Jason Lewis in 2020 MN Senatorial race
On Civil Rights:
Prohibiting worship during lockdown restricts freedom
Prohibiting worshipping during this lockdown is just the latest attempt at restricting religious freedom by radicals like Senator Tina Smith and Governor Tim Walz. From Little Sisters of the Poor to florists, bakers and even Minnesota filmmakers,
liberal Democrats seem to be at war with those who practice according to their religious conscience. I applaud the churches and clergy who showed the resolve to stand up to the Governor's autocratic order unfairly restricting religious gatherings.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Crime:
Public order is not a privilege, it is a right
We are going to have some very bad consequences across the state if we continue down this perilous path of undercutting law enforcement and public order. Let me be clear about this: public order is not a privilege, it is a right. The need for public
order is why government was established in the first place, and it is what makes the liberties granted to us in the Constitution possible. As we descend into this free-for-all mob rule, we are undercutting the very function of government.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Crime:
Without public order, the mob will control the neighborhood
abandoned. This is the greatest abdication of responsibility I've seen in my lifetime, and the Democrats that control these cities have a lot to answer to. Without public order, the mob will control the neighborhood and with it your freedom.
For those calling to defund the police look no further than our own communities to see the consequences of anarchy. As rioters were destroying businesses, the police were given orders to stand down. This is what it looks like when public order is
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
China is responsible for this pandemic
China is responsible for this pandemic. From day one, the Chinese Communist Party intentionally deceived the world on the extent and severity of the virus. And now there is growing evidence that the virus didn't just start in China but was
unintentionally let out of a lab in Wuhan. If this is indeed the case, China is responsible for every single life lost because of the virus and every dollar spent fighting this virus.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Free Trade:
Punish China, bring our supply chains home
China's culpability is obvious to most Americans. And we must hold them accountable. One way we can punish China for their actions is by bringing our supply chains home.
There is no reason we should be dependent on China for vital industries. Let's end our reliance on China and bring those jobs back to the United States.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Government Reform:
Abolish FISA court which violates civil liberties
I voted against the FISA reauthorization while in Congress. I pushed for much-needed reforms to FISA, but the reforms didn't command support of the majority of the House, despite the much-publicized civil liberties abuses. I could not in good
conscience support the threats to privacy posed by a blanket extension of FISA surveillance without meaningful reforms. Now I think we are beyond the point of reforms. Simply put, it's time to stand up for civil liberties and abolish the secret court.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Health Care:
Enhanced medically screening of all international travelers
We must not only control our borders but also reconsider the cavalier way in which international travel takes place to and from the United States. Adopting a practice of enhanced medically screening of all international travelers
on a permanent and routine basis amounts to far less inconvenience. We did it for terrorism; it's now time to do it for the third leading cause of death in the United States, infectious disease.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Immigration:
Opposes open borders, abolishing ICE, sanctuary cities
I voted for two immigration reform bills in the House that would have fixed the Dreamer problem, but Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senator Tina Smith wanted nothing to do with it because it funded border security, including a wall.
Instead they have continued with their radical plans for open borders by abolishing ICE and sanctuary cities. Democrats refused to back a simple resolution honoring the brave men and women at ICE.
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Principles & Values:
Appoint Constitutional conservatives to the courts
Lewis released the following statement on the Supreme Court's ruling blocking President Donald Trump's rollback of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. "Liberal activist judges on the Supreme Court ruled that Trump may
not reverse what Obama himself admitted he had no power to do. This is judicial activism, plain and simple, and something I look forward to tackling when I'm in the Senate by appointing Constitutional conservatives to the courts."
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Welfare & Poverty:
Supports end of "fair housing rule" promoting affordability
Lewis released the following statement applauding HUD Secretary Ben Carson's announcement to scrap the Obama-era "fair housing" rule. "The Trump Administration's plan to deregulate housing is a great step towards undoing the Obama-era regulations that
have burdened the housing industry across the nation. Local officials shouldn't have to get permission from bureaucrats who map census tracts and analyze housing stock for 'affordability' before they can develop their own neighborhoods."
Source: 2020 Minnesota Senate campaign website LewisForMN.com
Jul 8, 2020
On Free Trade:
America First: end outsourcing to China, Buy American
If America First means anything, it means an end to outsourcing medical supplies to China. A Communist country so emboldened they've already threatened to cut off the U.S. drug supply, plunging America "into the hell of a novel coronavirus epidemic."
It means a new "Buy American" emphasis ending a dangerous supply-chain dependence for our key industries, starting with a directive that all federal agencies buy American-made supplies in vital areas.
Source: The Twin Cities Pioneer Press on 2020 Minnesota Senate race
Mar 26, 2020
On Foreign Policy:
2013: GOP support of Israel shows "dual loyalties"
They do control the Republican Party right now. The Republican Party is essentially a neoconservative party that believes [in] unending support for Israel.
A blind loyalty towards Israel is the linchpin of being a good Republican. And when you get those sort of dual loyalties, what happens when it's not in America's best interest?
Source: Law & Crime e-zine on 2020 Minnesota Senate race
Sep 19, 2019
On Welfare & Poverty:
People on government assistance are parasites & scoundrels
Lewis' career as a conservative commentator led to a publishing deal--his book "Power Divided is Power Checked: The Argument for States' Rights" hit shelves in 2011--and frequent guest hosting gigs on Rush Limbaugh's show.Opinions offered by
Lewis during his years on the air surfaced in his previous campaigns. He came under fire for calling people on government assistance "parasites" and "scoundrels" and making demeaning comments about African-Americans. In 2018,
CNN unearthed audio of his multiple disparaging comments about women. A Lewis aide said that "it was his job to be provocative" on the radio.
Lewis returned to the airwaves after he lost his seat in Congress in 2018. He now contributes brief
commentaries called "Minnesota Moments" on KTLK-AM. On an episode posted Aug. 15, he referred to Smith as the state's "accidental senator" and called her "arguably the most liberal [senator] in the country."
Source: Minneapolis Star-Tribune on 2020 Minnesota Senate race
Aug 26, 2019
On Civil Rights:
HRC: 0 score in Congress, compared LGBTQ people to rapists
The Human Rights Campaign released a statement about Lewis, who had a zero score on the group's Congressional Scorecard while in the House. "Jason Lewis is a dangerously out-of-touch extremist who compared
LGBTQ people to rapists and criminals and complained that he could no longer call women 'sluts,'" said Lindsey Clark, HRC regional campaign director for Minnesota.
Source: The Advocate on 2020 Minnesota Senate HRC anti-endorsements
Aug 22, 2019
Page last updated: Oct 24, 2020