Jeff Johnson in 2018 MN Governor's race
On Abortion:
Heartbeat bill: ban abortions at about 6 weeks of pregnancy
Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal?Jeff Johnson (R): Ban. Believes in the sanctity of human life from conception. Wants a "heartbeat bill," banning abortions at about 6 weeks of pregnancy.
Tim Walz (D): Legal. Believes in a woman's right to
choose, & will continue this support as Governor.
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health care?
Johnson: Unknown.
Walz: Yes. Voted against defunding Planned Parenthood.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Drugs:
Medical marijuana ok but not recreational
Q: Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?Jeff Johnson (R): Supports medical marijuana but opposed to legalizing recreational.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports full legalization of medical and recreational marijuana for adults.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Energy & Oil:
Climate is changing naturally; human involvement debatable
Q: Consider climate change a critical threat?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says climate is changing naturally and human involvement is debatable.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Sees climate change as real and urgent.
Q: Should the government limit the levels of
greenhouse gases in the atmosphere?
Johnson: No. Believes that a single country's efforts to mitigate climate change would have only a "small effect" & "we don't need to reorder our economy based on climate change."
Walz): Yes.
Supported legislation to restrict carbon emissions. Opposed Trump's decision to withdraw from Paris Climate Agreement.
Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?
Johnson: Questions Minnesota's mandates on producing renewable fuels
like ethanol & biodiesel, but promises not to end them if elected.
Walz: Yes. Wants to expand the Renewable Energy Standard, so Minnesota will get at least 50% of its energy from renewables by 2030, up from 21% now.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Families & Children:
Gay "contractual unions" for hospital visits & inheritance
Q: Support gay marriage?Jeff Johnson (R): No. But supports "contractual unions" for hospital visitation,
inheritance or end-of-life decisions.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Has campaigned for "full marriage equality" since 2005.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Free Trade:
Tariffs on China negatively affect Minnesota farmers
Q: Support Trump's imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Concerned about how Chinese tariffs will affect Minnesota farmers.
Tim Walz (D): No. Calls the tariffs "rash" & not in "the interests of America's farmers."
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Gun Control:
Arm trained professionals in schools
Q: Support more restrictive Gun Control legislation?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Opposes expanded background checks. Wants to arm trained professionals in schools & strengthen existing laws,
not restrict "rights of law-abiding gun owners" with new laws.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports expanded background checks & banning assault-style weapons--not arming teachers (he was a teacher for 20 years).
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Health Care:
ObamaCare was sold as reform & there was no reform in it
Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), aka ObamaCare? Accept ACA's Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?Jeff Johnson (R): Repeal. Says the ACA "was sold as reform & there was no reform in it." Wants to move toward "a more
free-market system."
Tim Walz (D): Support. Opposes attempts to roll back ACA. Believes single payer type system "is on Minnesota's horizon." Also supports allowing people to buy into programs like VA system, Medicaid & Medicare.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Jobs:
Minimum wage increase lessens options for young
Q: Raise the minimum wage?Jeff Johnson (R): No. Says it would lessen options for young & least experienced people.
Tim Walz (D): Yes. Supports $15 minimum wage for Minnesota.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Trump tax cuts lower Minnesota taxes
Q: Support President Trump's tax cuts?Jeff Johnson (R): Support Trump tax cuts, would lower Minnesota taxes.
Tim Walz (D): No. Opposed 2017 tax cuts. Says 86 million middle-class families will see taxes increase while top 1% get 83% of benefit. Cutting MN taxes means cutting programs.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Minnesota Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
On Abortion:
Pro-lifer who believes in protecting the life of the unborn
There is no more important issue than protecting innocent life. Not only is this a moral issue, recent breakthroughs in science and technology have made even
more clear that we must protect the life of the unborn. I am Pro-Life and believe in the sanctity of human life from conception to natural death.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Corporations:
Help small business and embrace all present and future jobs
All Minnesotans deserve an economy where hard work is the only limit to success. The way to achieve this is to create an environment that encourages small-business owners and embraces both the jobs of today and tomorrow. Our government has failed
miserably to do this and instead has been a direct obstacle. Whether it's taxes, regulations or a government attitude of helping rather than antagonizing job creators, I will work every day to make Minnesota's business climate competitive. ˙
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Crime:
Violent criminals must be locked up, some for long sentences
The role of government in our lives should be as limited as possible, but providing for the public safety of all is one of the most important jobs of government. While I have always supported alternatives to incarceration for low-level, nonviolent
offenders and believe strongly in providing 2nd chances for those who make mistakes, we have one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country and violent criminals must be locked up and very violent criminals must be locked up for a very long time.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Education:
Believes parents know best about their kid's education needs
I believe that parents, not the state or the education unions, are the best decision-makers when it comes to the education of a child. ˙We must empower parents to make those decisions and allow teachers the freedom to teach without unending interference
from politicians. We will simplify our K-12 education funding formula, start to eliminate some of the many state mandates on our schools and teachers, and do everything possible to allow real education choice for every parent in Minnesota.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Environment:
Best stewards of natural resources are those who need them
Minnesota's economy was built on agriculture and natural resources. That's not to say that farming, logging and mining are the only parts that matter, but they provide the rock-solid foundation upon which many other industries have been built.
