Dan Forest in 2020 NC Governor's race

On Health Care: Criticized governor's closure of restaurants for coronavirus

Forest's office released a statement titled "Lt. Governor Forest Questions Validity of Restaurant Ban" in which he said Cooper's order would doom the state's economic vitality. "His mandate will devastate our economy, shutter many small businesses and leave many people unemployed, especially in the rural areas of our state where food supply is already critical," Forest said in the release. Source: WWAY News TV-3 on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Mar 18, 2020

On Crime: Restore law and order, violent criminals roam free

The government's first priority should be the safety and security of the people. We must restore law and order if we are to protect our civilized society. When a handful of sheriffs allow violent criminals to roam free in our state, purely for political reasons, the entire state suffers. Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2020

On Education: Provide students with options: Opportunity Scholarships

I believe it's critical to provide students with options for a sound education - especially Opportunity Scholarships for families with no other options. When I am Governor, we will offer parents choices in education and the ability to find the setting that works best for their child. We will also move toward a competency-based system that makes sure our children are learning rather than being shuttled through an outdated and ineffective system. Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2020

On Environment: Protect environment, no to "apocalyptic alarmism"

I strongly believe in good stewardship of the environment - protecting clean air, clean water and conserving land for future generations. The problem is that the term "climate change" has become a catch-all for both environmental stewardship and apocalyptic alarmism. If we want to address these issues, then we must stop tossing everything into one basket and begin tackling one solvable problem at a time. It's time to stop using the environment as a political football and start solving problems. Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2020

On Health Care: Against Medicaid expansion under Affordable Care Act

I am for high-quality, affordable health care for all North Carolinians. Medicaid expansion does not fit the bill. The Affordable Care Act promised hardworking families more access, better care, and no tax increases to pay for it. These were broken promises. Now these same promises are being made by Governor Cooper regarding Medicaid expansion. Our people are smarter than this political rhetoric. Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2020

On Jobs: State should look to the future in attracting companies

It is time for North Carolina to cast a vision for the future and determine what markets and industries we need to attract to provide well paying jobs for our citizens. As the world economy transitions, we must make sure that our education system is prepared, but also that our state is prepared and that we are willing to do the hard work to attract the right types of companies. Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2020

On Tax Reform: Best business incentive is tax relief

Since most businesses are small businesses that never get to see a government incentive, the best incentive is tax relief for all companies that pay taxes, small and large. Tax relief allows them to make decisions that can lead to growth in the economy in a fair and equitable way and helps all communities, not just the big cities where most corporate incentive money lands. Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Feb 18, 2020

On Abortion: Claims Planned Parenthood was created to destroy black race

On Planned Parenthood: "There is no doubt that when Planned Parenthood was created, it was created to destroy the entire black race," he said in a video of the speech shared on Facebook. "That was the purpose of Planned Parenthood. That's the truth."

"How the black community can't come together and see that and understand the fight against that, I don't know," he said. How the white community can't come together and see that and fight against it, I don't know either."

Source: News & Observer on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Jan 22, 2020

On Civil Rights: Opponents of voter ID law racist and stand for fraud

Forest suggested in an interview that those opposed to a recently blocked state voter ID law, including the state's NAACP chapter, were racist. "To suggest that people that are minorities don't know how to get an ID and don't know how to use one-- I think that's far more racist than saying that this type of bill is racist," Forest said. Forest claimed that the only reason anyone would oppose the voter ID law would be because they "stand for fraud." Source: American Independent on 2020 North Carolina governor race Jan 13, 2020

On Education: A leader in the school choice movement

Dan has become a leader in the school choice movement as a way to help children succeed regardless of their ZIP code. Dan also spearheaded an initiative to connect every classroom in North Carolina with high-speed internet and championed a bill to preserve free speech rights on public college campuses--the first bill of its kind in the United States. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Education: Expand voucher program for every family

Expand the Opportunity Scholarship program to every N.C. family. This highly successful program allows low-income families to access private schools through a voucher worth as much as $4,200. We will protect the Opportunity Scholarship program for our low-income families. Further, we will expand the eligibility criteria to allow every family in North Carolina the chance to choose a school that works for them. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Education: Every public school needs strong principal & armed guard

Rather than defer to teachers' unions and high-paid administrators, the Forest administration will always put students first. This starts with our "Four in the Door" program, making sure every public school has these four positions.

