The Mississippi Free Press sent the following questionnaire to U.S. House candidate Paul James Blackman, who is running as a Democrat to represent Mississippi’s 4th congressional district in the March 10, 2026, Democratic primary election.
We present his responses unedited. Candidate responses do not reflect the views of the Mississippi Free Press or its staff.
Tell us about yourself, your background and past political or professional experience.
My name is Paul James Blackman. I’m a Navy veteran, a husband, a father of three, and a working student who understands the pressures many families face trying to balance work, education, and raising children.
I immigrated to the United States from Australia more than twenty years ago. I joined the United States Navy in 2004 because I believed that if I was going to live in this country, I should be willing to serve it. My service taught me the importance of duty, responsibility, and respect for the Constitution.
Like many families in Mississippi, my household is not insulated from the realities of the modern economy. I work, I study, and I help raise my children while planning for the future. That experience gives me a practical understanding of what working families are dealing with.
I’m running for Congress because public office should be about service to the people, not about building a political career. Washington needs more representatives who understand ordinary life and are willing to listen to the people they represent.
What does Mississippi need most from Congress? What are our most pressing issues for Congress to solve?
Mississippi needs long-term economic stability and investment.
Our state has tremendous potential, particularly along the Gulf Coast. With our ports, rail connections, and proximity to major cities like New Orleans and Mobile, South Mississippi is positioned to become a major economic corridor if Washington invests in infrastructure and workforce development.
At the same time, we need to protect the economic security of working Americans. Programs like Social Security are promises that workers pay into throughout their lives. Those commitments must be honored and strengthened for future generations.
Congress should also focus on practical investments in infrastructure, healthcare access, and education so that Mississippi families have the tools they need to succeed.
What are your views on immigration and ICE?
Immigration enforcement should be lawful, orderly, and humane.
Every country has the right to control its borders and enforce its laws. At the same time, enforcement must respect the Constitution and the value of human life. Any deaths involving federal officers should be investigated thoroughly and transparently.
The United States has always benefited from immigration, and our system should reflect that reality. The focus should be on clear legal pathways, proper documentation, and fair enforcement of the law so that both citizens and immigrants are protected.
An orderly system benefits everyone—workers, businesses, and communities.
What are your views on abortion, IVF, birth control and reproductive care?
Decisions about reproductive healthcare are deeply personal and should primarily remain between a woman and her doctor.
Government should ensure that women have access to safe medical care, including contraception and fertility treatments such as IVF.
At the same time, we should recognize that many Americans hold deeply held moral views about these issues. Public policy should focus on protecting healthcare access while supporting families and ensuring that people have the economic stability needed to raise children.
What are your views on transgender issues and bans or restrictions on gender-affirming care, bathroom use, sports participation and military service?
Transgender Americans are human beings who deserve dignity and respect.
Public policy in this area should be guided by medical research, fairness, and thoughtful consideration rather than political theater. Complex questions involving youth healthcare or athletic competition should rely on medical expertise and evidence-based standards.
The goal should be to reduce conflict, respect individual dignity, and ensure policies are grounded in facts rather than political outrage.
What are your policy views on improving health-care access?
Healthcare in Mississippi faces two major challenges: affordability and access.
Many rural hospitals are struggling, and families often face high costs even when they have insurance. Congress should focus on strengthening rural healthcare systems, supporting telehealth where appropriate, and ensuring that healthcare professionals have accessible pathways to training and education.
No one should face financial ruin simply because they became sick.
What are your views on artificial intelligence and AI regulation?
Artificial intelligence is one of the most transformative technologies of our time. It has the potential to improve productivity, accelerate scientific discovery, and enhance everyday life.
However, AI also raises serious concerns, including intellectual property theft, identity replication, and the misuse of technology to spread misinformation.
AI development also requires enormous computing power, electricity, and raw materials. As this industry expands, we must ensure that the infrastructure supporting it—power generation, water use, semiconductor manufacturing, and data centers—is built responsibly and sustainably. The benefits of AI should not come at the cost of overburdening our energy grid or local communities.
The United States should lead the world in responsible AI development. That means encouraging innovation while establishing clear protections for workers, consumers, and the integrity of our democratic institutions.
What are your views on climate change and the role the government should play?
Environmental stewardship is both a practical and moral responsibility.
Mississippi’s Gulf Coast faces real risks from storms, flooding, and coastal erosion. Protecting the environment is not only about global climate policy—it is about protecting our communities, infrastructure, and natural resources.
Government should support investments in resilient infrastructure, coastal protection, and cleaner technologies while ensuring economic growth continues.
What are your views on foreign aid to Ukraine and Israel?
Foreign policy should always consider both the security interests of the United States and the value of human life.
Ukraine is defending itself against invasion, and democratic nations have a legitimate interest in supporting that defense.
At the same time, conflicts in the Middle East require careful diplomacy and a commitment to protecting civilian lives.
America should act as a stabilizing force in the world by supporting allies, encouraging diplomacy, and avoiding unnecessary escalation.
What are your views on President Trump’s military actions in Venezuela?
The Constitution gives Congress an important role in decisions involving military action.
Any use of military force should involve clear legal authority and appropriate congressional oversight. Military action should always be the last resort after diplomacy and other tools have been exhausted.
Americans deserve transparency and accountability whenever the government uses military power abroad.
Are there any other domestic or foreign policy views you’d like to highlight?
One of my core beliefs is that government should respect both responsibility and contribution.
Working Americans contribute to systems like Social Security and Medicare throughout their lives, and those commitments must be honored. At the same time, we should strengthen the culture of long-term saving so that every American has the opportunity to build real financial security for retirement. A modern retirement system should allow workers to accumulate savings over time while preserving Social Security as a reliable safety net.
Public office is ultimately about service. Politics should not be about dividing Americans against each other. It should be about strengthening the country so that people who work hard, contribute to their communities, and believe in the future have a fair opportunity to succeed.