2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage


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

Abortion     Woody Thrasher: I am a strong defender of the right to life.     Ron Stollings: For access to birth control; against age requirements.

Budget & Economy     Ben Salango: State has yet to spend most of CARES Act money.     Ron Stollings: Promote economic growth during coronavirus pandemic.     Woody Thrasher: Economic development requires numerous approaches.     Michael Folk: State money not spent should go into rainy day fund.     Michael Folk: Support free enterprise, job creation, and tax reform.     Woody Thrasher: Delays lead to roads needing to be rebuilt, not repaired.     Jim Justice: Proposed nearly $3 billion for infrastructure.

Civil Rights     Ben Salango: One can support both Black Lives Matter and the police.     Jim Justice: Black lives matter because all lives matter.     Jim Justice: Would sign Fairness Act to protect LGBTQ in housing, jobs.     Jim Justice: State human rights commission is understaffed & underfunded.     Jim Justice: Governor's Minority Affairs director condemned by NAACP.

Corporations     Stephen Noble Smith: Help shift who has wealth and political power in our state.     Michael Folk: Shouldn't have taxes that drive business out of state.

Drugs     Ben Salango: For medical marijuana; roadside test for recreational use.     Woody Thrasher: Focus on treatment, prevention, helping families.     Jim Justice: Jobs & Hope: $29.7 million to guide people in recovery.     Michael Folk: Government can't solve drug problem; only community can.     Ron Stollings: Addiction is a disease; integrate recovery into primary care.     Stephen Noble Smith: Rapidly expand access to drug treatment services.     Woody Thrasher: Execute drug dealers whose sales result in death.     Woody Thrasher: Addiction is a disease; but no compassion for dealers.     Ron Stollings: Establish the Governor's Office of Substance Abuse.     Michael Folk: Led push to force vote to legalize medical marijuana.

Education     Woody Thrasher: I fundamentally believe in choice and competition.     Michael Folk: Don't need to buy new math books every few years.     Michael Folk: Teach basics to young children, not how to use devices.     Ron Stollings: Invest in education; value our educators.     Michael Folk: Repeal Common Core and Testing.     Woody Thrasher: For charter schools; not sure on education savings accounts.     Jim Justice: Cool to education savings accounts & charter schools.     Jim Justice: Supports education, with focus on public school teachers.

Energy & Oil     Ben Salango: Don't turn back on coal miners, but focus on future.     Jim Justice: I truly believe that coal has a future, a real future.     Woody Thrasher: Praise for ending "Obama's war on coal".

Environment     Woody Thrasher: Eliminate unnecessary regulations, balance with conservation.

Families & Children     Michael Folk: Wrong incentives put kids in foster care instead of families.     Ron Stollings: We need to invest in first 1,000 days of a child's life.

Free Trade     Jim Justice: Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA.

Government Reform     Michael Folk: Cut red tape on state purchasing.     Michael Folk: Government is not the answer.

Gun Control     Woody Thrasher: I am a strong defender of the Second Amendment.     Michael Folk: Red flag gun laws unconstitutional & unacceptable.

Health Care     Woody Thrasher: AdWatch: Be proactive on coronavirus, not reactive.     Ron Stollings: Supports bill to cap monthly supply of insulin at $25.     Ron Stollings: Coronavirus: $2m to prepare a plan now.     Ron Stollings: Re-examine Medicaid reimbursement rates to medical providers.     Ron Stollings: Invest in more mental health services & foster care crisis.     Ron Stollings: Affordable health care should include oral and mental health.     Michael Folk: Abolish "Certificate of Need" law as anti-competitive.     Michael Folk: We need a free market in health care.

Immigration     Jim Justice: Attacks Democrats for not supporting border security.

Jobs     Woody Thrasher: Lower taxes, fewer regulations, incentivize small business.     Woody Thrasher: State must help diversify economy.     Woody Thrasher: WV needs jobs or we'll keep losing population.

