Gary Johnson in 2018 NM Senate race

On Abortion: Personal aversion but recognizes as law of the land

Martin Heinrich (D): Legal. Safe & legal without restrictions.

Gary Johnson (L): Legal. Personal aversion but recognizes as law of the land.

Mick Rich (R): Ban. Life begins at conception.

Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. "1 in 5 women has relied on for. birth control & lifesaving cancer treatments."

Gary Johnson (L): Unclear. But supports across-the-board federal

On Budget & Economy: Cut government spending by 20%

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes, particularly transportation infrastructure.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Cut government spending by 20%.

Mick Rich (R): Yes. Energy development & infrastructure repair.

On Budget & Economy: Cut taxes and cut spending

Martin Heinrich (D): No. Does little for working families.

Gary Johnson (L): Yes. But should have also cut spending.

Mick Rich (R): Yes. "Stimulated investment & job creation.

On Corporations: Scrap Dodd-Frank and CFPB consumer protections

Martin Heinrich (D): No. Called for its continued funding & independence.

Gary Johnson (L): Yes. Scrap Dodd-Frank, the legislation that authorized the CFPB.

Mick Rich (R): Yes. Congratulated Trump for Dodd-Frank rollback.

On Education: Competition improves choices

Martin Heinrich (D): No. "Privatization policies would be especially damaging to rural New Mexico"

Gary Johnson (L): Yes. Competition improves choices. "Why can't we apply that to schools?"

Mick Rich (R): Yes. Supports "vouchers, savings accounts, & scholarship programs."

On Education: Cut Pell grants; eliminate all student loans

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Co-sponsored Warren bill in 2017. Co-sponsored bill to "address the significant loss in value of Pell Grants,"

Gary Johnson (L): Supported elimination of all student loans, though would explore reduced interest. Called for Pell Grants cuts.

Mick Rich (R): Consolidate income-contingent loans. Let Pell grants cover job training.

On Energy & Oil: Humans contribute to climate change, but no government role

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes to both. Climate change is "devastating"--with "moral obligation to be responsible stewards of this earth."

Gary Johnson (L): No. Says human activity is a contributing factor, but doesn't support government role in regulating.

Mick Rich (R): Unclear. Mentions but not as urgent issue. Says Sandia Labs coal plant filter can solve CO2 emissions.

Q: Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Championed renewable investments to "create thousands of new jobs."

Gary Johnson (L): No. Proposes "a free market approach," with technological innovation as only driver.

Mick Rich (R): No. Would only support renewable energy without government subsidies.

On Environment: EPA has an important role to play

Martin Heinrich (D): No. EPA needed to protect health & well-being, & move to clean energy economy.

Gary Johnson (L): Unclear. Believes that the EPA has an important role to play.<

On Free Trade: Tariffs hurt U.S. industries

Martin Heinrich (D): No. Sledgehammer where need surgical approach.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Hurt US industries that need imports like solar.

Mick Rich (R): Yes. Current trade with China is not fair.

On Government Reform: Let corporations donate as much money as they want

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Supported DISCLOSE Act of 2015 to do this. Overturn Citizens United through Democracy for All Amendment.

Gary Johnson (L): Yes. Transparency is the only campaign reform needed. Says corporations should be able "to contribute as much money as they want."

Mick Rich (R): No position found.

On Government Reform: Voter ID disproportionately restricts Hispanic voters

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Require independent, bipartisan redistricting commissions.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Prefers term limits & selecting Senators by state legislators.

Mick Rich (R): No position found.

Q: Support stricter voting rules like photo ID?

Heinrich: No. Disproportionately affect minority communities.

Johnson No. Mostly about "restricting Hispanic voters."

Rich: No position found.

On Gun Control: More gun laws make us less safe

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Former NRA member, backed legislation to ban bump stocks & deny those on the federal no-fly list.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Says evidence doesn't show that such laws make us safer--actually less safe.

Mick Rich (R): No. "Constitutional right." Wouldn't restrict semi-automatic weapons or silencers.

On Health Care: Free-market approach to health coverage instead of ObamaCare

Martin Heinrich (D): Support. Repeal would make rural hospitals close & tens of thousands lose coverage . Against Medicare work rules.

Gary Johnson (L): Repeal. Would repeal ACA & cut Medicare. Supports free-market approach to health coverage.

Mick Rich (R): Repeal. "Restore a free-market approach to health insurance."

On Jobs: Eliminate federal minimum wage instead of raising it

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Raise to $15.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Eliminate federal minimum wage.

Mick Rich (R): "Remove all regulations that discourage hiring."

On Social Security: Some or all of Social Security should be privatized

Martin Heinrich (D): No. Signed Social Security Protectors Pledge.

Gary Johnson (L): Yes. Some or all of Social Security should be privatized.

Mick Rich (R): No position found.

On Technology: Opposes Net Neutrality; government shouldn't regulate

Martin Heinrich (D): Yes. Voted to reverse FCC's repeal of net neutrality rules.

Gary Johnson (L): No. Government shouldn't regulate.

Mick Rich (R): No position found.

On Principles & Values: Endorsed by Rand Paul; asks Dem to drop out of Senate race

Johnson's supporters have been pressuring Rich to drop out of the race against Democratic Sen. Martin Heinrich. Tuesday is the final day for candidates to withdraw their names from the general election ballot. As fellow libertarians, Paul and Johnson share similar sentiments on limited government.

An Emerson College e-poll conducted with a small sample size of 500 registered voters showed Johnson leading Rich among Republicans.

Johnson led a failed campaign for president in the 2016 election, earning him big name recognition, and previously served as New Mexico's governor in the late '90s and early 2000s.

On Principles & Values: Fiscally conservative and socially cool

[Transcript of TV ad]:
• He paid his way through college as a handyman, growing that small business into the largest construction company in the state, with 1,000 employees and a reputation for ethical behavior.
• He's an Iron Man triathlete; an avid cyclist and outdoorsman; an adventurer who summited Mt. Everest with frostbitten toes and a leg still healing from a recent break.
• During his two terms as governor, he did what people in office rarely do: He kept his word.
• He's fiscally conservative, and socially cool. GQ Magazine described him as "absurdly honest and smart." Gary Johnson isn't the norm in politics; he's the future.
• You know what Gary Johnson will do in the Senate. Because you know Gary Johnson. [Text on screen: Gary Johnson. U.S. Senate. Fiercely independent.
• Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Paid for by Elect Liberty PAC.

On Technology: Left NM with new highways and a billion-dollar surplus

[Transcript of TV ad]:
• During his two terms as governor, he did what people in office rarely do: He kept his word. He vetoed wasteful spending 750 times; cut taxes 14 times; reduced the size of state government through better management instead of layoffs.
• He left the people of his state with hundreds of miles of new highways; new schools and bridges; improved state services; a balanced budget; and a billion-dollar surplus; all without raising taxes a penny.
• He's fiscally conservative, and socially cool. GQ Magazine described him as "absurdly honest and smart." Gary Johnson isn't the norm in politics; he's the future.
• You know what Gary Johnson will do in the Senate. Because you know Gary Johnson. [Text on screen: Gary Johnson. U.S. Senate. Fiercely independent.
• Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. Paid for by Elect Liberty PAC.