2020 New Mexico Senatorial race: debates and news coverage


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Bob Walsh: Right to privacy including all medical treatments.     Ben Ray Lujan: Roe v. Wade is law of the land; should not be overturned.     Mark Ronchetti: Unborn babies just happen to be living inside their mother.     Mark Ronchetti: Oppose late term abortion, support ban on federal funding.     Ben Ray Lujan: Ensure that abortion remains safe and legal.     Gavin Clarkson: Ban late-term abortions; no tax dollars to fund abortions.     Mark Ronchetti: No federal funding for abortion.     Gavin Clarkson: Oppose taxpayer funded abortions, & Planned Parenthood.

Budget & Economy     Bob Walsh: Need surplus, not balanced budget, to reduce national debt.     Gavin Clarkson: Support Penny Plan: cut spending by 2% for 5 years in a row.     Mark Ronchetti: COVID: Responsibly re-open economy, help small businesses.     Gavin Clarkson: Frack China: Seize Treasury bonds held by Communist China.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Create a "One-Stop-Shop" Business Portal to cut red tape.

Civil Rights     Gavin Clarkson: Organizations such as Black Lives Matter divide this country.     Ben Ray Lujan: Voted for Equality Act, expanded Violence Against Women Act.     Ben Ray Lujan: Create true partnerships with Tribal communities.     Ben Ray Lujan: Graded "A" by Center for Freethought Equality.

Crime     Bob Walsh: Police should not be allowed to arrest without a warrant.     Mark Ronchetti: Federal economic relief would free violent criminals.     Mark Ronchetti: COVID: relief bill releases violent criminals from prison.     Mark Ronchetti: Welcomes federal intervention against violent crime.     Ben Ray Lujan: Voted for George Floyd Justice in Policing Act of 2020.     Mark Ronchetti: Strongly opposes efforts to defund the police.     Mark Ronchetti: Federal laws have teeth; we will go after criminals.     Ben Ray Lujan: End for-profit prisons, cash bail, mandatory minimums.     Mark Ronchetti: Opposed to defunding the police.

Drugs     Ben Ray Lujan: Co-sponsored federal decriminalization of marijuana bill.     Ben Ray Lujan: Change approach to minor non-violent marijuana arrests.     Ben Ray Lujan: Hold opioid manufacturers accountable for role in epidemic.     Gavin Clarkson: Supports local drug courts & opioid treatment.

Education     Bob Walsh: Taxpayers shouldn't help pay off existing student loans.     Gavin Clarkson: YOU agree to pay back student loans, not the taxpayers.     Mark Ronchetti: Give parents opportunity to choose the right public school.     Ben Ray Lujan: Dismantle skyrocketing costs of higher education.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Focus on best education within our public school system.     Gavin Clarkson: Concealed carry in the classroom for select teachers.     Gavin Clarkson: Constitution doesn't mention education, so keep feds out.

Energy & Oil     Mark Ronchetti: Green New Deal would destroy New Mexico's energy economy.     Mark Ronchetti: All-of-the-above approach to developing energy resources.     Mark Ronchetti: Strongly opposes ban on fracking, safely done for 60 years.     Mark Ronchetti: 50% of our oil and gas comes from public lands.     Ben Ray Lujan: Invest in and expand renewable energy projects.     Ben Ray Lujan: Highest-ranking co-sponsor of the Green New Deal.     Gavin Clarkson: Opposes Green New Deal; no fracking bans.     Mark Ronchetti: Pro fracking and continue to use cost effective oil and gas.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Unabashed support of the Green New Deal.     Tom Udall: Do it all, do it right.

Environment     Mark Ronchetti: Oppose environmental extremism; it crushes middle class.     Mark Ronchetti: The Green New Deal is about socialism.

Foreign Policy     Gavin Clarkson: Declare independence from Communist China.     Ben Ray Lujan: Congress should reassert authority over foreign policy.

Free Trade     Mark Ronchetti: Review trade agreements; put American worker first.     Ben Ray Lujan: Reckless trade wars have raised prices on everyday items.     Gavin Clarkson: Supports "America First" trade policies.     Mark Ronchetti: Protect jobs and national security before trading with China.     Gavin Clarkson: Free trade is only free if it's truly fair.

Government Reform     Gavin Clarkson: Getting government out of the way will grow economy.     Ben Ray Lujan: No campaign money from NRA, nor other company lobbyists.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: No campaign money from company lobbying groups.     Tom Udall: Abolish Electoral College; extend vote to DC & territories.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Supports same day voter registration & early voting.

