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)	100% rating from NARAL Pro-Choice Maryland: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supported Planned Parenthood when Feds tried to cut: Strongly Favors topic 1
No opinion on topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Equality for gender identity; end same-sex discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 3 Committed to fighting for marriage equality & LGBTQ rights: Strongly Favors topic 3 Voted for new birth certificates for sex changes: Strongly Favors topic 3 Voted YES on state authorization of same-sex marriage: Strongly 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)	Prohibit price gouging for generic drugs: Favors topic 5 Single-payer would be ideal outcome: Strongly Favors topic 5 Voted YES on establishing an ObamaCare healthcare exchange: Strongly Favors topic 5
No opinion on topic 6: Privatize Social Security (0 points on Economic scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Public schools are the key to our future: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Increase funding for Chesapeake Bay Trust: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Co-sponsored 25 new state wildlands areas: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Require data collection on race-based traffic stops: Opposes topic 9 Voted YES on repealing the death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Ban assault weapons; ban bump stocks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Sponsored ban on guns on campus: Strongly Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Raise estate tax at state level since feds won't: Strongly Favors topic 11 Voted YES to increase state income tax rates: Strongly Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Allow Syrian refugees into US and Maryland: Strongly Favors topic 12 Voted YES on in-state tuition for undocumented immigrant: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Opposes topic 13: Support & expand free trade (-5 points on Economic scale)	Preference for American-made goods in state procurement: Strongly Opposes 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)	Same-day voter registration & automatic registration at MVA: Strongly Favors topic 16 Voted YES to online voter registration & online voting: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	No state contracts if connected to Iran: Opposes topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports Paris Climate Agreement & regulating greenhouse gas: Strongly Favors topic 18 Maryland should lead way on renewable energy: Strongly Favors topic 18 Voted YES on offshore wind renewable energy credits: Strongly Favors topic 18
Strongly Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+5 points on Social scale)	Allow petitioning for expunging marijuana arrest record: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Opioid epidemic is health issue, not criminal one: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Co-sponsored marijuana legalization bill: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Reduce mandatory sentencing for drug offenses: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Voted YES on reducing penalties for possession of marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	Tax credits to companies offering 50% over minimum wage: Strongly Favors topic 20 Support smaller businesses as job creators: Strongly Favors topic 20 Raise the minimum wage to $10.10 by 2018: Favors topic 20