2018 Tennessee Governor Voters Guide

Karl Dean (D) vs Bill Lee (R)

Governor | Election | Nov 7, 2018

The Candidates

Karl Dean

Karl Dean

Democrat

Bill Lee

Bill Lee

Republican

The Issues

Climate Change

Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases? Support US participation in Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump’s withdrawal? Support participation in interstate initiatives to limit levels of greenhouse gases?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes. Signed US Mayors’ Climate Protection Agreement, pledging to work toward reducing greenhouse gases.

Bill Lee (R)

Unknown.

Limit or tax production of greenhouse gases? Support US participation in Paris Climate Accord despite President Trump’s withdrawal? Support participation in interstate initiatives to limit levels of greenhouse gases?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes. Supported national emission trading system through Climate Protection Agreement. Worked to lower Nashville’s greenhouse gases as Mayor. “We can be pro- business and pro-environment…..[will] work with businesses to reduce their carbon footprint.”

Bill Lee (R)

Unknown.

Contraception

Allow employers to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?

Courts

Do you support President Trump’s Supreme Court choice of Brett Kavanaugh?

Economy

Support Trump’s imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other products?

Karl Dean (D)

No.

Bill Lee (R)

No.

Education

Increase funding for K-12 education?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes. Wants to make public education a top priority as governor.

Bill Lee (R)

No. Wants to better use existing dollars. Will appoint an inspector general to “seek out waste & abuse in the system.”

Support expansion of charter schools or provide vouchers or tax breaks to parents to send their children to private schools with public money?

Elections

Support nonpartisan redistricting to address charges of partisan gerrymandering?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes.

Bill Lee (R)

Unknown.

Gay Rights

Support gay marriage?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes.

Gun Control

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

Health Care

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

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

Immigration

Support DACA, allowing “Dreamers” who arrived illegally as children, then grew up in the US, to achieve legal status if meet certain conditions?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes. Congress should figure out a solution to retain DACA. Favors in-state tuition for DACA recipients: “They grew up here and went to school and church here. They are Tennesseans.”

Bill Lee (R)

No. “Setting up additional benefits for illegal immigrants is the wrong strategy.” Opposes in-state tuition for DACA recipients.

Support path to citizenship for America’s 11 million illegal immigrants?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes. Supports earned path to citizenship.

Bill Lee (R)

No.

Renewable Energy

Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Karl Dean (D)

Yes. “We need to focus more on incentivizing the use of solar.”

Bill Lee (R)

Unknown.

Voting Rights

Support stricter voting rules such as voter ID requirements or reduced registration times, even if they prevent some people from voting?

Karl Dean (D)

No. Will look at options to make voting more accessible & increase participation.

Bill Lee (R)

Unknown.

There are more than 20 additional independent gubernatorial candidates. Due to limited space, we can’t include their responses, but encourage you to check out more about them at http://www.politics1.com/tn.htm.

Key sites consulted included Votesmart.org, OntheIssues.org, FactCheck.org, Politifact.com, & public candidate statements. For guides to local races, see Vote411.org from the League of Women Voters & Ballotready.org.