Brandon Batch on Foreign Policy, Trump and Running for Congress

SAN ANGELO, TX — “CD-11 is the second most conservative district in the US. And I’ve been to every county in this district and haven’t experienced an ounce of racism,” Brandon Batch said.

Batch, to only African-American candidate in the race, is running for the Republican nomination to become the next congressman in Washington to represent the sprawling district that extends from Granbury to Llano, through San Angelo, to the Permian Basin.

But Batch said race is not a factor. “My mindset has always been, like my mom taught me, ‘there’s nothing you can’t be,”’ he said. He has been blazing his own path since graduating from Texas Tech University.

After college, Batch went to Washington D.C. where he recently completed a tour serving as a policy analyst for Michael McCaul (CD-11, Houston). McCaul is the ranking member of the Committee on Homeland Security and is a senior member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.

Working for McCaul gave Batch a bird’s-eye view of the crafting of U.S. foreign policy and he has traveled to many of the world’s hotspots, including the Middle East. In this video interview, he discusses what he learned.

On Trump, Batch offered a point-of-view from a minority’s perspective. “We need to stop allowing Democrats to bludgeon us with the racism moniker all the time,” he said.

For President Trump, Batch believes his African-American support is bigger than is reported in the media.

“Look, he speaks his mind, does what he says he’s going to do,” Batch said, summarizing the job gains in the black community since his election. “He’s the one who has given [the black community] attention, he shows attention to the black community, and is getting things accomplished.”

Batch wants to encourage placing young minorities into positions of influence in the Republican Party of Texas so that they can go out into minority communities and address their needs.

“Republicans make the mistake of thinking they can successfully change minds by going into a community and telling them your ideas are better.” We need to listen first, he said.

Batch hasn’t had any problems getting his message across during the primary campaign.

“My experience throughout this race has been a beautiful one,” Batch said.

Watch the entire interview and learn what the former Midland High School running back has to say about his 40-yard-dash time.