VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Allow nurses to perform non-surgical abortions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports abortion rights, according to Faith2Action: Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports abortion rights, according to PVS rating: Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Funding abortion avoids discrimination against poor women: Strongly Favors topic 1 Rated Constitutional right to terminate pregnancy for health: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Recruit women & minorities for STEM teaching: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Allow student sports choice based on gender identity: Strongly Favors topic 3 Prohibit sexual orientation conversion therapy: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports same-sex marriage, according to Faith2Action: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports same-sex marriage, according to PVS rating: Strongly Favors topic 3 Don't elevate gender identity as a protected class: Strongly Opposes topic 3 Let states recognize same sex marriage: Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Move forward with Obama's agenda of protecting Medicare: Favors topic 5 Expand Medi-Cal eligibility for ObamaCare: Strongly Favors topic 5 Opposes repealing Obamacare, according to Faith2Action: Favors topic 5 Opposes repealing Obamacare, according to PVS rating: Favors topic 5 Rated GOP can't beat ObamaCare, so they pretend it's a "disaster": Strongly Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	End brinkmanship & protect Social Security: Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Replace school achievement testing with progress testing: Opposes topic 7 Rated No-strings-attached block grant will kill transparency: Opposes topic 7 Rated Oppose private and religious school voucher programs: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Expand BART & Caldecott Tunnel: Opposes topic 8 Ban single-use plastic bags: Strongly Opposes topic 8 $48M for funding hybrid and zero-emission vehicles: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Endorsed Endorsed by LCV; supports conservation efforts: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Require reporting lead in drinking water to the public: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Rated Voted NO on requiring limited GMO labeling: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Tighten up the parole system and oversight of sex offenders: Favors topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Voted YES on wider definition of assault rifles: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports restricting guns, according to Faith2Action: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports restricting guns, according to PVS rating: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Require background check for every firearm sale and transfer: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-3 points on Economic scale)	Supports tax increases, according to Faith2Action: Strongly Favors topic 11 Supports tax increases, according to PVS rating: Strongly Favors topic 11 Rated Raising estate tax to 1990s level means $448B in new revenue: Strongly Opposes topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Allow non-English languages in public schools: Strongly Favors topic 12 Allow bilingual education in public schools: Favors topic 12 Voted YES on driver's license for undocumented immigrants: Favors topic 12 Opposes deportation of illlegals, according to Faith2Action: Favors topic 12 Opposes deportation of illlegals, according to PVS rating: Favors topic 12 Rated Voted to legalize DREAMer immigrants via military service: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12 Increase both high-skill and family-based visa caps: Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	$25B more loans from Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
No opinion on topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
No opinion on topic 15: Expand the military (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Voted YES on pilot program for all-mail-in ballots: Favors topic 16 Voted YES to amend Constitution to overturn Citizens United: Strongly Favors topic 16 No photo IDs to vote; they suppress the vote: Favors topic 16 Establish "My Voice Voucher" small campaign contributions: Strongly Favors topic 16 Public financing of federal campaigns by voter vouchers: Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16 Holiday on election day; revamp for easier voting access: Favors topic 16
Strongly Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+5 points on Social scale)	No military force against Iran without Congress approval: Strongly Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Advance renewable energy; make US a leader in innovation: Strongly Favors topic 18 Slow down fracking until scientific study is completed: Strongly Favors topic 18 Opposes Keystone XL, according to Faith2Action: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports regulating CO2, according to Faith2Action: Strongly Favors topic 18 Opposes Keystone XL, according to PVS rating: Strongly Favors topic 18 Supports regulating CO2, according to PVS rating: Strongly Favors topic 18 Voted YES on banning offshore oil drilling in Gulf of Mexico: Strongly Favors topic 18 50% clean and carbon free electricity by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 Green New Deal: 10-year national mobilization: Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Reduce drug possession from felony to misdemeanor: Opposes topic 19 Rated B by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19
No opinion on topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)

Mark DeSaulnier is a Libertarian-Leaning Progressive
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