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Books by and about 2024 presidential candidates |
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Hillbilly Elegy,
by JD Vance (2017) |
Crippled America,
by Donald J. Trump (2015) |
Fire and Fury,
by Michael Wolff (2018) |
Trump Revealed,
by Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher (2016) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2016) |
Promise Me, Dad ,
by Joe Biden (2017) |
The Book of Joe ,
by Jeff Wilser (2019; biography of Joe Biden) |
The Truths We Hold,
by Kamala Harris (2019) |
Smart on Crime,
by Kamala Harris (2010) |
Becoming,
by Michelle Obama (2018) |
Higher Loyalty,
by James Comey (2018) |
The Making of Donald Trump,
by David Cay Johnston (2017) |
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Book Reviews |
(from Amazon.com) |
(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com)
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E-mail interview series:
2026 Governor and Senate races with OnTheIssues.org
Click on a participant to pop-up their full list of quotations
from OnTheIssues interviews with 2026 Senate and Gubernatorial candidates (number of quotes indicated):
- Catherine Fleming Bruce (7) Democratic Challenger South Carolina
- Donald Kissick (20) Ohio Libertarian Party Challenger
- Douglas P. Marsh (20) Green Party Challenger Michigan
- Lydia Lynn Christensen (20) Libertarian Party Challenger Michigan
- Misam Abidi (22) Tennessee Independent Challenger
- Rick Beard (20) Nebraska Legal Marijuana Party
- Robert Jones (20) Independent Challenger Tennessee
- Robert Vick (20) Tennessee Independent Challenger
- Ted Brown (20) Libertarian Party Challenger Texas
- Teri Hourihan (20) Arizona No Labels Party Gubernatorial Challenger
- Walid Hakim (20) South Carolina Green Party Challenger
OR click on an issue category below for a subset. |
EXPLANATORY NOTE by OnTheIssues.org:
We at OnTheIssues.org ask all candidates for answers to our 20 questions in our VoteMatch quiz. The following Senate candidates have responded in detail. Responding to press inquiries like ours shows a level of openness that augurs well for the candidate in office, regardless of party affiliation.
Almost always, the incumbent ignores our requests, indicating that they don't want their constituents to know their issue stances. We track their voting records accordingly, and infer their VoteMatch responses based on those. We also collect up public statements and book excerpts, and include those in our VoteMatch quiz results as well.
Below are the responses from this year's candidates.
-- Jesse Gordon, jesse@OnTheIssues.org
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Michigan Senate race, 9/22/2026 (Douglas P. Marsh, Green Party, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Nebraska Governor race, 9/21/2026, (Rick Beard, Legal Marijuana Now Party, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Tennessee Senate race, 9/21/2026, (Robert Jones, Independent, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Tennessee Governor race, 9/21/2026, (Misam Abidi, Independent, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Ohio Governor race, 9/21/2026, (Donald Kissick, Libertarian Party, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Texas Senate race, 9/21/2026, (Ted Brown, Libertarian Party, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Tennessee Governor race, 9/22/2026, (Robert Vick, Independent, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 S.C. Governor race, 9/24/2026 (Walid Hakim, Green Party, Link)
OnTheIssues email interview on 2026 Michigan Senate race, 9/25/2026, (Lydia Lynn Christensen, Libertarian Party, Link)
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details)
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Abortion
Donald Kissick: Personally pro-life, but respect reproductive freedom.
Douglas P. Marsh: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Every woman deserves access to safe abortions.
Misam Abidi: Pro-life, but also pro-mother, pro-child, and pro-family.
Rick Beard: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.
Robert Jones: Restrictions must respect due process & medical judgment.
Robert Vick: Life begins with conception.
Ted Brown: No government between doctors & patients, including abortion.
Walid Hakim: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right.
Teri Hourihan: Abortion only when medically necessary.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: Pregnancy can be more deadly than abortion.
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Budget & Economy
Donald Kissick: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.
Douglas P. Marsh: Neutral on stimulus vs. market-led recovery.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Market-led recovery better than stimulus.
Misam Abidi: Stimulus ok when targeted, temporary, and accountable.
Robert Jones: Stimulus better than market-led recovery.
Robert Vick: Market-led recovery instead of government stimulus.
Ted Brown: Market-led recovery produces best result.
Walid Hakim: Support a Universal Basic Income.
Teri Hourihan: Stimulus better than market-led recovery.
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Civil Rights
Donald Kissick: Don't require hiring women & minorities.
Douglas P. Marsh: Legally require hiring women & minorities.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Civil rights movement challenges government to be inclusive.
Misam Abidi: Oppose quotas; strongly support equal opportunity.
Rick Beard: Legally require hiring women & minorities.
Robert Jones: Fair playing field for historically marginalized communities.
Robert Vick: Don't require hiring women & minorities.
Ted Brown: Don't require hiring women & minorities.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: Confront past racism and its current-day impacts.
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Corporations
Walid Hakim: More EPA oversight on corporations.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Ending corporate welfare puts America First.
