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NONPARTISAN CANDIDATE GUIDE:

2018 SENATE RACE

Kevin Cramer (R) Heidi Heitkamp (D – Incumbent) For mobile-friendly version & other guides, see campuselect.org/guides.html

For more detailed information on candidates visit their respective pages at votesmart.org

To volunteer, visit • kevincramer.org • heidifornorthdakota.com

Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal? Ban. “Forty years ago, the United Mostly legal. “Reproductive decisions States Supreme Court sanctioned should be left to a woman, her family, & on demand. & we wonder her doctor.” But opposes public funding why our culture sees school shootings & supports state’s right to mandate so often.“ parental consent for minors & to restrict partial-birth . Campaign Finance: Require political ads to No. Disclosure individual contributions, Yes. Sponsored 2018 DISCLOSE Act. disclose their largest funders? but “what other organizations, liberal “North Dakotans deserve to know & conservative, do to promote their who’s trying to influence our elections.” beliefs is up to them.” Campaign Finance: Support Citizens United Yes. No. Reverse by constitutional decision, allowing unlimited political amendment. “Billionaires who couldn’t donations from corporations & unions? pick out North Dakota on a map shouldn’t have more” electoral sway “than hard-working North Dakotans.” Climate Change: Consider climate change a No. Considered prominent skeptic. Has Yes. Voted for amendment saying serious threat? called climate change a religious belief. climate change was real & serious. Climate Change: Limit or tax production of No. Roll back automotive fuel Mixed. Criticized Obama Clean Power greenhouse gases? Support US participation standards. Called EPA greenhouse gas Act, pushed for carbon sequestration in Paris Climate Accord despite President regulations “arbitrary & capricious.” research so could keep using coal & gas. Trump’s withdrawal? Paris Accord was a terrible agreement. Supported Paris Accord participation. Contraception: Allow employers to withhold Yes. Requiring contraceptive coverage No. Keep ACA requirement that contraceptive coverage from employees if infringes upon religious freedoms. insurance plans provide non-copay disagree with it morally? contraception. Courts: Support President Trump’s Supreme Yes. A great nominee. Supports states No. Would have confirmed, but “deeply Court nomination of ? rights against federal overreach. disturbed by…lack of judicial Even if Ford allegations true, 36 years temperament & impartiality,” including ago, so not sure it disqualifies his angry response when asked about Kavanaugh. drinking. Also influenced by experience dealing with sexual assault victims. Economy: Support federal spending as a No. Opposed stimulus investment. Yes. Supports strong infrastructure means of promoting economic growth? Some support for infrastructure. spending for areas like roads. But also concerns about deficit, feels both parties have ducked the issue. Economy: Support President Trump’s “I would prefer a more measured No. They “severely limit our ability to imposition of tariffs on Chinese steel & other approach.” But they are “the one tool build the international support need to products? [Trump] has,” so support them & keep China in check.” Retaliatory present a united front for negotiations. actions will hurt North Dakota. (R) Heidi Heitkamp (D – Incumbent) Education: Provide vouchers to parents to Yes. Supports DC voucher program & No. Opposed Betsy DeVos’s “preference send their children to private schools with charter schools. for private schools and… taking public public money? funds away from public schools.” Financial Regulation: Support reining in Yes. Considered it regulatory Eased financial regulations for smaller Consumer Financial Protection Bureau? overreach. banks, but opposes further easing rules. Gay Marriage: Support gay marriage? No. “Marriage is defined in Scripture.” Yes. “The federal government should no Supreme Court ruling was “another longer discriminate against… or example of activist judges overstepping interfere in personal, private, & their authority.” intimate relationships.” Gun Control: Support more restrictive gun No. No. control legislation? Healthcare: Support or Repeal Affordable Full repeal. “An insult to the Support, but improve. “Everyone should Care Act (ACA), known as Obamacare? Constitution & the conscience.” Would have access to affordable, quality care,” require covering patients with pre- whatever pre-existing conditions. North existing conditions but let insurance Dakota families need same quality care companies charge more for them. that helped her beat breast cancer. Healthcare: Let receive No. Co-sponsored bill to defund. Yes. Voted against numerous bills public funds for non-abortion health care? aimed at defunding. Immigration: Support path to citizenship for No. DACA was “unlawfully put Yes, with conditions. Voted for several “DACA” recipients or “Dreamers,” who grew together.” Recipients must return to bills coupling with border security up in the US after being brought here as home country before applying for increase, & in one case with restrictions children? citizenship. on legal immigration. Iran: End treaty limiting Iran’s nuclear Yes. No. capability for lifting economic sanctions? Marijuana: Support ND ballot Measure 3 that No. Plans to vote against it: “We don’t Up to voters, some concerns on access would legalize adult recreational use. need any more mind-altering by children. Urged administration to substances on the market.” respect North Dakota’s medical law. Minimum Wage: Raise the federal minimum No. Reducing regulations is a better Yes. Co-sponsored 2014 bill to raise to wage from current $7.25/hr? way to improve job opportunities. $10.10/hr. Net Neutrality: Support Net Neutrality rules Praised FCC ruling ending Obama Net Yes. Strong supporter. Voted to reverse requiring equal access to all users? Neutrality rules. Said other ways to FCC repeal of net neutrality. protect internet. President Trump: Percentage of key votes Early & vocal supporter: Voted with Mixed support & opposition: 55% of (as of September 2018) supporting Trump’s Trump 99% of time. time. “I don’t think either party has all positions while in office? the right answers.” Privatization: Support full or partial Yes. Advocate for private sector No. Opposes. privatization of Social Security? options. Renewable Energy: Support government No. Incentivize US fuel production. Let Advocates an all-of-the-above approach subsidies for renewable energy? green energy tax credits & deductions that includes tax incentives for lapse. renewables, particularly wind power. Student debt: Refinance student loans at Rejected this approach. Favored tying Yes. Introduced related bill. Challenged lower rates, paid for by increasing taxes on to interest rates. Supported end to Dept of Education possibly revoking high earners? student loan interest deduction. public service loan forgiveness. Taxes: Support President Trump’s tax cuts? Yes. They were “the best Christmas gift No. Will add $1.5 trillion to national Washington [could] give.” debt & provide no real relief for middle- class families or small businesses. Voting Rights: Support stricter voting rules Unknown. When asked about ND No. Has criticized unnecessary voter ID like voter ID requirements even if prevent voting laws, deferred to state laws in ND that “clearly target” Native some people from voting? Republican Party for comment. Americans & students.

Created by the Campus Election Engagement Project, a non-partisan effort to help college & university administrators, faculty, & student leaders engage their schools in elections. 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.

Campus Election Engagement Project | 2018 www.campuselect.org facebook.com/campuselect @campuselect