2018 Minnesota US Senate #1 Voters Guide

Christine “Tina” Smith (D) vs Karin Housley (R)

US Senate | Election | Nov 6, 2018

The Candidates

Christine “Tina” Smith

Christine “Tina” Smith

Democrat

Karin Housley

Karin Housley

Republican

The Issues

Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

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Campaign Finance

1. Require political ads to disclose their largest funders? 2. Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)

1. Yes. In 2018, cosponsored DISCLOSE Act, requiring organizations spending more than $10,000 in an election cycle to disclose donors’ names. 2. Reverse Citizens United by Constitutional Amendment.

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Courts

Support President Trump’s choice of Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court nominee? (before recent allegations)

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Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

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Education

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

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Environment

Support Environmental Protection Administration cutbacks?

Karin Housley (R)

No position found. Opposes “too much regulation & bureaucracy.”

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Financial Regulation

Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)
Karin Housley (R)

No position found.

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Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)
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Gun Control

Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)

Yes. Supports “common-sense gun laws” to keep guns from criminals & dangerous individuals:  bump stock, assault weapon & high-capacity magazine bans.

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Health Care

Support or repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?

Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion healthcare?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)

Yes. Was vice-president of MN, ND & SD Planned Parenthood. Opposed proposal to block state family planning grants to Planned Parenthood because of its role in providing abortion services.

Karin Housley (R)

No. Sees public funds better spent at women’s health clinics that “provide real family planning services.”

Require people to work to receive Medicaid?

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Immigration

Support path to citizenship for America’s 11 million illegal immigrants, including “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew up in the US?

Karin Housley (R)

Yes, on DACA. No position found on other undocumented immigrants. Considers secure borders #1 immigration priority.

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Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum wage from current $7.25/hour?

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President Trump

Response to President Trump’s actions & policies?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)

Believes in “80% of what he’s doing,” except tariffs & border separation.

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Student Debt & Financial Aid

Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by raising taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)
Karin Housley (R)

No position found.

Increase federal student financial aid, like Pell Grants?

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Taxes

Increase taxes on corporations and/or high-income individuals to pay for public services?

Christine “Tina” Smith (D)

Yes. As MN Lt. Governor, pushed bill including tax cuts & aid for students, rescinding tax cuts for “super wealthy” & “big business.”

Support President Trump’s tax cuts?

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Other senate candidates include Sarah Wellington (Legal Marijuana Now Party) & Jerry Trooien (I). Due to limited space, we can only include candidates who poll 15% or higher, but encourage you to check out their websites.

guides.vote is a nonpartisan effort to show where candidates stand, with links to credible sources. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office. Vote411.org offers guides to local races.

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Christine “Tina” Smith

democratic Party

Candidate Image

Karin Housley

republican Party

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guides.vote

Christine “Tina” Smith

democratic

Karin Housley

republican

See guides.vote for online guides with links & sources https://www.tinaforminnesota.com/ https://www.housleyforsenate.com/
Abortion

Mostly ban or mostly legal?

Legal. Says women should “have the freedom to decide when & how to raise a family.”Ban. Says “I’ve fought hard... for our unborn.” Has 100% rating from MN Citizens Concerned for Life.
Campaign Finance

1. Require political ads to disclose their largest funders? 2. Support Citizens United decision, allowing unlimited political donations from corporations & unions?

1. Yes. In 2018, cosponsored DISCLOSE Act, requiring organizations spending more than $10,000 in an election cycle to disclose donors’ names. 2. Reverse Citizens United by Constitutional Amendment.1. Unclear. Said we need “adequate regulations” to ensure candidates raise funds ethically & transparently but supports “free market” for campaigns. 2. Yes. Supports Citizen United: “I would be in support of the way it is right now.”
Climate Change

Consider human-caused climate change a serious threat?

