Columns and news articles distributed by the Associated Press on 2020 races


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Bill de Blasio: Crucial to protect women's right to choose in 2019.     Brian Kemp: Signed fetal heartbeat bill, tax deductions for fetuses.     Clarence Thomas: Nothing in Constitution dictates states must allow abortions.     Derek Schmidt: Limited-government conservative who opposes abortion.     John Cranley: Personally opposes abortion but is pro-choice.     Spencer Cox: Supports law banning most abortions after 18 weeks.     Tony Evers: Challenge 1849 law: overturn state abortion ban.     Scott Parkinson: Pro-life.     Francis Suarez: Supports a 15-week federal abortion ban, not yet for 6-week.     Ryan Busse: State abortion restrictions threaten women's health care.     Steve Garvey: No nationwide ban; uphold the voice of the people.     Brad Raffensperger: Opposed abortion while in the state legislature.     Jocelyn Benson: Miscarriage made her value easy access to reproductive care.     Roy Cooper: Vetoed bill banning abortion after 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Civil Rights     Antony Blinken: Human rights are co-equal; there is no hierarchy.     Antony Blinken: Women's rights--including sexual rights--are human rights.     Beto O`Rourke: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery.     Derek Schmidt: Would have signed vetoed transgender athlete ban.     Doug Burgum: Repeal Sunday morning shopping ban.     Greg Pence: Says he doesn't manage his mall that sells racist objects.     Julian Castro: Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery.     Rocky De La Fuente: Successfully challenged ballot access laws and regulations.     Spencer Cox: Wants "Utah solution" to protecting LGTBQ kids.     Preston Love: Founder and director of Black Votes Matter Institute .     Chris Carr: Challenged anti-discrimination rule on sexual orientation.

Crime     Eric Adams: I'll have cops' backs, but they'll have backs of the people.     Mandela Barnes: Critical of racial disparities in police actions.     Stacy Lee George: Call in National Guard to get state prisons under control.     Kamala Harris: Federal and state moratorium on death penalty.     Kamala Harris: 2004: no death penalty for cop killer; 2019: apply to all.

Drugs     Eddie Melton: Allow some level of marijuana use, and recreational sales.     Woody Myers: Allow some level of marijuana use; not recreational sales.     Ashley Moody: Opposed state ballot measure for recreational marijuana.

Education     Ben Sasse: Fought against tougher environmental regulations.     Kendra Horn: 2018 campaign: emphasized her support for public schools.

Energy & Oil     John Kerry: First on National Security Council to work on climate change.     Chris Sununu: Transition to renewable energy has to be at the right pace.

Environment     Sarah Huckabee Sanders: Sues EPA over out-of-control federal overreach.

Families & Children     JD Vance: School shootings are a fact of life: harden security.

Foreign Policy     Joe Biden: No punishment for Saudis killing Jamal Khashoggi.     Tim James: Alabama supported Israel years before 1948 founding.     Greg Gianforte: Signed law banning foreign adversaries from buying property.     John Rose: Voted against foreign aid to Ukraine.     Laura Kelly: Vetoed restrictions on foreign ownership of land in Kansas.     Mike Collins: Against military aid to Ukraine; arm Taiwan instead.

Free Trade     Rebecca Kleefisch: Promoted trade with Mexico as Lt. Governor.

Government Reform     Jeff Bartos: Election not stolen; Trump not to blame for insurrection.     Jeff Bartos: For voter ID, end "no excuse" absentee ballots.     Jim Lamon: Signed document falsely claiming to be presidential elector.     Leslie Rutledge: OpEd: Lawsuit alleges election challenge was self-serving.     Mandela Barnes: Fighting to protect democracy and right to vote.     Mark Kelly: Declined to take a position on eliminating the filibuster.     Timothy Ramthun: Asked legislature to rescind Wisconsin's 10 electoral votes.     Steve Scalise: States didn't follow Constitutional requirements.     Pete Snyder: Against on-again-off-again regulations on small business.     Scott Parkinson: Roll back government regulations that stifle opportunity.     Perry Johnson: Voter ID will be mandatory; won't suppress votes.

Gun Control     Derek Schmidt: Recognize out of state concealed carry permits.     Mandela Barnes: Has advocated for tighter gun control laws.

Health Care     Dave Schatz: Not in favor of funding Medicaid expansion.     Derek Schmidt: COVID: Opposed prisoner vaccines; closing churches, schools.     Derek Schmidt: Elected Attorney-General opposing Affordable Care Act.     Donald Trump: FactCheck: No massive prices cuts for prescription drugs.     Jon Ossoff: COVID: out of control because government ignored science.     Spencer Cox: Supports move to scale back Medicaid expansion.     Tim Walz: Shuttered businesses and schools during COVID-19 pandemic.     Rob Sand: Privatized Medicaid is less likely to treat Iowans.     Stacy Garrity: Medicaid work requirement, end benefits for illegal aliens.

Homeland Security     Gina Raimondo: Close deficit, boost budget of RI Veterans Home.     Mike Lindell: Proud to accept Pentagon restrictions on news coverage.

Immigration     Jim Lamon: United States should not accept Afghan refugees.     Kim Reynolds: Migrant children not our problem, different under Trump.     Todd Young: Cites support for border wall in re-election announcement.     Francis Suarez: Connect immigration to employment, declining birth rate.     Matthew Corey: We're on the verge of World War III with Biden.