Gun Control     Mark Ronchetti: Gun owner and a strong supporter of the Second Amendment.     Mark Ronchetti: Opposes a ban of semi-automatic rifles.     Gavin Clarkson: Self-defense is a God-given fundamental human right.     Mark Ronchetti: Supports 2nd amendment and background checks.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Refused to certify proposed petition on new gun control law.     Gavin Clarkson: No ban on assault weapons; defend 2nd amendment.

Health Care     Bob Walsh: Eliminate Federal healthcare, including Medicare & Medicaid.     Ben Ray Lujan: Cancer diagnosis shouldn't lead to bankruptcy or home loss.     Mark Ronchetti: Opposes government-run Medicare for All, socialist ideas.     Mark Ronchetti: Against single payer, patients would lose their doctors.     Ben Ray Lujan: Supports $100 million to expand children's healthcare.     Ben Ray Lujan: Increased funding for birth control and related services.     Ben Ray Lujan: Co-sponsor of Medicare for All.     Gavin Clarkson: Competition and choice are only options to lower costs.     Mark Ronchetti: Absolute no to government single payer health care.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Supports national health insurance plan and Medicare-for-All.     Gavin Clarkson: No single-payer; repeal ObamaCare.

Homeland Security     Bob Walsh: Threat from terrorism is government trampling on our rights.     Mark Ronchetti: Increased defense spending brings jobs to state.     Mark Ronchetti: Protect veterans benefits, wider array of services.     Ben Ray Lujan: Key mission to fight for veterans access to health care.     Ben Ray Lujan: Reverse past & present LGBTQ discrimination in military.

Immigration     Mark Ronchetti: Against amnesty, close the asylum loophole.     Mark Ronchetti: Eliminate sanctuary city laws around the country.     Mark Ronchetti: Amnesty incentivizes even more illegal immigration.     Ben Ray Lujan: Comprehensive immigration reform must be fair and just.     Ben Ray Lujan: Pathway to citizenship for DREAMers.     Gavin Clarkson: End birthright citizenship; oppose amnesty.     Mark Ronchetti: Opposes illegal immigration and sanctuary cities.     Maggie Toulouse Oliver: Border policy should treat people like humans.     Gavin Clarkson: Oppose amnesty and path to citizenship, with exceptions.     Gavin Clarkson: I support not just the wall, but a high-tech wall.

Jobs     Ben Ray Lujan: Republicans blocking bills to end pay discrimination.     Mark Ronchetti: Supports right to work laws.     Mark Ronchetti: Lowering taxes for small business will create jobs.     Ben Ray Lujan: Unions built the middle class in our country.     Ben Ray Lujan: Raise the minimum wage, lower taxes for working families.

Principles & Values     Gavin Clarkson: Democratic processes can include voices of religious people.     Mark Ronchetti: Senator should put the people of New Mexico first.     Mark Ronchetti: America the greatest nation on Earth, not afraid to say so.     Gavin Clarkson: Christian, conservative, pro-life, pro-gun, pro-Israel.     Mark Ronchetti: A proud New Mexican conservative.     Mark Ronchetti: Hate for opponents can't be stronger than love of New Mexico.     Ben Ray Lujan: Assistant Speaker of US House; son of speaker of NM House.     Gavin Clarkson: Had to prove New Mexico is a state to get married.

Social Security     Bob Walsh: Transition to a voluntary system as soon as possible.     Gavin Clarkson: Put the Trust Fund in a lockbox with no government key.     Tom Udall: If you paid into system, you can rely on benefits.

Tax Reform     Ben Ray Lujan: Voted against 2017 tax cuts as fiscally irresponsible.     Mark Ronchetti: Against government raising taxes & reaching into our lives.     Gavin Clarkson: Pass payroll tax cut, make permanent full expensing.

Technology     Ben Ray Lujan: Hailed $165 million for rural broadband in New Mexico.     Tom Udall: Hailed $165 million for rural broadband in New Mexico.     Ben Ray Lujan: LIFT America Act: $17 billion for energy infrastructure.

War & Peace     Gavin Clarkson: Get out of Afghanistan; stay out of Syria.     Gavin Clarkson: Need evidence & Congressional approval to trike North Korea.

Welfare & Poverty     Ben Ray Lujan: End "lunch shaming" for students who can't afford lunch.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Ben Ray Lujan Democratic 2020 Senate Challenger New Mexico Bob Walsh Libertarian Senate Challenger New Mexico Gavin Clarkson Republican 2020 Senate Challenger New Mexico Maggie Toulouse Oliver Democratic 2020 Senate Challenger (withdrew) New Mexico Mark Ronchetti Republican Senate Nominee New Mexico Tom Udall Democratic Sr Senator (Retiring 2020) New Mexico