2022 Ohio Senate Voters Guide
Tim Ryan (D) vs J.D. Vance (R)
The Candidates
Legal. Cosponsored a bill to codify Roe v. Wade. “Every Ohioan should be able to access the health care that’s right for them… that includes… a safe, legal abortion.”
Yes. “The threat of global climate change is one of the most critical issues facing our nation.” Voted for infrastructure bill offering Ohioans “historic investments in cleaner, more convenient transportation.”
Increase investment. Voted for the Build Back Better Act, to finance education, childcare, healthcare and environment. Also backed the infrastructure bill to finance railroads and electric grid improvements.
Decrease investment. “We can’t spend money that we don’t have.” Opposed infrastructure bill. “We can’t let some good parts of a bill justify spending hundreds of billions of dollars that we don’t have on bad priorities.”
We need to “to reflect on the sins of our not-too-distant past and recognize the systemic racism born out of slavery.” Calls to ban critical race theory distract from talking about jobs, healthcare, retirement security, and high prescription drug costs.
No. The election was stolen from Trump. “We had a massive effort to shift the election by very powerful people in this country.” Calling January 6 an insurrection is the “dumbest thing in the world.”
Tighten. Voted to keep a rule to protect streams from the impact of coal mining operations. Wants environmental and financial incentives aligned.
Loosen. Sees “environmental justice” policies causing jobs to be shipped to China. Opposes “liberal environmental regulations that hurt businesses.”
Strong. “We cannot let this monster Vladimir Putin keep one inch of soil in Ukraine.” “Ensure Ukraine’s military has the equipment and resources to defend itself.”
Limited. Ukraine aid is “excessive.” We should “solve our problems here at home.” “I don’t really care what happens to Ukraine one way or another.”
Easier. Voted in Congress for more union protections. “Labor unions are the backbone of our economy. My grandfather received better pay…because he and his co-workers could collectively bargain.”
Unclear. Has mentioned positive social effects from union membership; blames diminished unions on US companies exploiting cheap labor overseas. But says labor laws “have minimal effect.”
Expand. Cosponsored the Equality Act, addressing discrimination based on sexual orientation. Would choose judicial nominees to ensure “our LGBTQ+ friends…enjoy equal protections under the law.”
Limit. Criticized a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that employees can’t be fired for being transgender or gay. Says U.S. won’t be viewed as a world leader “if we keep on pushing ridiculous notions of gender.”
Legal. Voted to decriminalize marijuana. Marijuana arrests are “morally wrong, economically nonsensical,” and needlessly strain law enforcement. Introduced bill to monitor diversion of prescription drugs and support addiction and recovery treatment.
No position found on marijuana. On drugs in general, “I’ll work to tackle the drug epidemic, eliminate the drugs coming into our community, and help those devastated by addiction.”
Yes. Voted for a 2019 bill to gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025. But that’s only a minimum: “It’s time to cut workers in on the deal and pay them more.”
No recent position found. In 2016 called a $15 minimum wage a Democrat “solution from the 1960s,” and “a medicine worse than the disease.”
Yes. Voted for a 2021 bill to increase accountability for police misconduct. Wants “more cops—not less,” with expanded racial bias training and better responses to mental health crises.
More. Opposed the $1.5 trillion 2017 tax bill, which cut corporate tax rates and top-bracket income taxes. Increase taxes on billionaires while increasing the child tax credit for working families. “A tax system that lets the super-rich off the hook while working families are struggling just to stay afloat is a system that’s broken.”
Mixed on corporations, less for individuals. “Let’s cut the taxes of the companies that invest in our country. But… raise taxes on companies that ship jobs overseas and use their money to fund anti-American radical movements.” Calls Ryan’s push for middle class tax cuts “a gimmick,” criticizes his opposing 2017 tax cuts.
No. Cosponsored the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would prevent state discrimination against minority voters. “The right to vote is a cornerstone of our democracy and it must be protected.”
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