Mark was born and raised in Edna, Texas. He earned a bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University and a medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston.. He has 6 children and 16 grandchildren.

Ballotpedia, Mark Lorenzen

Mark Lorenzen's campaign for US representative is his first run for public office.

Candidate website

Supports strengthening Social Security and safety nets.

Supports a livable minimum wage, protecting workers' rights, and promoting fair trade policies that benefit all Americans.

- Supports strengthening Social Security and safety nets.
- Supports a livable minimum wage, protecting workers' rights, and promoting fair trade policies that benefit all Americans.

Economy

Supports "common-sense" gun safety laws, including background checks, closing gun show loopholes, and banning high-capacity magazines to reduce gun violence.

Supports addressing systemic racism and protecting LGBTQ+ rights.

- Supports "common-sense" gun safety laws, including background checks, closing gun show loopholes, and banning high-capacity magazines to reduce gun violence.
- Supports addressing systemic racism and protecting LGBTQ+ rights.

Public Safety

Believes in a healthcare system that provides all citizens access to affordable, quality care. Plans to expand coverage, reduce prescription drug costs, and invest in mental health services.

Believes in a healthcare system that provides all citizens access to affordable, quality care and plans to expand coverage, reduce prescription drug costs, and invest in mental health services.

Supports the "sensible legalization of marijuana."

Supports access to abortion and contraception.

- Believes in a healthcare system that provides all citizens access to affordable, quality care and plans to expand coverage, reduce prescription drug costs, and invest in mental health services.
- Supports the "sensible legalization of marijuana."
- Supports access to abortion and contraception.

Healthcare

Supports increased funding for public schools, student loan debt relief, and making higher education more accessible to all.

- Supports increased funding for public schools, student loan debt relief, and making higher education more accessible to all.

Education

Supports renewable energy, conservation, and reducing carbon emissions.

- Supports renewable energy, conservation, and reducing carbon emissions.

Energy & the Environment

Supports campaign finance reform to reduce money's influence in politics and ensure a fair electoral process.

- Supports campaign finance reform to reduce money's influence in politics and ensure a fair electoral process.

Voting & Elections

Supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, protecting the rights of refugees, and family unity in immigration policies.

- Supports a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, protecting the rights of refugees, and family unity in immigration policies.

Foreign Policy and Immigration

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Mark Lorenzen

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Pete was born and raised in Waco, Texas. He earned his bachelor's degree in political science from Southwestern University. He and his wife, Karen, have 5 children and they attend Waco First United Methodist Church.

Pete previously worked as the district manager at Southwestern Bell Telephone company. 

Pete Sessions currently serves as US Representative in Congressional District 17 in Texas. He was first elected in 1996 and served 11 consecutive terms to 2018. He ran for reelection in 2018, but did not win. He is currently serving his 14th term, from 2020 to 2024. 

Wants to balance the budget without raising taxes to reduce "unnecessary socialist government spending."

Supports agriculture and has a 100% voting record with the Texas Farm Bureau.

Believes the federal debt is too high, saying "The federal debt is now larger than the size of our economy."

Believes "the federal debt is now larger than the size of our economy."

- Wants to balance the budget without raising taxes to reduce "unnecessary socialist government spending."
- Supports the agricultural sector.
- Believes "the federal debt is now larger than the size of our economy."

Believes crime rates are increasing and more Americans are dying each year because of drug overdoses.

Believes crime rates are increasing and more people are dying from drug overdoses.

- Opposes gun control.
- Believes crime rates are increasing and more people are dying from drug overdoses.

Opposes abortion access, "standing up for unborn children."

Aims to "deliver better health care to families at lower costs."

Supports better health care to families at lower costs.

Wants to create legislation supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families.

Opposes legalizing marijuana and believes "reclassifying marijuana ignores science and endangers our youth."

- Opposes abortion access, "standing up for unborn children."
- Supports better health care to families at lower costs.
- Wants to create legislation supporting individuals with Down syndrome and their families.
- Opposes legalizing marijuana and believes "reclassifying marijuana ignores science and endangers our youth."

Believes there is an "ideology war" in education and opposes policies that diminish parental rights.

 Advocates for parental rights in education and educational opportunities.

Believes school curricula are normalizing "transgender lifestyles" and using outside organizations to promote "radical far-left ideas" on teachers, parents, and students.

Believes "curricula in many school districts are teaching children that transgender lifestyles are “normal.""

-  Advocates for parental rights in education and educational opportunities.
- Believes "curricula in many school districts are teaching children that transgender lifestyles are “normal.""

As of June 10, 2025, Pete Sessions’s website did not contain information on this issue.

Cosponsored House Bill 8281, which requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

- Cosponsored House Bill 8281, which requires proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections.

Supports building a wall and strengthening immigration laws.

Supports building a wall on the southern border and strengthening immigration laws.

Believes in maintaining a strong national defense to ensure safety.

Wants to maintain a strong national defense to ensure safety.

Believes President Biden's "abandonment of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan" weakened the U.S. global position.

Believes "Joe Biden’s abandonment of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan weakened our position in the world."

- Supports building a wall on the southern border and strengthening immigration laws.
- Wants to maintain a strong national defense to ensure safety.
- Supports Israel.
- Believes "Joe Biden’s abandonment of U.S. citizens in Afghanistan weakened our position in the world."

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Pete Sessions

- Your US Representative represents the interests of your district in the US House of Representatives, the lower house of Congress. Texas currently has 36 US Representatives.
- US Representatives can author, sponsor, debate, and vote on bills that become national law.
- Representatives may serve on congressional committees. Committees focus on certain policy areas, such as transportation, education, or labor. They may also run for higher positions within their party, such as the Speaker of the House or Majority/Minority Leader.
- Representatives are elected to two-year terms. To hold this office, a candidate must be a legal resident of Texas for at least seven years before their election. US Representatives are paid a salary of $174,000/year.

Texas US Representative, District 17

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