2020 Virginia US Senate Voters Guide

Daniel Gade (R) vs Mark Warner (D)

US Senate | Election | Nov 10, 2020

The Candidates

Daniel Gade

Daniel Gade

Republican

Mark Warner

Mark Warner

Democrat

Incumbent

The Issues

Abortion

Legal or ban?

Affordable Care Act

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

Campaign Finance

Require political ads to disclose their largest funders?

Climate Change

Consider human-caused climate change a serious threat?

Address as a top priority by taxing or limiting output of greenhouse gases? Support government subsidies for renewable energy?

Courts

Support Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch nominations?

COVID-19

Support administration’s response to coronavirus pandemic?

Support administration’s economic response to coronavirus pandemic?

Education

Use public funding for private and/or for-profit schools?

Gade

Yes. “Full school choice proponent.” Supreme Court allowing public funding for religious schools a “huge win for religious liberty.”

Warner

No recent position found. Opposed publicly funded vouchers for private school tuition in 2001.

Financial Regulation

Tighten or loosen oversight of banks and credit card companies?

Gay Rights

Support Equality Act protecting LGBTQ persons from discrimination based on sexual preference?

Gun Laws

Enact more restrictive legislation on guns?

Warner

Yes. Co-sponsored assault weapons ban. Introduced bill to enact gun violence protection measures, including red flag laws and closing background-check loopholes.

Immigration

Path to citizenship for “DACA” participants brought to the U.S. as children? Expand border walls?

Gade

No position found on DACA. Supports temporary guest worker program and “recruiting high-skilled workers from other countries.” Would limit humanitarian asylum.

Warner

Yes. Co-sponsored bipartisan amendment offering path to citizenship for “DREAMers,” along with $25 billion for border wall funding. Opposed Trump diversion of funds for wall.

Support border walls and reduced immigration by limiting visas and asylum?

Gade

Mixed. Would strengthen “border security” with tech investments, well-staffed ports of entry and physical barriers “where effective.” But wants “fair and efficient process for immigrants who qualify for asylum.”

Warner

Yes. Favored Trump decision to divert money from defense budget to help build the wall. Co-sponsored bill with tough immigration, visa, and border enforcement provisions.

Impeachment

Supported or opposed Trump impeachment and Senate’s calling witnesses?

Gade

Opposed impeachment. “About personal vendettas.”

Warner

Supported. Voted to call witnesses and to convict Trump on both articles of impeachment.

Iran

Oppose military attacks on Iran without congressional approval?

Gade

Yes. Views specific Iran War Powers Act as an “attempt to embarrass Trump,” but supports idea of requiring congressional approval.

Warner

Yes. Trump should have consulted Congress. Attack turned “anti-Iranian fervor into anti-American fervor.”

Labor

Support “right-to-work” laws, stopping unions from mandating dues for workers they represent?

Warner

Unclear. Has said wants to increase worker protections but no specific position found on Virginia attempt to repeal right-to-work.

Marijuana

Decriminalize or legalize?

Gade

No position found

Warner

Legal for medical. Co-sponsored bill to allow banks to work with cannabis businesses. “Supports the use of medical marijuana when used appropriately.” Waiting to see experience of other states on recreational.

Minimum Wage

Raise hourly minimum wage in Virginia above current $7.25?

Gade

Unclear. Raising federal minimum wage in Virginia to $15 would “destroy small businesses.”

Warner

Yes. For raising minimum in Virginia. At $7.25, “You can’t feed a family on that rate.” Raise can be done “responsibly.”

Planned Parenthood

Can Planned Parenthood get public funding for non-abortion-related care?

Student Debt & Financial Aid

Support payment subsidies or forgiveness on student loans?