Misam Abidi: Tax corporations to contribute to community supporting them.
Rick Beard: Businesses shouldn't rely on stimulus money .
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Crime
Walid Hakim: Eliminating poverty reduces crime, not punishment.
Donald Kissick: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Douglas P. Marsh: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Misam Abidi: Swift due process better than simply increasing sentences.
Rick Beard: Stricter punishment doesn't reduce crime.
Robert Jones: Meaningful opportunities for rehabilitation & reentry.
Robert Vick: Punishment reduces crime; so do jobs and good pay.
Ted Brown: Too many laws; concentrate on real crimes.
Teri Hourihan: Invest in rehabilitation & mental health to reduce crime.
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Drugs
Walid Hakim: Legalize cannabis and psilocybin.
Donald Kissick: Marijuana is not a gateway drug; no prohibition.
Douglas P. Marsh: Marijuana is not a gateway drug.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Marijuana isn't a gateway drug.
Misam Abidi: Marijuana is not a gateway drug.
Rick Beard: Marijuana is not a gateway drug.
Robert Jones: Focus on responsible regulation and treatment .
Robert Vick: Medical marijuana is ok.
Ted Brown: Legalize marijuana.
Teri Hourihan: Marijuana is a gateway drug.
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Education
Walid Hakim: Flood public schools with funding.
Ted Brown: Tuition tax credits for school choice.
Donald Kissick: Vouchers for school choice, but fund public schools.
Douglas P. Marsh: No vouchers for school choice.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Invest in exploratory models while funding public schools.
Misam Abidi: Support vouchers, but not as a blanket policy.
Rick Beard: No vouchers for school choice.
Robert Jones: Vouchers redirect public resources and fragment system.
Robert Vick: 100% against vouchers.
Teri Hourihan: Vouchers for school choice including private or homeschool.
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Energy & Oil
Walid Hakim: Prioritize green energy.
Donald Kissick: Prioritize market-based green energy.
Douglas P. Marsh: Prioritize green energy.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Prioritize green energy; lift the 10% energy choice cap.
Misam Abidi: Balanced clean-energy strategy: solar, nuclear, and more.
Rick Beard: Prioritize green energy.
Robert Jones: Prioritize green energy.
Robert Vick: Prioritize green energy, but balanced.
Ted Brown: Competition among oil, gas, wind, solar, and nuclear.
Teri Hourihan: Prioritize green energy.
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Environment
Donald Kissick: EPA federal over-reach hurts America.
Douglas P. Marsh: EPA isn't federal over-reach.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: EPA federal over-reach doesn't hurt America.
Misam Abidi: Environmental regulations protect families.
Rick Beard: EPA federal actions don't hurt America.
Robert Jones: EPA sets national baseline; states can exceed.
Robert Vick: EPA helps environment but needs common sense.
Ted Brown: EPA and polluting both violate private property rights.
Teri Hourihan: Extreme federal over-reach hurts America.
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Families & Children
Walid Hakim: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Support non-discrimination including LGBTQ+.
Donald Kissick: Support qualified rights for transgender and LGBTQ+ people.
Douglas P. Marsh: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights.
Misam Abidi: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights.
Rick Beard: Support transgender and LGBTQ+ rights.
Robert Jones: LGBTQ+ Americans should have all the same rights.
Robert Vick: Love neighbors as yourself, even LGBTQ+.
Ted Brown: Support rights, no matter their sexual preference.
Teri Hourihan: Support transgender rights except bathrooms & sports.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: I support transgender people having a seat at the table.
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Foreign Policy
Walid Hakim: Pay our dues to the UN, but end Security Council.
Donald Kissick: America First over UN & Globalism.
Douglas P. Marsh: No opinion on UN & Globalism.
Misam Abidi: America First, with international cooperation.
Rick Beard: We are already a global economy and society.
Robert Jones: International institutions advance American interests.
Robert Vick: Cooperate with our allies and UN.
Ted Brown: Good relations with all nations.
Teri Hourihan: America First over UN & globalism.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: Rebuild "soft power" in international community.
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Free Trade
Rick Beard: Support & expand free trade.
Walid Hakim: Reduce tariffs and expand free trade.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Free trade promotes a healthy economy.
Donald Kissick: Support & expand free trade.
Douglas P. Marsh: No opinion on expanding free trade.
Misam Abidi: Support fair and responsible trade.
Robert Jones: Support & expand free & fair trade.
Robert Vick: Support free trade but buy American first.
Ted Brown: Repeal all Trump tariffs; no more tariffs by whim.
Teri Hourihan: Support free and fair trade, but not trade agreements.
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Government Reform
Douglas P. Marsh: Make voter registration easier.
Rick Beard: Make voter registration easier.
Walid Hakim: Make voter registration automatic.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Make voter registration automatic.
Donald Kissick: Make voter registration easier, with election security.
Misam Abidi: Make voter registration easier.
Robert Jones: Make voter registration straightforward & accessible.
Robert Vick: Make voter registration easier.