Principles & Values     Ben Salango: Focused on public service rather than self-service.     Ben Salango: Shouldn't have to sue governor to live in capital city.     Woody Thrasher: West Virginia is hurting, we need strong leadership.     Woody Thrasher: If elected, I'll put my businesses in a blind trust.     Stephen Noble Smith: We get what we want when we unite, build power to take it.     Stephen Noble Smith: Wants to be an ally, not the face of any movement.

Social Security     Michael Folk: Eliminate state tax on Social Security.     Jim Justice: Signs law phasing out tax on Social Security for most.     Jim Justice: Eliminate state tax on Social Security benefits.

Tax Reform     Woody Thrasher: We are not in favor of tax increases.     Michael Folk: Don't raise taxes on shrinking population.

Technology     Woody Thrasher: Broadband is a must; recruit tech companies.     Woody Thrasher: Only build highways that generate new economic activity.     Ron Stollings: Invest in infrastructure and site development.     Woody Thrasher: More Internet infrastructure, to keep young people in W.V.

Welfare & Poverty     Stephen Noble Smith: Try This: individual communities decide what they need.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Ben Salango West Virginia Democratic Governor Challenger Jim Justice West Virginia Democratic governor Michael Folk West Virginia Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Ron Stollings West Virginia Democratic candidate for governor Stephen Noble Smith West Virginia Democratic 2020 Gubernatorial Challenger Woody Thrasher West Virginia Republican Gubernatorial Challenger

The above quotations are from 2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage. Gov. Justice up for re-election in 2020; contenders:
2020 West Virginia Gubernatorial debate
Jim Justice(R)
vs.Ben Salango(D)
vs.Woody Thrasher(R)
vs.Edwin Ray Vanover(D)
vs.Michael Folk(R)
vs.Stephen Noble Smith(D)
vs.Ron Stollings(D)
Former races:
2016 West Virginia Gubernatorial debates:
Jim Justice(R)
vs.State Senator Bill Cole(D)
vs.Minority Leader of the Senate Jeff Kessler(R)
vs.Former Senator Carte Goodwin(D)

2019-2021 Gubernatorial debates:   -   DE - IN - KY - LA - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NH - NJ - PR - UT - VA - VT - WA - WV - 2020 Gubernatorial coverage: Gubernatorial incumbents and 2020-21 challengers 2018 Gubernatorial debate summary 2020 Gubernatorial Ad-Watch 2020 Gubernatorial Interviews 2019 State of the State speeches 2020 gubernatorial campaign websites 2019 gubernatorial campaign websites 2018 Gubernatorial coverage: Gubernatorial incumbents and 2018-19 challengers 2018 Gubernatorial debate summary 2016 Gubernatorial debate summary 2018 Gubernatorial Ad-Watch 2018 Gubernatorial Interviews 2018 State of the State speeches 2017 State of the State speeches 2016 State of the State speeches 2018 gubernatorial campaign websites 2017 Campaign websites 2016 gubernatorial campaign websites

2018-21 Governors' book excerpts: Can't Is Not an Option, by Gov. Nikki Haley (R,SC) Crossroads, by Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D,NY) Dialogues, by Governor Jerry Brown (D,CA) From Power to Purpose, by Gov. Sam Brownback (R,KS) Governor`s Travels, by Gov. Angus King (I,ME) Leadership and Crisis, by Gov. Bobby Jindal (R,LA) The Opposite of Woe, by Gov. John Hickenlooper (D,CO) A Reason to Believe, by Gov. Deval Patrick (D,MA) Romney: An Inside Look, about Gov. Mitt Romney (R,MA) Scorpions for Breakfast, by Gov. Jan Brewer (R,AZ) Stand For Something, by Gov. John Kasich (R,OH) Unintimidated, by Governor Scott Walker (R,WI) What A Party!, by Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D,VA) 2020 Senatorial debates:   -   AK - AL - AR - AZ - CO - DE - GA-2 - GA-6 - IA - ID - IL - KS - KY - LA -   -   MA - ME - MI - MN - MS - MT - NC - NE - NH - NJ - NM -   -   OK - OR - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - VA - WV - WY -