2018 Arizona Governor Voters Guide

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Doug Ducey (R)

Mostly Ban. Has signed restrictions requiring doctors to ask if abortion is related to rape, incest, or domestic violence; telling patients that effect of abortion pills can be undone; & banning use of Obamacare exchanges for abortion insurance.

David Garcia (D)

Legal. “As governor, I’ll veto anti-abortion bills & work to overturn laws that erode any rights to make our own personal health care decisions.”

Campaign Finance

Should there be restrictions or disclosure requirements on large and anonymous political donations?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. Prohibited AZ cities from requiring organizations sponsoring campaign ads to reveal major financial backers. Considers it a First Amendment issue.

David Garcia (D)

Criticizes money in politics but specific position unclear. Has pledged not to take money from lobbyists or corporate PACS & returned $7,000 to donors identified as lobbyists.

Climate Change

Is climate change a serious threat, and should government respond to that threat? Stand on Proposition 127, which requires utilities to produce 50% of energy from renewables by 2030.

Doug Ducey (R)

Unclear. In 2015 said skeptical that it’s human caused. More recently said he’s convinced that it is. Undercut Prop 127 by signing bill that minimizes fines on utilities for not complying if it passes.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Real & urgent threat. Politicians doing nothing are putting all Arizonans at risk, while ignoring “an enormous economic opportunity to make Arizona the nation’s leader in solar energy.”

Contraception

Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it based on religious beliefs?

Doug Ducey (R)

Yes. After US Supreme Court allowed some corporations to deny contraceptives, called it “a win for religious freedom & yet another blow to #Obamacare.”

David Garcia (D)

Unclear, but strong supporter of access to birth control.

Courts

Support Brett Kavanaugh nomination? (before recent allegations).

Doug Ducey (R)

Yes. Co-authored a letter calling for the Senate to confirm “expeditiously.”

David Garcia (D)

No. If confirmed, women’s rights will never have been “more at risk.”

Education

Increase funding for K-12 education?

Doug Ducey (R)

Mixed. Increased funding distributions from state land trust through Prop 123, though this erodes long-term reserves. Opposed initiative funding education by taxing individuals earning over $250,000 a year.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Would support extra funding by expanding Proposition 301 sales tax initiative, which now provides $500 million a year to K-12. Also close corporate tax loopholes & raise taxes on top 1%.

Provide vouchers so parents can send their children to private schools with public money?

Doug Ducey (R)

Yes. Signed school voucher expansion bill that extended eligibility to all 1.1 million state schoolchildren.

David Garcia (D)

No. Opposes school vouchers as “harmful, unaccountable & discriminatory.“

Support recent Arizona teacher’s strike?

Doug Ducey (R)

Initially wouldn’t meet with strike leaders. Eventually came to a settlement.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. “Teachers are standing up & saying they’ve had enough! I stand proudly with our educators.”

Increase state funding for higher education?

Doug Ducey (R)

Mixed. Cut college funding by $99 million in 2015. Increased by $32 million in 2016-2017, including $5 million for Koch Brothers-founded “economic freedom schools.” Ended all state aid to Maricopa & Pima County community college systems.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Make college tuition-free for in-state students who attend local community colleges or trade schools. Then develop a plan to make 4-year schools free.

Gay Rights

Support LGBTQ rights?

Doug Ducey (R)

Somewhat. Personally supports “traditional marriage” but supports letting married same-sex couples adopt & raise foster children.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Will prohibit state employees & state contractors from discriminating based on sexual orientation.

Gun Control

Support more gun control legislation including restrictions on semi-automatic weapons?

Doug Ducey (R)

Somewhat. Revoke firearm permits of those convicted of violent offenses. Has not sought to restrict assault weapons.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Supports universal background checks, preventing domestic abusers & other predators from gaining access & banning assault weapons.

Health Care

Support or Repeal ACA, aka Obamacare? Accept ACA’s Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Doug Ducey (R)

Repeal. “Obamacare has been a disaster for Arizona & I want it repealed & replaced.” Medicaid should focus narrowly on the “destitute & the disabled” & not become “a middle class entitlement.”

David Garcia (D)

Support ACA. Keep coverage for pre-existing conditions. Expand on Arizona’s cost-efficient & successful Medicaid programs & let healthier & younger Arizonans buy in. Ultimately move toward Medicare for All.

Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non -abortion health services?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. Wanted to exclude Planned Parenthood from federal family-planning grant.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Important for comprehensive health education, access to family planning & women’s health services.

Immigration

Support legal status for “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US after being brought here illegally as children?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. His administration refused to grant drivers licenses to DACA recipients, but later was overruled by a federal judge.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Treat “like any other young Arizonans.” Ensure “basic supports like in-state tuition or a driver’s license are not obstacles to becoming the future business & civic leaders.”

Marijuana

Legalize or decriminalize legalize marijuana?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. Opposes recreational legalization. Campaigned heavily to defeat a ballot measure supporting adult use.

David Garcia (D)

Expand medical marijuana & decriminalize marijuana use & possession.

Minimum Wage

Raise the minimum wage?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. Threatened loss of revenue sharing to cities increasing local minimum: “Will… bring California-style chaos.”

David Garcia (D)

Spoke at rally to protect recently passed $10.50/hr law.

Net Neutrality

Support requiring internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Doug Ducey (R)

No statement found.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. “Repeal of net neutrality jeopardizes economic growth… Will push state-level net neutrality law.“

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. Allowed utilities to avoid major penalties for not producing renewable energy under Prop 127.

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Supports Prop 127 to require 50% of energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Taxes

Support proposed initiative to fund education through increasing taxes on the wealthy?

Doug Ducey (R)

No. Opposed initiative. “I don’t support tax increase. Government should live within its means.”

David Garcia (D)

Yes. Arizona has “one of the most regressive systems” in the nation. Proposed initiative would help.

Voting Rules

Support voting rules that prioritize preventing the possibility of fraud, even if they limit access?

Doug Ducey (R)

Yes. Signed a bill making it a felony to turn in another voter’s ballot — even with the person’s permission.

David Garcia (D)

No. Supports Automatic Voter Registration to ensure all eligible Arizonans can cast their vote.

Doug Ducey (R) vs David Garcia (D)

The Candidates

Doug Ducey

David Garcia

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Campaign Finance

Should there be restrictions or disclosure requirements on large and anonymous political donations?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Climate Change

Is climate change a serious threat, and should government respond to that threat? Stand on Proposition 127, which requires utilities to produce 50% of energy from renewables by 2030.

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Contraception

Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it based on religious beliefs?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Courts

Support Brett Kavanaugh nomination? (before recent allegations).

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Education

Increase funding for K-12 education?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Provide vouchers so parents can send their children to private schools with public money?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Support recent Arizona teacher’s strike?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Increase state funding for higher education?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Gay Rights

Support LGBTQ rights?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Gun Control

Support more gun control legislation including restrictions on semi-automatic weapons?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Health Care

Support or Repeal ACA, aka Obamacare? Accept ACA’s Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non -abortion health services?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Immigration

Support legal status for “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US after being brought here illegally as children?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Marijuana

Legalize or decriminalize legalize marijuana?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Minimum Wage

Raise the minimum wage?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Net Neutrality

Support requiring internet providers to provide equal access to all users?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Taxes

Support proposed initiative to fund education through increasing taxes on the wealthy?

Doug Ducey (R)

David Garcia (D)

Voting Rules

Support voting rules that prioritize preventing the possibility of fraud, even if they limit access?