Yet government is doing little but getting in the way of people who work the land. I know what a blessing our natural resources are and that the people whose livelihoods depend upon using them are better stewards of the land than any bureaucrat.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Government Reform:
Government needs to give the power back to the people
Our state desperately needs a fundamental change in the size, scope, and philosophy of government. This means taking power away from government and giving it back to the people. We must create a mindset in government that it is a
servant of the people, not the other way around. I will push for term limits, initiate a top-to-bottom audit of the programs Minnesota taxpayers fund and veto any omnibus bill that does not adhere to the single-subject rule.˙
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Government Reform:
People make better decisions on spending than government
I believe that government can only exercise authority granted to it in the Constitution. I believe that people make better decisions about how to spend the money they earn than government. I support school choice and the empowerment
of parents to control the education of their children. I believe the right to keep and bear arms for personal protection is a fundamental individual right. I am pro-life. My Christian faith guides every decision I make.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Gun Control:
Gun control laws only put the guns in the hands of criminals
The U.S. Constitution is unequivocal: "A well-regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."
Self-defense is a fundamental individual right and creating new "gun control" restrictions on law-abiding citizens will only leave guns in the hands of criminals.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Health Care:
For multi state buying, selling insurance across state lines
Between the skyrocketing cost of health insurance and the declining lack of access, nearly every family has been impacted. I will work to return power over health care to patients and citizens and take advantage of federal waivers allowing Minnesota to
abandon the provisions of Obamacare that have limited choice and increased costs. I will also start negotiating with other Midwestern states to increase competition by creating an interstate compact to sell and buy insurance across state lines.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Immigration:
Opposes sanctuary state and all sanctuary cities
Though hard to believe, the DFL candidates for governor support the concept of "sanctuary cities" and, in fact, want to make Minnesota a "sanctuary state." This would mean that local law enforcement would be prohibited from working with
federal agents tasked with enforcing our country's immigration laws. I will not allow Minnesota to become a sanctuary state and will work with the legislature to ban sanctuary cities in Minnesota.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Social Security:
End the taxation of social security benefits
I believe we need to cut taxes and reduce the size and power of government. We'll start by cutting income taxes, the death tax and license tab fees,
ending the taxation of social security benefits and instituting an Automatic Taxpayer Refund when government over-taxes Minnesotans.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Tax Reform:
Growth comes from lower spending and increased take-home pay
Government's appetite for overspending in Minnesota goes hand in hand with the desire to push government programs and regulations into every corner of our lives. Taxes and spending issues are not only economic, they are moral.
Empowering Minnesotans starts with us deciding how our hard-earned money is spent--not government. Reducing spending levels and increasing take-home pay will result in a badly needed explosion of economic activity, growth, and opportunity.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Technology:
Moratorium on light rail; focus on first-class bus system
Transportation is the lifeblood of Minnesota's economy. By employing common sense and long-term planning there is no reason we can't achieve great roads and solve our broader transportation issues without breaking the bank.
The Johnson Administration will put a moratorium on light rail and focus transit money on a first-class bus system. In the Metro, I'll base my transportation funding decisions on projects that relieve congestion and provide mobility to the citizens.
Source: 2018 Minnesota JohnsonForGovernor.org campaign website
Sep 1, 2018
On Welfare & Poverty:
Goal is to have all able bodied welfare recipients working
Candidate Jeff Johnson says if he's elected governor, all able-bodied adults receiving welfare would have to actively seek work, get training or actually be working.˙
Johnson says, "We have a work requirement for certain programs, but not all of them, and there are questions about how well they are actually enforced. It's kind of spotty, depending upon where you are in the state."
Source: KLGR 1490AM on 2018 Minnesota gubernatorial race
Jul 30, 2018
On Immigration:
Distinguish legal residents for getting state services
Q: If elected governor, what will you do to fight the scapegoating and demonization and persecution of immigrants and refugees? Specifically, what will you do to work with the Minnesota Legislature to restore access to driver's licenses that were taken
away by Tim Pawlenty in 2003?Johnson: "I think it's helpful if we draw the curtain here and distinguish between those who are legal residents and legal citizens of the United States, and who are not."
Source: Post-Bulletin on 2018 Minnesota governor debate
Oct 25, 2017
Page last updated: Dec 11, 2018