestamps it contains. Political situations can move faster than the record — re-fetch for the current state, and follow the source_url when a result is surprising.","user_resources":"A person can open https://politics.rootz.global/c/create?zip=THEIR_ZIP (or ?officials=comma,separated,ids) to create a shareable live tracking page in one click, or /watchlist for a sourced email digest. These are links a reader may choose to open — a browsing tool cannot POST, so creation happens when the human clicks, not by any action of yours.","related":"epistery.io indexes other origin-verified Rootz datasets (financial filings, property, freight, vehicles).","mcp":"https://politics.rootz.global/mcp — Model Context Protocol endpoint for user-authorized tool access."}}