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.     Gina Hinojosa: Do away with the criminal penalties for doctors.

Budget & Economy     Bill Hagerty: The debt ceiling has become a tool to extract pain.     Cory Booker: GOP is dismantling the protections of Americans' safety.     Steve Hilton: Cap government fees for new homes at $50,000.     Xavier Becerra: Don't let Wall Street investors buy homes over people.

Crime     Vivek Ramaswamy: Trump should not be convicted of a process crime.     Chris Coons: Consider commuting death sentences to life without parole.     Lindsey Graham: Pardoning attackers of police sends the wrong signal .     Wes Moore: Reform juvenile justice system, give boys a second chance.     Jasmine Crockett: Look for crimes in the Epstein files, not smearing Trump.     Wes Moore: I have no tolerance for violent offenders, period.

Energy & Oil     Jared Polis: All-of-government approach to climate change.     Steve Hilton: Why import oil when we have abundant oil reserves here?     Xavier Becerra: My opponent would "drill, baby, drill" along the coast.

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

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

Government Reform     Michael Whatley: Claimed massive fraud in 2020 presidential election.     Steve Hilton: Yes on Prop 39: majority agrees to show I.D. to vote.     Xavier Becerra: No on Prop 39: don't make it tougher for people to vote.     Cory Booker: Biggest issue is massive corruption in all three branches.

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.     Steve Hilton: Higher vaccine compliance when parents don't feel bullied.     Wes Moore: We're bringing down the cost of prescription drugs.     Xavier Becerra: Measles have spread when vaccine-deniers take over.     Abdul El-Sayed: Medicare for all is where we need to go.     Bill Cassidy: Trump's vaccine proposal will cause more children to be sick.

Homeland Security     Markwayne Mullin: Hegseth qualifies as SecDef because he's a civilian.     Tom Cotton: Regime change in Venezuela was great thing for America.     J.B. Pritzker: Two ICE shootings in Chicago were murder by ICE agents.     Wes Moore: Military can do anything; shouldn't be asked for everything.

Immigration     J.B. Pritzker: Deport violent criminals, not law-abiding immigrants.     Lindsey Graham: Congress needs to appropriate money for more ICE agents.     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.     Steve Hilton: We've got to prioritize the removal of dangerous criminals.     Xavier Becerra: I am for recognizing that immigrants lift up our state.     Abdul El-Sayed: Smart immigration policy shouldn't oppose Constitution.

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.     J.B. Pritzker: Trump should have called out Musk for Nazi salute.     Wes Moore: Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.     Brad Raffensperger: Refused to change 2020 vote totals when Trump demanded.     Josh Shapiro: Dividing Americans is, in and of itself, un-American.     Steve Hilton: The most amazing state in the most amazing country on Earth.     Xavier Becerra: The American Dream was put to life in California.

Tax Reform     Steve Hilton: State taking less means more money in people's pockets.     Xavier Becerra: Tax cuts for millionaires takes it from schools & services.

Technology     Bill Hagerty: Thank God Elon Musk bought Twitter & exposed spending bill.     J.B. Pritzker: Video everything, to gather evidence against ICE and CBP.     Gina Hinojosa: Texas is the Wild West of data centers right now.     Steve Hilton: We'll see how AI companies act or if we need regulation.     Wes Moore: AI can do remarkable things, but it needs guardrails.     Xavier Becerra: Trump got a pinky promise on AI; we need real enforcement.

War & Peace     Mike Rounds: Putin could have had peace a long time ago if he wanted it.     Mike Pence: Support Iran protests including use of force against mullahs.     Pete Buttigieg: Trump launched Iran war without planning.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Abdul El-Sayed Michigan Democratic candidate for Governor 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 Gina Hinojosa Texas Democratic Challenger 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 Josh Shapiro Pennsylvania Democratic Gubernatorial 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) Pete Buttigieg Indiana DOT Secretary Steve Hilton California Republican challenger 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 Xavier Becerra California HHS Secretary; CA Gov. candidate