2022 Arizona Senate Voters Guide
Mark Kelly (D) vs Blake Masters (R)
The Candidates
Legal. Voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act of 2021, which would codify abortion access in federal law. “I am resolved to defend and protect the right of Arizona women to make their own health care decisions.”
Ban. “Roe v. Wade needs to be repealed.” Supports a federal personhood law recognizing “unborn babies are human beings that may not be killed.” In a 2022 questionnaire, said is “100% pro life;” supports abortion bans with no exceptions. More recently, called the state’s 15-week ban “reasonable;” said he approves of Arizona’s exception for life of the mother.
Yes. Co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to use voluntary environmental credit markets to reward farmers for sustainable practices. Voted for $369 billion in clean energy subsidies in the Inflation Reduction Act. “We can’t ignore climate change. The drought conditions in the West are too severe for us not to act.”
No. “We traded energy independence for climate change activism.” “I don’t think there’s any sort of public health or climate science legitimate perspective.” Compares environmental, social, and governance (ESG) scores that assess corporate environmental practices to tactics of the Chinese Communist Party.
Yes. Called objections to Arizona’s electoral votes “baseless.” Says state’s “elections were fairly administered and certified by a Republican Governor… and public servants at every level.”
Tighten. Opposes uranium mining around the Grand Canyon. With dam projects on Navaho land, is concerned “about the tribal sovereignty issues and the damage to the environment.”
More. “I’m a gun person,…a strong supporter of the 2nd Amendment,” but “we have been dumb about this issue for so many years.” Supports “things like background checks, we know that works.”
Less. Opposes 2022 rule limiting ghost gun production. Opposes red flag laws that temporarily remove guns from people deemed by a court to be a threat. Blames gun violence on “people in Chicago, St Louis, shooting each other. Very often, you know, Black people, frankly.”
Yes. Supports full funding for Medicare and Medicaid but not “Medicare for All.” Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act, which caps Medicare drug costs and empowers Medicare to negotiate drug prices. Supports CDC’s recommendations on face masks and vaccines.
No. Called the Inflation Reduction Act, with provisions for lowering Medicare drug costs, “a disaster.” Called COVID vaccine mandates “evil.” Has said that he supports limiting contraceptive access.
Easier. “Unions are important… and our future.” Supports the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, which would make union organizing easier.
Likely harder. “The union labor only wants to work during certain times, and nobody works too hard.” Opposes teachers’ unions. Teachers’ unions “should not be allowed to exist.”
Expand. Supports a bill to codify same-sex marriage protections, and cosponsored the Equality Act, prohibiting discrimination based on sex or gender orientation. Supported a 2021 resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ Pride Month.
Limit. Sees “the Supreme Court just squinting and making up so-called rights in the Constitution… the right to gay marriage—I disagree with that.” Supported Court decision that a baker “can’t be forced to write pro-gay things on the cake he was otherwise happy to bake.”
Mostly legal. In 2020 supported legalization in Arizona. Is deciding whether to support full federal decriminalization.
No position found.
Raise. Voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $15/hour. “I’ve talked with Arizonans struggling to make ends meet… hard working Arizonans deserve a raise.”
No position found.
Calls for increased use of body cameras, independent oversight, and more transparency. “There needs to be a justice system that doesn’t discriminate against anyone because of their race;” defunding “is not the approach we need.”
Will “support the police in every possible way.” Criticizes Democrats for creating “lawlessness,” not letting the police “do their jobs.” Wants to add more police officers.
Yes. Supports lowering interest rates. “The federal government shouldn’t be making money off of the backs of college students.” Supports Biden’s student loan forgiveness plan.
No. Opposes student loan forgiveness. Does support loan discharge in bankruptcy with colleges paying off debt. Taxpayers “shouldn’t bail out people who took on student loan debt.”
More. Voted for the Inflation Reduction Act; it closes “loopholes to make sure that companies with more than a billion dollars in profit pay their fair share, and it cracks down on the wealthiest trying to cheat the system.”
Unclear. Is “open to” billionaires paying more in taxes. Has suggested that wealthy people might willingly pay more taxes if “the government was spending money wisely” to help Americans.
No. Cosponsored a bill to make Election Day a federal holiday and protect mail and early voting options. Cosponsored John R. Lewis Voting Rights bill to prevent practices that would reduce voting rights.
Yes. Election security “starts with stopping the indiscriminate mass mailing of mail-in ballots, and requiring voter ID for every ballot, mail-in or in person.”
We have space to include only candidates polling 15% or more. But check out others including Marc Victor (L).
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