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)	I support a woman's right to choose: Strongly Favors topic 1 Hobby Lobby: contraception for all employees in MA: Favors topic 1 Pro-choice; respects woman's right to decide medical care: Strongly Favors topic 1 No abortion for 16-year-olds without parental consent: Opposes topic 1 Protect abortion providers from out-of-state prosecution: Favors topic 1 Steadfast commitment to reproductive health care services: Strongly Favors topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	OpEd: Campaign staff almost all white; others show diversity: Opposes topic 2 No disclosure of salary history; equal pay for equal work: Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Running-mate supports existing law on gay marriage: Favors topic 3 2010: opposed trans-gendered "bathroom bill"; 2014: it's ok: Favors topic 3 Supports marriage equality; gay brother is married: Strongly Favors topic 3 Include gender identity in public accommodation rules: 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)
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Eliminate mandated benefits that are more than people need: Opposes topic 5 Access to health care is a basic right: Strongly Favors topic 5 Push for a state waiver from ObamaCare: Opposes topic 5 Opposed Republican bill to eliminate ObamaCare: Favors topic 5 Health Connector: replace mess with hope: Favors topic 5 Modern health issues more challenging than in the past: Favors topic 5 Emergency telehealth order worked, now it's permanent: Favors topic 5 Patients First: mental health & COVID: Favors topic 5
Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-3 points on Economic scale)	Make Massachusetts the most age-friendly state in the nation: Opposes topic 6
No opinion on topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (0 points on Economic scale)	Increase charter, magnet, and alternative public schools: Favors topic 7 Teachers' unions put their own interests above students': Favors topic 7 Opposes Common Core, but willing to work with federal system: Favors topic 7 I attended public schools, and so do my three kids: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Pioneer Institute: promote charter schools: Favors topic 7 Improve public schools, plus college tuition reform: Opposes topic 7 Lift the cap on public charter schools: Favors topic 7 Update Foundation Formula for urban vs. suburban districts: Opposes topic 7 Vocational schools should provide classes in three shifts: Opposes topic 7
Favors topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (-3 points on Social scale)	Protect & preserve natural resources for future generations: Opposes topic 8 Bottle bill is a money grab; don't expand it: Favors topic 8 Lobster fishing regulations are dangerous and burdensome: Favors topic 8 My job is to make sure the T works, not to ride it: Favors topic 8
Favors topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (-3 points on Social scale)	Hold accountable those responsible for state drug lab crisis: Favors topic 9 Seek death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber: Strongly Favors topic 9 2010: charge state prisoners $5 a day for their room & board: Favors topic 9 Account for criminal history in dangerousness hearing: Strongly Favors topic 9 Passed one of the most comprehensive police reform laws: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Reform police based on racial equity: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Reform police based on racial equity: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Massachusetts needs to make "revenge porn" a crime: Strongly Favors topic 9
Favors topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (+2 points on Economic scale)	Supports tough gun control laws: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Let local police chiefs decide who can get shotguns: Favors topic 10 Expand background checks; no gun unless mentally healthy: Opposes topic 10 Federal assault weapons ban hasn't solved the problem: Favors topic 10 States for Gun Safety: fill void left by no Federal policy: Strongly Favors topic 10
Strongly Opposes topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (+5 points on Economic scale)	Cut business tax to 5%; remove ancillary business fees: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Change direction on job losses and tax increases: Opposes topic 11 Make MA taxes competitive with other states: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Signed the no-new taxes pledge: Strongly Opposes topic 11 2010: 5-5-5 plan to cut sales, income, and business taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 11 Reform before revenue: no status quo but no tax increase: Favors topic 11 Tax cuts for families, low income workers, renters, seniors: Opposes topic 11
Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+2 points on Social scale)	Verify legal status before providing any state benefits: Strongly Opposes topic 12 Adopt Secure Communities and REAL ID standards: Opposes topic 12 Teach English to immigrants and match up with jobs: Opposes topic 12 Humanitarian relief for unaccompanied kids crossing border: Favors topic 12 Open to ideas from Latino advisers on sanctuary state: Favors topic 12 Revoke MA National Guard on border due to family separation: Favors topic 12 Protect DREAMers instead of deporting them: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	Support long-term reauthorization of the 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)
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	$4,000 tax credit for hiring unemployed veterans: Favors topic 15 $200 million rebuild of the Soldier's Home in Chelsea: Favors topic 15
Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+2 points on Social scale)	$500 donor limit is crazy; it's suppression of free speech: Strongly Opposes topic 16 Declined to sign "People's Pledge" against outside PAC ads: Opposes topic 16 More campaign finance disclosure but remove union exemptions: Favors topic 16 Supports open meeting law: make legislative debate public: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration via RMV and MassHealth: Strongly Favors topic 16
No opinion on topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Support Hydro Quebec, efficient appliances, and LED lighting: Strongly Favors topic 18 Renewable energy is an important investment in our future: Favors topic 18 2010: questioned global warming; 2014: yes, it's manmade: Favors topic 18 Helped gather signatures to repeal gas tax increase: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Develop hydropower--most cost effective renewable: Strongly Favors topic 18 Reduce carbon footprint while maintaining supply of energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 $1 billion for climate resiliency by 2022: Favors topic 18 Roadmap to reach net zero emissions by 2050: Strongly Favors topic 18 Next-generation roadmap for climate policy: Strongly Favors topic 18 2010: Opposed Cape Wind; 2014: it's a done deal: Favors topic 18
Favors topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (-3 points on Social scale)	Vigorously oppose recreational marijuana but medical pot ok: Strongly Favors topic 19 Get dispensaries open for medical marijuana: Opposes topic 19 Alternative incarceration & treat non-violent offenders: Opposes topic 19 Repeal mandatory minimum sentencing laws for drug offenses: Strongly Opposes topic 19 I've smoked pot many times, but legalizing is a bad idea: Favors topic 19 Don't legalize marijuana: it's unsafe & lowers IQ in kids: Strongly Favors topic 19 Reduce opioid prescribing and drive Fentanyl off our streets: Strongly Favors topic 19 Legal marijuana sales in Massachusetts by 2020: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Opposed legalizing marijuana, but implemented it once passed: Opposes topic 19 Four pillars: prevention, education, treatment and recovery: Opposes topic 19 Led the nation in responding to warning signs for vaping: Favors topic 19 Voted YES on recreational marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Regular pot users likely to try more dangerous drugs: Strongly Favors topic 19 Rated F by NORML, indicating a "hard-on-drugs" stance: Strongly Favors topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Getting MA Back in Business: streamline rules; reduce taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Cut government spending and roll back sakes taxes: Strongly Opposes topic 20 Massive transformation of work has wide impact: Strongly Favors topic 20 Raise minimum wage from $8 to $10.50, but not $11/hour: Favors topic 20 Lower minimum wage for teens; maybe $7 to $9 instead of $11: Opposes topic 20 Last Mile program: high-speed internet for rural communities: Favors topic 20 Raise both minimum wage & Earned Income Tax Credit: Favors topic 20 $1.8B for production and preservation of affordable housing: Strongly Favors topic 20

Charlie Baker is a Centrist
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