Jobs     John Cox: The real, true minimum wage should be zero.     Josh Shapiro: Allow state to fill jobs with laid off federal workers.

Principles & Values     Amy Coney Barrett: Member of the conservative People of Praise faith community.     Dave Lindstrom: Concerned about growing embrace of socialism.     Kevin Paffrath: Recall part of a national referendum on Trumpism.     Martha McSally: It "pisses me off" when Trump attacks John McCain.     Ron DeSantis: Compels schools to have moment of silence for prayer.     Tim James: God granted America authority amongst nations.     Justin Fairfax: Denies two allegations of sexual assault.     Preston Love: Ran as 2020 Senate write-in candidate backed by state Dems.     Aric Nesbitt: Raised on faith, patriotism, traditional family values.     Brad Raffensperger: Refused to change 2020 vote totals when Trump demanded.

Social Security     Chris Pappas: Form a bipartisan commission to shore up Social Security.

Tax Reform     Jerry Moran: Inflation Reduction Act will raise taxes on working families.     Tate Reeves: Wants to push for a full elimination of state's income tax.     Andy Wells: Don't derail cuts to corporate and individual income tax.     Bob Ferguson: Surtax on big banks makes state's tax system fairer.

Welfare & Poverty     Mark Robinson: Government safety net spending is a plantation of welfare.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Amy Coney Barrett Republican appointee to Supreme Court Andy Wells North Carolina Republican Challenger Antony Blinken Secretary of State Aric Nesbitt Michigan Republican Challenger Ashley Moody Ben Sasse Republican Jr Senator Nebraska Beto O`Rourke Texas Democratic candidate for Governor; U.S. Rep Bill de Blasio New York Democratic primary candidate and NYC mayor Bob Ferguson Washington Democratic Challenger Brad Raffensperger Georgia Republican Challenger Brian Kemp Georgia Republican candidate for Governor Chris Carr Georgia Republican Challenger Chris Pappas Democratic Challenger New Hampshire Chris Sununu New Hampshire Republican Governor Clarence Thomas Republican Appointee to Supreme Court Dave Lindstrom Republican 2020 Senate Challenger Kansas Dave Schatz Republican Challenger for Senate Missouri Derek Schmidt Kansas Republican challenger for Governor Donald Trump Republican former President Doug Burgum North Dakota 2024 Presidential contender; Republican ND Governor Eddie Melton Indiana Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Eric Adams Independent Mayoral candidate NYC Francis Suarez Florida Miami mayor; GOP presidential challenger (withdrew Oct.2023) Gina Raimondo Rhode Island Secretary of Commerce Greg Gianforte Montana Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Greg Pence Republican U.S. Rep Indiana-6 JD Vance Ohio Republican Vice Presidential nominee Jeff Bartos Republican Challenger Pennsylvania Jerry Moran Republican Jr Senator Kansas Jim Lamon Republican Challenger Arizona Jocelyn Benson Michigan Democratic Challenger Joe Biden Democratic President; former V.P.; former Senator John Cox California Republican candidate for California Governor John Cranley Ohio Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger John Kerry Cabinet Climate Envoy John Rose Republican U.S. Rep Tennessee-6 Jon Ossoff Democratic Senator Georgia Josh Shapiro Pennsylvania Democratic Gubernatorial Challenger Julian Castro Texas Mayor of San Antonio; HUD Secretary Justin Fairfax Virginia Virginia Democratic Governor Kamala Harris California Democratic nominee;Vice President; former California Senator Kendra Horn Democratic Senate Challenger Oklahoma Kevin Paffrath California Democratic candidate for governor Kim Reynolds Iowa Republican Laura Kelly Kansas Democratic candidate for governor of Kansas Leslie Rutledge Arkansas Republican candidate for Governor Mandela Barnes Democratic Senate candidate Wisconsin Mark Kelly Democratic Jr Senator Arizona Mark Robinson North Carolina Republican Challenger Martha McSally Republican appointee for Arizona U.S. Senator Arizona Matthew Corey Republican Candidate for Connecticut U.S. Senator Connecticut Mike Collins Republican Challenger Georgia Mike Lindell Minnesota Republican Challenger Perry Johnson Michigan CEO & Republican gubernatorial challenger Pete Snyder Virginia Republican Primary Gubernatorial Candidate Preston Love Democratic Challenger Nebraska Rebecca Kleefisch Wisconsin Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Rob Sand Iowa Democratic Challenger Rocky De La Fuente Alliance / Reform Party nominee Ron DeSantis Florida Republican presidential contender; FL governor Roy Cooper North Carolina Democratic Gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse Montana Democratic Challenger Sarah Huckabee Sanders Arkansas Republican challenger for Governor Scott Parkinson Republican Challenger Virginia Spencer Cox Utah Republican Gubernatorial Challenger Stacy Garrity Pennsylvania Republican Challenger Stacy Lee George Alabama Republican candidate for Alabama U. S. Governor Steve Garvey Republican Challenger California Steve Scalise Republican challenger Louisiana Tate Reeves Mississippi Republican candidate for governor Tim James Alabama Republican candidate for Governor Tim Walz Minnesota DFL Governor & V.P. nominee Timothy Ramthun Wisconsin Republican candidate for Governor Todd Young Republican Sr Senator Indiana Tony Evers Wisconsin Democratic Governor of Wisconsin Woody Myers Indiana Democratic candidate for governor