Ted Brown, a Libertarian from Austin, is running for U.S. Senate in Texas in the Nov. 3 general election. Voters will see Brown's name on the ballot for the statewide seat. Brown, born in 1960, said he entered the race because other candidates do not reflect his views on personal freedom, limited government and a non-interventionist foreign policy.
"We need a completely independent senator who is not beholden to any special interest groups or corrupt party leaders," Brown said in his questionnaire response to Surround Sound News.
Candidate information
- Party: Libertarian
- Born: 1960, Steubenville, Ohio
- Hometown: Wells Branch neighborhood of Austin, Texas
- Family: Married to Laura since 1984. Laura is a retired teacher who taught at Austin Community College. They have one adult daughter, Katie, who works as a fundraiser for a major university hospital.
- Education: Bachelor's degree in political science from UCLA with a concentration in constitutional law (1984)
- Occupation: Retired after 40 years as a self-employed independent insurance claims adjuster and investigator
Experience and public service
Brown has not held elected office. He has served in leadership roles within the Libertarian Party at the local, state and national levels, according to his Libertarian Party profile. Those roles include chairman of the Libertarian Party of California, member of the Libertarian National Committee, vice chair of the Libertarian Party of Travis County and candidate coordinator for the Libertarian Party of Texas. He joined the party in 1979.
Brown received more than 267,000 votes in the 2024 Texas U.S. Senate race, a record for a Libertarian candidate in the state, Houston Public Media reported.
On the issues
The following positions are drawn from Brown's questionnaire responses to Surround Sound News and his campaign materials.
Presidential power (top priority): Brown said Congress needs to reclaim its legislative powers from what he called the "Imperial Presidency." He pointed to foreign military intervention, executive orders and emergency declarations as examples of executive overreach. He said the separation of powers must be restored and the presidency made "a much less powerful position."
Economy and federal spending: Brown said Congress must cut federal spending across the board to address a $2 trillion annual deficit and an "unsustainable $40 trillion national debt." He argued the deficit drives the Federal Reserve to print more money, which causes inflation. He said he would repeal tariffs he said have raised costs by about $1,100 per family per year. Brown also supports repealing the federal income tax and abolishing the IRS, according to his campaign website.
Immigration: Brown said he favors an "Ellis Island-style" immigration entry system where immigrants would come to a proper port of entry, identify themselves and undergo screening. Those who are not criminals or terrorists would be allowed in and permitted to work immediately. He said legal immigration is "almost impossible right now."
Foreign policy: Brown said he opposes the war with Iran, which he described as a war of choice, and would end U.S. involvement immediately by withdrawing all troops and closing all military bases in the Middle East. He said Congress holds the constitutional power to start wars and should cut off funding.
Digital privacy: Brown opposes government-mandated age verification for social media, digital ID requirements, government censorship of the internet and CCTV surveillance cameras in public places, according to his campaign website. He said he strongly defends Fourth Amendment protections from unreasonable search and seizure.
