VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Repeal Hyde Amendment; unacceptable that Biden voted for it: Strongly Favors topic 1 Don't limit abortions to the first 20 weeks of pregnancy: Favors topic 1 Rated 100% by NARAL, indicating a pro-choice voting record: Strongly Favors topic 1 Ban anti-abortion limitations on abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Access safe, legal abortion without restrictions: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports public funding for abortion services: Strongly Favors topic 1 Opposes parental notification for abortions by minors: Favors topic 1 Keep federal funding for family planning clinics: Strongly Favors topic 1 Endorsed Endorsed by EMILY's list for pro-choice Democratic women: Strongly Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Time for action: enforce equal pay for equal work: Strongly Favors topic 2 Biden worked with racist senators to oppose busing: Strongly Favors topic 2 Federal government protects civil rights when states fail: Favors topic 2 We cannot be ignorant of history of race in this country: Strongly Favors topic 2 Words matter; leaders cannot be ignorant of history of race: Favors topic 2 Women's issues are really about everyone: Favors topic 2 Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reparations raise a public health issue: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reparations means real investments in black communities: Strongly Favors topic 2 Rename Columbus Day as Indigenous Peoples' Day: Strongly Favors topic 2 Reparations for blacks should include HBCU and reforms: Strongly Favors topic 2 As child, bused to desegregated school with mixed races: Strongly Favors topic 2 Calling it "identity politics" marginalizes our issues: Strongly Favors topic 2 Judicial appointments should reject separate but equal: Favors topic 2 Fight for equal rights for all: Favors topic 2 Every black man is subject of profiling & discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	I performed same-sex marriages in 2004, AND later ones: Strongly Favors topic 3 Federal funding for PrEP to prevent HIV/AIDS: Strongly Favors topic 3 Ally of LGBTQ community; must end discrimination: Strongly Favors topic 3 Let transgender people access the bathroom of their choice: Strongly Favors topic 3 2004: Performed same-sex marriage despite state ban: Strongly Favors topic 3 Ensure marriage equality for all Californians: Strongly Favors topic 3 Eliminate "gay panic" tactic for criminal defendants: Strongly Favors topic 3 Maintain LGBT health info on federal websites: Strongly Favors topic 3
No opinion on topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (0 points on Social scale)	(No votes on which to base response)
Strongly Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-5 points on Economic scale)	Medicare-for-All with 10-year transition and private option: Favors topic 5 For-profit insurers jack up co-pays and deductibles: Strongly Favors topic 5 Huge profits for insurance; pharma on backs of families: Strongly Favors topic 5 $5000 deductible demonstrates flaws of for profit system: Strongly Favors topic 5 Supports Medicare for All, even undocumented aliens: Strongly Favors topic 5 Private insurance not victims under single payer: Strongly Favors topic 5 Make healthcare fundamental right, not privilege for wealthy: Strongly Favors topic 5 End private health insurance with Medicare for All: Strongly Favors topic 5 Require pharmaceutical companies to allow generics: Favors topic 5 Companies should provide contraception under ObamaCare: Favors topic 5 Opposes repealing mandated health insurance: Strongly Favors topic 5
Strongly Opposes topic 6: Privatize Social Security (-5 points on Economic scale)	Oppose entitlement cuts; strengthen these safety nets: Strongly Opposes topic 6
Strongly Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-5 points on Economic scale)	Boost average teacher pay by $13,500: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Federal money to subsidize teach pay raises: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Ensure access to a high quality public education: Strongly Opposes topic 7
Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+2 points on Social scale)	Develop new nuclear technologies: Favors topic 8 100% lifetime score from the League of Conservation Voters: Opposes topic 8 Update water infrastructure based on Israeli model: Opposes topic 8 Fight to protect our coast: Opposes topic 8
Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+2 points on Social scale)	I chose the unpopular thing to NOT seek the death penalty: Opposes topic 9 Moratorium on death penalty; but defended it as AG: Opposes topic 9 Legalize sex work, but fight trafficking and abuse: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Private prisons are about profit, not dealing with crime: Opposes topic 9 Domestic terrorism as national security priority: Favors topic 9 Federal and state moratorium on death penalty: Strongly Opposes topic 9 No on capital punishment, but justice for murderers: Neutral on topic 9 Ex-felons re-enter society, instead of broken justice system: Opposes topic 9 Punish violent criminals, but understand they also need help: Opposes topic 9 Back on Track: expungement for first-time minor offenders: Opposes topic 9 Cash bail system favors the wealthy: Strongly Opposes topic 9 2010: Ran for A.G. as anti-death-penalty D.A.: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Sanctuary for prostituted youth so they can escape pimps: Favors topic 9 Shut down brothels masquerading as massage parlors: Favors topic 9 Smartphone videos force police brutality to be seen: Opposes topic 9 Focus on helping non-violent young offenders: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Defied pressure for death penalty for cop killer: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Punish parents of chronically truant kids: Strongly Favors topic 9 Imprison violent criminals, not the non-violent: Opposes topic 9 Make fighting transnational gangs a top priority: Favors topic 9 Treat crime economically: most safety for the investment: Favors topic 9 Smart on Crime: focus on violence, youth, & prevention: Favors topic 9 Crime pyramid: nonviolent offender isn't hardened criminal: Opposes topic 9 Personally opposed to death penalty; as DA, never pursued it: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Not tough nor soft crime: must be smart on crime: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Progressive prosecutor: fix broken criminal justice system: Opposes topic 9 I'm part of changing prosecutors' history of injustice: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Black men pay 35% higher bail than white men: Strongly Opposes topic 9 I'm for both the police and for police accountability: Favors topic 9 Don't require cops to wear body cameras: Strongly Favors topic 9 Acknowledge that certain communities distrust police: Opposes topic 9 2004: no death penalty for cop killer; 2019: apply to all: Strongly Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Mandatory buyback for 5 million assault weapons: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Executive action on gun control if Congress won't do it: Strongly Opposes topic 10 If Congress won't act on guns, I will, by executive action: Strongly Opposes topic 10 If Congress won't pass gun laws, do it by executive action: Strongly Opposes topic 10 No reason we have assault weapons in a civil society: Strongly Opposes topic 10 We cannot tolerate society with our babies being slaughtered: Strongly Favors topic 10 No gun ownership for dangerous convicts or mentally ill: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Rated 7% by the NRA, indicating a pro-gun control voting record: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Supports restrictions on right to bear arms: Opposes topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Reverse the 2017 corporate income tax cut: Strongly Favors topic 11 New tax on banks with over $50 billion in assets: Strongly Favors topic 11 Massively expand the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit): Favors topic 11 Why haven't we asked how to pay for tax cuts to the top 1%?: Strongly Favors topic 11 Tax credits for middle class & working families: Favors topic 11 Tax relief for middle class; repeal 2017 tax cuts: Favors topic 11 Monthly tax credit would provide base income: Favors topic 11 New fees on banks and financial institutions: Strongly Favors topic 11 $3M to get lawyers for children from Northern Triangle: Strongly Favors topic 11 Zero tolerance is inhumane: end child separation: Strongly Favors topic 11 LIFT Act: $500 monthly tax credit for eligible middle class: Strongly Favors topic 11 Payments to needy, not tax breaks for the rich: Strongly Favors topic 11 Expand EITC, Child Tax Credit, and R&D Tax Credit: Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Kids whose parents crossed border are treated like criminals: Favors topic 12 I disagreed with Obama on Secure Communities deportations: Favors topic 12 Immediately reinstate DACA protection, including parents: Strongly Favors topic 12 Due process & right to counsel, for asylum seekers: Favors topic 12 2008: Supported SF policy reported arrested juveniles to ICE: Opposes topic 12 Reform system, against "vanity project" of border wall: Strongly Favors topic 12 Welcome refugees and immigrants, instead of a border wall: Strongly Favors topic 12 Re-examine ICE & start from scratch: Favors topic 12 No border wall in any comprehensive bill: Strongly Favors topic 12 An undocumented immigrant is not a criminal: Strongly Favors topic 12 Provide lawyers and evidence for children being deported: Favors topic 12
Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+2 points on Economic scale)	Trump's tariffs are a trade tax on workers and farmers: Favors topic 13 Demand changes to post-NAFTA agreement USMCA: Opposes topic 13 Don't use tariffs to pressure countries: Favors topic 13 US stronger when working with allies: Strongly Favors topic 13 Trade agreements should address climate change: Favors topic 13 Consumers hurt by trade wars, while corporations benefit: Favors topic 13 TPP doesn't offer sufficient worker protections: Opposes topic 13
Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-3 points on Economic scale)	I value the importance of diplomacy; I value relationships: Strongly Opposes topic 14 The way to keep us safe is NOT to keep outsiders out: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Supports standing with the nation of israel: Favors topic 14 Two-state solution despite Israeli settlements on West Bank: Favors topic 14
Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-3 points on Social scale)	Slash the defense budget: Strongly Opposes topic 15 Cybersecurity crucial to protect elections & infrastructure: Favors topic 15 Cyber doctrine: when is a cyberattack an act of war?: Favors topic 15 Champion a robust VA for our Veterans: Favors topic 15 Exempt Veterans Affairs from federal hiring freeze: Favors topic 15
Strongly Favors topic 16: Make voter registration easier (+5 points on Social scale)	Discuss eliminating the Electoral College: Favors topic 16 Mandate paper ballots: Favors topic 16 Have a conversation on whether prisoners should vote: Favors topic 16 Secure Elections Act: prevent foreign interference: Strongly Favors topic 16 Statehood for the District of Columbia: Favors topic 16 Automatic voter registration for all citizens: Strongly Favors topic 16
Opposes topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (-3 points on Social scale)	Bring the troops home from post-9-11 wars: Strongly Favors topic 17 We need to get back into Iran nuclear deal: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Iran nuclear deal was being complied with by all parties: Strongly Opposes topic 17 Ok with Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory: Opposes topic 17 Time for a political solution in Afghanistan: Favors topic 17 Distinguish Islamic religion from terrorism: Favors topic 17
Strongly Favors topic 18: Prioritize green energy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Get rid of the Senate filibuster to pass Green New Deal: Strongly Favors topic 18 All electric cars and school buses by 2045: Favors topic 18 Rejoin Paris Accord on Day One; carbon neutral by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate crisis represents existential threat to our species: Strongly Favors topic 18 Green New Deal sets agenda for dealing with climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18 Restore Clean Power Plan and Clean Car Standards: Favors topic 18 Climate change important, but not only issue: Opposes topic 18 Don't withdraw from the Paris climate accord: Strongly Favors topic 18 Climate change is a national security threat to America: Strongly Favors topic 18 Prosecuted polluters for illegal dumping and air pollution: Strongly Favors topic 18 Innovate smart solutions to climate change: Strongly Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Opposed marijuana legalization, but currents have changed: Opposes topic 19 SAFE Banking Act: Decriminalize marijuana finances: Opposes topic 19 Legalize marijuana: it gives a lot of people joy: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Dismantle War on Drugs; start with marijuana legalization: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Opioid crisis requires emergency mobilization: Favors topic 19 Recognize the war on drugs was a failure: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Back on Track: re-entry instead of incarceration for drugs: Opposes topic 19 Focus on combating transnational gangs: Favors topic 19 Deal with drug addiction in offenders, but still arrest them: Favors topic 19 Co-sponsor of Marijuana Justice Act for legalization: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Strongly Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-5 points on Economic scale)	$20B for struggling homeowners during mortgage crisis: Strongly Favors topic 20