Robert Foster in The Jackson Clarion-Ledger

On Abortion: Voted for "heartbeat bill": abortion ban after 15 weeks

The law is being challenged in federal court by the Center for Reproductive Rights. Mississippi has been in a similar position before. Last year, Bryant signed a 15-week abortion ban into law. After an emergency hearing, the law was ruled unconstitutional and blocked from taking effect.

Attorney General Jim Hood recently filed papers on behalf of the state, appealing the ruling. So, now, both the 15-week ban and the heartbeat bill are in court.

Of the legislation, Gov. Bryant previously said, "We think this is showing the profound respect and desire of Mississippians to protect the sanctity of that unborn life whenever possible."

Legislative Outcome:Passed House 81-36-2, Feb. 13; Rep. Robert Foster voted YES; passed Senate 34-14-4, Feb. 13.

On Education: Make pay raise for teachers a priority in Jackson

Foster and Waller said the Legislature's recent $1,500 pay raise for teachers was insufficient. Teachers should get a raise every year until their salaries match the southeast average, they concurred. "It has not been a priority of our leadership down (in Jackson) at all," Foster said of teacher pay.

On Government Reform: Power corrupts all men; long-time candidates owe many favors

Missing from the debate stage was the Republican race's best-known candidate, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves. Foster did criticize Reeves. "If our third opponent was here tonight, instead of being back home on the porch," Foster said, "I would like to ask (him): How many favors does he have? How many promises has he made, in order to build up a $7 million campaign fund?"

On Principles & Values: Conservative outsider; aligned with Trump on social media

Waller, meanwhile, has long avoided partisan politics because of his time on the Mississippi Supreme Court. He left the court in January. After announcing his candidacy last month, he's sought to portray himself as a steady, more traditional Republican candidate. He's said he's not interested in courting Trump and has a better chance of beating Democrat Jim Hood, the current attorney general, in the November election. Waller's late father served as governor from 1972 to 1976.

On Civil Rights: Let business use religious belief to not serve LGBT people

Analysis of HB 1523 by the Mississippi Clarion Ledger: A reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling legalizing gay marriage nationwide, the Mississippi bill seeks to protect by law the belief that marriage is the union of one man and one woman and prevents government intervention when churches or businesses act "based upon or in a manner consistent with a sincerely held religious belief or moral conviction." The advocacy director for the Mississippi Center for Justice said HB 1523 "violates a fundamental American value and strikes at the very heart of our work towards a fairer and more just state. This law is discriminatory."

Legislative Outcome: Passed Senate 32-17-1 on Mar/30/17; Passed House 69-44-8 on Apr/1/17; State Rep. Robert Foster voted YES; Signed by Governor Phil Bryant on Apr/19/17.