A principal with full authority to hire and fire
An armed security guard
A computer science teacher
A trade professional

Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Homeland Security: $2500 bonus to business hiring, training veterans

We can help private sector employers recruit and train veterans through apprenticeships in high-demand fields in North Carolina such as healthcare, information technology, logistics, and advanced manufacturing. The Helping Heroes Bonus program will provide $2,500 to businesses who are hiring and training apprentices upon their exit from active military service. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Immigration: Require students to pass US citizenship exam

Requiring students to pass the U.S. citizenship exam before graduating. Students should not be able to graduate from our high schools without knowing key information about our nation and its government, like who serves as Commander in Chief of the armed forces or what branch of government makes the laws. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Immigration: Claims thousands of children attacked by foreign criminals

On immigration: "Please, as you're writing your stories think carefully about what words you use," Forest said. "Many of you are going to be struggling, trying to not use words like 'illegal' and 'alien' and words like 'criminal' and 'rapist' and 'murder' and 'child sex offender.'"

He then offered an unsourced claim that there were "tens of thousands of children in our state that have been victims of these [undocumented] violent criminals already" who will "grow up with that on their mind."

Source: American Independent on 2020 North Carolina governor race Dec 3, 2019

On Jobs: Train guidance counselors to help students enter trades

Train guidance counselors in opportunities in apprenticeships and community colleges. Under the Forest administration, schools will have more counselors who specialize in helping students explore the opportunities in the skilled trades and high-demand fields. They'll also help interact with local businesses, who constantly tell me that they can't find workers prepared for the jobs of today. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Jobs: Assistance for veterans joining state law enforcement

Many veterans in our state have already transitioned to successful careers in law enforcement. Troops2Troopers will put State Highway Patrol and other state law enforcement recruiters directly alongside military staff to work with outgoing service-members on a plan for their new career. We'll pay for them to go through Basic Law Enforcement Training, and then recruits who complete training and pledge five years of service will receive a signing bonus of $10,000. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Tax Reform: Eliminate state tax on out-of-state military pay

Forest, a self-described conservative Republican, focused his campaign on decreasing the state's unemployment and advocated his job creation plan that involved recruiting companies to relocate to North Carolina by creating a business climate of what he described as "low taxes, good roads and safe communities." He ran on what he called a "three-legged stool platform."

smaller government
lower taxes
personal responsibility

For veterans making their home in North Carolina, we will waive their first year of property taxes. This benefit equals, on average, $1,200 or more. This will encourage new veterans to quickly put down roots in our state as our heroes are planning their next steps in life. Eliminate state income tax on veterans' retirement benefits. Source: 2020 North Carolina Governor campaign website DanForest.com Dec 3, 2019

On Civil Rights: Supreme Court gay marriage ruling a "power grab"

The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 5-4 decision, has ruled that all states must recognize same-sex marriages. Following are some reactions from people across North Carolina: Lt. Gov. Dan Forest:

"The power grab by a majority of the Supreme Court is a full-on assault on the founding principles of democratic process, federalism, separation of powers, the voice of the people and judicial restraint. Under these decisions, the rights and responsibilities of the states and the people are gone, and the precedent is set that non-elected judges can play super-legislator on whatever issue they want, however they want and whenever they want. When our elected officials step over the line, we the people can vote them out of office. When unelected judges step over the line, we are without recourse. No longer does it matter what the citizen-elected legislature says. It matters not what the citizen-elected executives say. All that matters is what a majority of nine people in a courtroom says."

Source: WRAL-TV on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Oct 9, 2019

On Principles & Values: Country has kicked God out schools, courts, nation

North Carolina Lt. Gov. Dan Forest spoke at the Faith and Freedom Coalition's 2014 Road to Majority conference. Forest said, "America is at a great crossroads where it must decide for or against God. The heart of the matter is we have forgotten God. We have kicked him out of our house, out of our schoolhouse, out of our courthouse, and out of our statehouse, and now, out of our nation. We call it everything but what it is, we call it everything but sin, the turning away from God." Source: RightWingWatch.org on 2020 North Carolina gubernatorial race Oct 9, 2019