Ted Brown: Make voter registration easier, with voter ID.
Teri Hourihan: Make voter registration easier.
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Gun Control
Douglas P. Marsh: Absolute right to gun ownership.
Rick Beard: Absolute right to gun ownership.
Walid Hakim: Right to gun ownership, with safety classes .
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Right to gun ownership except for domestic violence.
Robert Vick: Why do citizens need AK-47s?
Donald Kissick: Absolute right to gun ownership.
Misam Abidi: Protect gun rights AND prevent mass violence.
Robert Jones: Gun ownership has legal boundaries.
Ted Brown: Strong 2nd Amendment supporter.
Teri Hourihan: Strongly protect Second Amendment, with guardrails.
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Health Care
Douglas P. Marsh: Don't expand ObamaCare.
Rick Beard: Support Medicare for all.
Walid Hakim: Supports Single Payer healthcare.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Medicaid for all via taxation.
Robert Vick: Neutral on ObamaCare.
Donald Kissick: Reform ObamaCare' don't expand it.
Misam Abidi: Support healthcare access, with major structural reform.
Robert Jones: Universal access rather than just ObamaCare.
Ted Brown: Repeal ObamaCare.
Teri Hourihan: Oppose ObamaCare in current form.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: Focus on a patient-centric system.
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Homeland Security
Douglas P. Marsh: Opposes "Peace through Strength".
Rick Beard: Peace comes from diplomacy.
Walid Hakim: Stop military funding all nations.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Speak softly and carry a big stick.
Robert Vick: Strength is important but arrogance is not.
Donald Kissick: Peace through strength, not perpetual military intervention.
Misam Abidi: Peace through strength, nut military is last resort.
Robert Jones: Diplomacy and alliances are part of national strength.
Ted Brown: Defense only; no international global military .
Teri Hourihan: Peace through strength.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: Sustain funding for programs for veterans & families.
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Immigration
Douglas P. Marsh: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Walid Hakim: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Pathway to citizenship for DACA .
Rick Beard: Pathway to citizenship for undocumented workers.
Robert Vick: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Donald Kissick: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Misam Abidi: Earned pathway to citizenship for immigrants.
Robert Jones: Safe, earned pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens.
Ted Brown: Pathway to citizenship for working immigrants.
Teri Hourihan: Secure borders within strong legal immigration .
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Jobs
Walid Hakim: Legally require hiring women & minorities.
Teri Hourihan: Don't require hiring women & minorities.
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Principles & Values
Douglas P. Marsh: America not founded on Christian values.
Walid Hakim: A myth that America was founded on Christian values.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Christ didn't coerce; separate church & state.
Rick Beard: Freedom of religion, not Christian values.
Donald Kissick: America was founded on Christian values.
Misam Abidi: America influenced by Christianity, Islam, Buddhism & others.
Misam Abidi: Tennessee is not an institution; Tennessee is its people.
Robert Vick: America hasn't always followed Christian values.
Robert Jones: Free to practice Christianity, another faith, or no faith.
Ted Brown: America founded on separation of church and state.
Teri Hourihan: America was founded on Christian values.
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Social Security
Douglas P. Marsh: Don't privatize Social Security.
Walid Hakim: Privatize Social Security.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Consent-based model for future Social Security.
Rick Beard: Don't privatize Social Security.
Donald Kissick: Privatize Social Security, with protected transition.
Misam Abidi: Oppose full privatization; support modernization.
Robert Vick: Neutral on privatizing Social Security.
Robert Jones: Public guarantee plus retirement investment.
Ted Brown: Privatize Social Security for younger workers.
Teri Hourihan: Option for carefully regulated private investment .
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Tax Reform
Douglas P. Marsh: Higher taxes on the wealthy.
Walid Hakim: Fewer loopholes and higher taxes for the wealthy.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Higher taxes on the wealthy.
Rick Beard: Higher taxes on the wealthy.
Robert Vick: Less taxation on the poor; reduce sales tax.
Donald Kissick: Reduce government spending and tax burden.
Misam Abidi: Support fair progressive restructuring.
Robert Jones: Higher taxes on the wealthy, plus reimbursable VAT.
Ted Brown: Repeal income tax; abolish the IRS.
Teri Hourihan: Address loopholes that allow inappropriate tax avoidance .
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War & Peace
Douglas P. Marsh: Stay out of foreign wars.
Walid Hakim: Stop starting wars.
Lydia Lynn Christensen: Out of foreign wars; bring our troops home.
Rick Beard: Stay out of foreign wars.
Robert Vick: Stay out of foreign wars.
Donald Kissick: Stay out of foreign wars.
Misam Abidi: Stay out of foreign wars.
Robert Jones: Exercise restraint before committing to foreign wars.
Ted Brown: No military involvement abroad; end Trump Iran War.
Teri Hourihan: Stay out of foreign wars.
Catherine Fleming Bruce: Military assistance to Ukraine; support free Palestine.
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The above quotations are from E-mail interview series:
2026 Governor and Senate races with OnTheIssues.org.
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