Yes. “Climate change is real & poses a threat to our economy & our health.” Pushed for 50 percent renewable electricity by 2030 in Minnesota & helped expand renewable energy in state gov.Unclear. Opposed Paris Climate Accord, says would cost trillions, kill jobs & hinder oil, gas, coal & manufacturing. Wants a “balanced approach to climate policy.”
Courts

Support President Trump’s choice of Brett Kavanaugh for Supreme Court nominee? (before recent allegations)

No. “We need a Justice who will protect the rights of all Americans… Judge Kavanaugh is not that Justice.”Yes. “President Trump made an excellent choice in nominating Judge Brett Kavanaugh.”
Economy

Support federal spending as a means of promoting economic growth?

Yes. As MN Lt. Governor, introduced jobs & infrastructure bill to support local economies & create nearly 23,000 jobs.Unclear. Prioritizes “balancing the budget” & “incentives to keep & grow businesses.”
Education

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

No. “School vouchers create a 2-tiered education system, while diverting critical resources from the public schools.”Unclear on vouchers. Says she is a “school choice person.”
Environment

Support Environmental Protection Administration cutbacks?

No. Says is fighting efforts to “roll back responsible environmental policy.”No position found. Opposes “too much regulation & bureaucracy.”
Financial Regulation

Support cutbacks in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau?

No. Signed letter to US Senate leadership opposing reduction of CFPB funding.No position found.
Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Yes. Supports “marriage equality” & “LGBTQ equality.”No. In 2013 voted against same-sex marriage bill in MN Senate.
Gun Control

Support more restrictive gun control legislation? Restrict semi-automatic weapons?

Yes. Supports “common-sense gun laws” to keep guns from criminals & dangerous individuals:  bump stock, assault weapon & high-capacity magazine bans.No, with exceptions. Supports “a reasonable ban on bump stocks.” Otherwise, focuses on enforcing existing gun laws & addressing mental health.
Health Care

Support or repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare?

Support. Keep ACA protections in place. But sees single payer as “most direct way to ensure universal coverage.”Repeal. Says “Obamacare has failed hardworking Minnesotans, driving up costs” & reducing quality of healthcare.
Immigration

Support path to citizenship for America’s 11 million illegal immigrants, including “DACA” recipients or "Dreamers," who grew up in the US?

Yes. Supports “tough but fair path to citizenship,” along with “fiscally efficient methods to secure the border.”Yes, on DACA. No position found on other undocumented immigrants. Considers secure borders #1 immigration priority.
Iran

Support Trump withdrawal from treaty limiting Iran’s nuclear capability in return for lifting economic sanctions?

No. Says withdrawal doesn’t reduce Iran’s “threat the region & US national security interests”—& makes Iran more likely to develop a nuclear weapon. Yes. Says “I applaud President Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Iran nuclear deal & reimpose sanctions on the country.”
Marijuana

Legalize or decriminalize marijuana?

Learn from experience of states that have legalized recreational.States should decide. Voted to “legalize limited forms of medical marijuana,” but “needs to be more research on marijuana’s efficacy.”
Minimum Wage

Raise the federal minimum wage from current $7.25/hour?

Yes. Co-sponsored legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024.No. In 2017 in MN Senate, voted to prohibit local governments from raising local minimum wage. Voted against raising MN minimum in 2013 & 2014.
President Trump

Response to President Trump's actions & policies?

Critical of policies & actions: "Nobody is above the law in this country."Believes in “80% of what he’s doing,” except tariffs & border separation.
Student Debt & Financial Aid

Refinance student loans at lower rates, paid for by raising taxes on high earners (Elizabeth Warren bill)?

Yes. Cosponsored Warren’s Bank on Students Emergency Loan Refinancing Act.No position found.
Taxes

Increase taxes on corporations and/or high-income individuals to pay for public services?

Yes. As MN Lt. Governor, pushed bill including tax cuts & aid for students, rescinding tax cuts for “super wealthy” & “big business.”No. Speaks of the “crushing impact high taxes have on job creation.” "It's your money, not the government's.”

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