CNN "State of the Union" interviews for 2026 races
(Jake Tapper and Dana Bash interviewing candidates for 2026 races)


(Click for external website)

Citations: On 2028 presidential prospects: Interview With Former Vice President Mike Pence, interview by Jake Tapper on 1/18, (Link) On 2026 Illinois Gubernatorial race: With Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D-IL), interview by Jake Tapper on 1/11, (Link) On Trump Administation (DHS): Interview With U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem, interview by Jake Tapper on 1/11/26, (Link) On 2026 Akansas Senate race: Interview With Sen. Tom Cotton, interview by Dana Bash on 1/4/26, (Link) On 2026 Louisiana Senate race: Interview With Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA), interview by Jake Tapper on 11/23/2025, (Link) On 2026 Texas Senate race: Interview With Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX); interview by Jake Tapper on 11/23/2025, (Link)

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

Abortion     J.B. Pritzker: This should be a right that is a constitutional right.     Brad Raffensperger: Opposed abortion while in the state legislature.

Budget & Economy     Bill Hagerty: The debt ceiling has become a tool to extract pain.     Cory Booker: GOP is dismantling the protections of Americans' safety.

Crime     Vivek Ramaswamy: Trump should not be convicted of a process crime.     Chris Coons: Consider commuting death sentences to life without parole.     Wes Moore: Reform juvenile justice system, give boys a second chance.     Jasmine Crockett: Look for crimes in the Epstein files, not smearing Trump.     Lindsey Graham: Pardoning attackers of police sends the wrong signal .

Energy & Oil     Jared Polis: All-of-government approach to climate change.

Foreign Policy     Mike Pence: US security requires Greenland, but by persuasion, not force.

Free Trade     Tim Walz: In trade wars, agriculture gets hit the hardest.     Jared Polis: Tariffs are a regressive tax that hurt our economy.     Mike Rounds: Tariffs are a way to open negotiations on trade agreements.

Government Reform     Michael Whatley: Claimed massive fraud in 2020 presidential election.

Gun Control     Jocelyn Benson: Ban open carrying of guns at polling places .

Health Care     Jared Polis: Focus on danger of processed foods, but support vaccinations.     Bill Cassidy: Vaccines are safe; vaccines do not cause autism.     Bill Cassidy: Proposes Health Savings Accounts within ObamaCare.

Homeland Security     Tom Cotton: Regime change in Venezuela was great thing for America.     Markwayne Mullin: Hegseth qualifies as SecDef because he's a civilian.     J.B. Pritzker: Two ICE shootings in Chicago were murder by ICE agents.

Immigration     Tim Walz: For a bipartisan policy that strengthens immigration control.     Kristi Noem: Renee Good was a domestic terrorist, impeding an ICE action.     Amy Klobuchar: Get ICE out of Minnesota NOW.     J.B. Pritzker: Deport violent criminals, not law-abiding immigrants.     Lindsey Graham: Congress needs to appropriate money for more ICE agents.

Jobs     Cory Booker: DEI actually allows us to hire the best of the best.

Principles & Values     Vivek Ramaswamy: Deliver national unity with our shared American identity.     Vivek Ramaswamy: Capitalism has to stay apolitical to bring us together.     Wes Moore: Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.     J.B. Pritzker: Trump should have called out Musk for Nazi salute.     Brad Raffensperger: Refused to change 2020 vote totals when Trump demanded.

Technology     Bill Hagerty: Thank God Elon Musk bought Twitter & exposed spending bill.     J.B. Pritzker: Video everything, to gather evidence against ICE and CBP.

War & Peace     Mike Pence: Support Iran protests including use of force against mullahs.     Mike Rounds: Putin could have had peace a long time ago if he wanted it.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Amy Klobuchar Minnesota Democratic candidate for President; Minnesota Senator Bill Cassidy Republican Sr Senator Louisiana Bill Hagerty Republican Jr Senator Tennessee Brad Raffensperger Georgia Republican Challenger Chris Coons Democratic Jr Senator Delaware Cory Booker New Jersey Mayor of Newark; N.J. Senator J.B. Pritzker Illinois Democratic Illinois Governor Jared Polis Colorado Democratic candidate for Colorado Governor Jasmine Crockett Democratic Challenger Texas Jocelyn Benson Michigan Democratic Challenger Kristi Noem South Dakota Republican DHS Secretary Lindsey Graham South Carolina S.C. Senator; Republican Presidential candidate Markwayne Mullin Republican Jr Senator Oklahoma Michael Whatley Republican Challenger North Carolina Mike Pence Indiana Former Republican Vice President (withdrew Oct.2023) Mike Rounds South Dakota Former Republican Governor (2002-2010) Tim Walz Minnesota DFL Governor & V.P. nominee Tom Cotton Republican Jr Senator Arkansas Vivek Ramaswamy Ohio CEO & Republican Challenger Wes Moore Maryland Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger