Tim Kaine in 2018 VA Senate race

On Abortion: Planned Parenthood funding is critical part of safety net

Tim Kaine (D): Legal. Supports women's right "to make their own reproductive choices." Opposes efforts to weaken Roe v. Wade & defund Planned Parenthood.

Corey Stewart (R): Ban. No exceptions for rape, incest, or life of the mother. "It is the duty of legislators to protect those who cannot protect themselves."

Q: Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage if disagree?

Tim Kaine (D): No. Co-sponsor of bill to restore ACA contraceptive coverage requirement.

Corey Stewart (R): No statement found.

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

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. A critical part of healthcare safety net. "We can't let anybody undercut Planned Parenthood or the healthcare safety net."

Corey Stewart (R): No. Will work to defund. "I will NEVER apologize for being pro-life & I will ALWAYS stand up to Planned Parenthood."

On Civil Rights: We're still fighting for full LGBT equality

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. In 2006 opposed VA amendment banning same sex marriage. "We're still fighting for full LGBT equality."

Corey Stewart (R): No. Strongly opposes; seeks to overturn Supreme Court legalization. Signed survey to oppose "brainwashing elementary school children with the Homosexual Agenda."

On Drugs: Decriminalize marijuana federally; respect states' rights

Tim Kaine (D): Introduced bill to decriminalize at federal level & respect states' rights.

Corey Stewart (R): Decriminalize but don't legalize.

On Education: Allow Pell Grants to cover short-term training

Tim Kaine (D): Voted for 2014 Warren proposal. Also fixed glitch in public service loan forgiveness program. Allow Pell Grants to cover short-term training.

Corey Stewart (R): No public statement found.

On Education: Fight efforts to divert public funding to private schools

Tim Kaine (D): No. Will fight efforts to divert public school funding to private schools.

Corey Stewart (R): Yes. Parents need to be in charge & should have as many choices as possible including vouchers.

On Energy & Oil: Climate change imperils our planet's future

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Climate change imperils our planet's future & threatens our economy. Need to regulate greenhouse gases. Paris Climate Accord withdrawal will make it harder to deal with climate change at home.

Corey Stewart (R): No. "Theory of man-made Climate change is a hoax." Climate is changing, but "I don't believe that man is the primary cause & I don't believe that man can change that." Believes climate accord regulations are "nonsensical."

Q: Should government support renewable energy?

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Has supported renewable energy subsidies. Also supported a VA coal plant as governor. In 2013 supported off-shore drilling, which now opposes.

Corey Stewart (R): Opposed Governor McAuliffe's renewable energy initiatives. Says backs all US energy development "including nuclear, solar, wind & fossil fuels."

On Environment: Extreme concern over cuts to EPA

Tim Kaine (D): No. Signed letter voicing "extreme concern" over the cuts.

Corey Stewart (R): Likely yes. Excess environmental regulation "costs jobs, increases energy costs.has little or no positive impact."

On Free Trade: Trump's Chinese tariffs are killing jobs

Tim Kaine (D): No. "They are killing jobs" & could "significantly put our infrastructure advancements at risk."

Corey Stewart (R): Yes. "What President Trump is doing [with the Chinese tariffs] is right on."

On Government Reform: Expand early voting & general ballot access

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Supported. Also expand early voting & general ballot access.

Corey Stewart (R): No public statement found.

On Government Reform: Reverse Citizens United; it erodes democracy

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Introduced 2017 Disclose Act to disclose major campaign funders. Reverse Citizens United, saying erodes democracy & undermines elections.

Corey Stewart (R): No public statement found on Disclose Act. Opposes regulation of campaign donations.

On Gun Control: Ban assault weapons, high-capacity ammo, & bump stocks

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Co-sponsored bill to ban military-style assault weapons, high-capacity ammunition magazines, & bump stocks. Supports improved background checks.

Corey Stewart (R): No. Supports absolute right to gun ownership. Gave away a semi-automatic rifle in raffle to highlight his position.

On Health Care: Praised Virginia's Medicaid expansion

Tim Kaine (D): Supports ACA; has voted against all efforts for full or partial repeal. Praised Virginia's Medicaid expansion.

Corey Stewart (R): Full repeal. "ObamaCare has failed." Called Virginia Medicaid expansion "a major disaster for our party." Replace Medicaid with state block grants.

On Immigration: Comprehensive immigration reform to protect DREAMers

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Supported comprehensive immigration reform to protect Dreamers, enhance border security & create earned path to citizenship for "those living in the shadows."

Corey Stewart (R): No. "Illegal immigration threatens America's security, jobs, & tax dollars." No amnesty. Build the wall. Instructed his county police to check immigration status of anyone they believed were in the country illegally.

On Jobs: Raise minimum wage from $7.25/hr to $15

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Co-sponsored $15/hour proposal.

Corey Stewart (R): No public statements found.

On Social Security: Lift cap above $128,000 to make Trust Fund solvent

Tim Kaine (D): Opposes any privatization. Make more solvent by lifting cap that only taxes incomes up to $128,000.

Corey Stewart (R): Congress should stop "dipping into the Social Security trust fund" for "things like settling sexual harassment claims." Lifting cap would "increase taxes on the little guy."

On Tax Reform: Trump tax cuts explode deficit & only benefit the wealthy

Tim Kaine (D): No. They explode the deficit, only benefit big corporations & the very wealthy & raise healthcare premiums.

Corey Stewart (R): Yes. "Lowering taxes is the key to prosperity." Trump cuts have yielded low unemployment & soaring corporate profits. Suggests making permanent.

On Technology: Protect Net Neutrality (equal access to Internet)

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Voted to protect.

Corey Stewart (R): No public statements found.

On Technology: Transportation infrastructure spending as economic stimulus

Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Particularly transportation infrastructure.

Corey Stewart (R): No. Generally opposes.

On War & Peace: Withdrawing from Iran nuke treaty weakens alliances

Tim Kaine (D): Opposes withdrawal. Damages diplomatic credibility, weakens alliances. Reopens the door for Iran to start enriching uranium.

Corey Stewart (R): Supports withdrawal. "Iran continues to be a state-sponsor of terrorism across the planet."

On Civil Rights: Redefine VA as rainbow coalition instead of Unite the Right

KAINE: Yes.

Q: But it feels, on many of these issues, that it`s very much an open wound. What has actually changed since Charlottesville's [racist attack]?

KAINE: Charlottesville was shocking. At that Unite the Right rally, most of the people arrested for violence that day were out-of-staters who came in to bring their hatred and bigotry. What I see that has changed in Virginia is people saying, "we`re not going to let our state be defined this way." It was seen most directly in the Virginia elections in November of 2017: Of the 15 people that got elected, 11 of the 15 were women, African-American, LGBT--It was a real rainbow coalition.

Q: Yet Corey Stewart, the man running against you, wants to protect Confederate monuments. That`s countering what you`re describing.

KAINE: Yes, it is. But look who won last year. It wasn`t the people who want to secede or go backwards who are winning elections.

On Crime: Systemic racial inequities in the criminal justice system

KAINE: There are deep, deep challenges.

Q: You agree with her?

KAINE: There are systemic racial inequities in the criminal justice system, absolutely. So, when I`m saying we have this policy [of "equality as a nation"], we`re not living it perfectly in any sphere. Criminal justice, I think, would be one where there are significant problems. Look at the disproportionate incarceration rates. Now, to say the entire system is racist--hey, I know fantastic law enforcement professionals, judges, prosecutors who are doing their best every day to reduce inequality. But if you just look at the results, the outcome, who is incarcerated?