2017 Virginia Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage

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

Abortion     Ralph Northam: Protect women's reproductive rights.     Tom Perriello: Backs pro-choice groups.

Budget & Economy     Ralph Northam: Cut spending by $4.6 billion to keep our budget balanced.

Civil Rights     Tom Perriello: Embraces same-sex marriage.     Ralph Northam: Backs marriage rights for same-sex couples.

Crime     Tom Perriello: Replace school-to-prison pipeline with school-to-workforce.     Terry McAuliffe: Grant 200,000 convicted felons the right to vote.

Drugs     Ed Gillespie: Opposes decriminalization, but align penalty to pot offense.     Ralph Northam: Be open-minded about medicinal plants like marijuana.     Ralph Northam: Blacks are twice as likely to be arrested for pot possession.     Tom Garrett: Decriminalize pot at the federal level.     Tom Perriello: Lead the fight to take on our backwards marijuana laws.     Tom Perriello: Has spoken favorably towards marijuana decriminalization.     Ralph Northam: Drug problems are not confined to youth and minorities.     Ralph Northam: We spend $67 million a year enforcing our marijuana laws.

Education     Ralph Northam: Invest in early childhood education.     Rob Wittman: My wife teaches; so I know what's working.

Energy & Oil     Frank Wagner: Enable more utility-based solar power & renewable projects.     Terry McAuliffe: Signed 11 bills to promote solar & renewable energy.     Ralph Northam: Restrict offshore oil and gas drilling off Virginia coast.

Families & Children     Tim Kaine: 2005: "conservative on family;" oppose same-sex marriage.

Government Reform     Terry McAuliffe: Grant voting rights to 200,000 released convicted felons.     Ralph Northam: Nonpartisan redistricting so voters, not pols, pick reps.

Health Care     Bob McDonnell: ObamaCare is expensive, bureaucratic, and inflexible.     Frank Wagner: Expand Medicaid as long as federal share stays overs 90%.     Ralph Northam: Expand access to Medicaid for 400,000 of our citizens.     Ralph Northam: No family should be one illness away from financial demise.

Immigration     Tom Perriello: Welcome immigrants; they make up 1 in 9 Virginians.     Tom Perriello: Commonsense policies for immigrants like drivers licenses.     Ralph Northam: Stand up against ICE; our doors are open.     Ralph Northam: Support driver's licenses for illegal immigrants.

Jobs     Ralph Northam: Tiebreaker in favor of increasing the minimum wage.

Principles & Values     Rob Wittman: Served as mayor, town councilor, and in House of Delegates.     Ralph Northam: Religious sectarianism has no place in politics.

Social Security     Tom Perriello: Our promise lets seniors retire with security and dignity.

Tax Reform     Ed Gillespie: Use 40% of projected revenue growth for tax relief.     Frank Wagner: More taxes to pay for chronic lack of transportation funding.     Ed Gillespie: Decrease state's personal income tax rate to spur growth.     Ralph Northam: Raise income tax rate by 1% for income over $500,000.     Tom Perriello: Raise income tax rate by 1% for income over $500,000.     Frank Wagner: We need income tax for programs and AAA bond rating.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Bob McDonnell Virginia Republican Governor Ed Gillespie Virginia Republican 2017 Gubernatorial candidate Frank Wagner Virginia Republican Ralph Northam Virginia Democratic Governor Rob Wittman Virginia Republican 2017 Gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe Virginia Democratic Challenger Tim Kaine Virginia Democratic Nominee for Vice President Tom Garrett Republican U.S. Rep Virginia-5 Tom Perriello Virginia Democratic candidate for Governor