2022 Pennsylvania Senate race: debates and news coverage


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OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Carla Sands: Is "unapologetically pro-life".     David McCormick: Staunchly pro-life; life begins at conception.     Jeff Bartos: Rated pro-life by Pennsylvania Pro-Life Federation, LifePac.     Kathy Barnette: I value all life, will promote alternatives to abortion.     Mehmet Oz: Knows how precious life is and is 100% Pro-Life.     Val Arkoosh: We need to codify Roe v. Wade immediately.

Budget & Economy     David McCormick: Support small businesses; get government out of the way.     Jeff Bartos: Big companies thrived in pandemic; mom-and-pops got crushed.     Jeff Bartos: Trump tax cuts, deregulation led to best economy pre-COVID.     Jeff Bartos: Opposed American Rescue Plan as "spendapalooza".     Jeff Bartos: Concerned infrastructure bill might burden working families.     Kathy Barnette: Incentivize investments in assets that generate real growth.     Mehmet Oz: President Biden's reckless spending has led to inflation.

Civil Rights     Kathy Barnette: Critical Race Theory is evil race-based Marxism.     Malcolm Kenyatta: BLM has to include Black queer folks & Black trans folks.     Mehmet Oz: Did program on "curing" gays; later blogged it was harmful.     Sharif Street: Add LGBT protection in our non-discrimination laws.     Sharif Street: Against discrimination based on religion or lack of one.     Val Arkoosh: Would be first woman physician elected to the Senate.     Val Arkoosh: For Equality Act to protect LGBTQ+ community.     David McCormick: 2013: supported same-sex marriage to Supreme Court.

Corporations     Everett Stern: Supports regulation of financial institutions.

Crime     David McCormick: Will always back and support law enforcement officials.     Jeff Bartos: Against "Defund the Police," police need to be fully funded.     John Fetterman: Overhauled clemency process, recommended more commutations.     John Fetterman: Must expand redemption, forgiveness side of criminal justice.     Malcolm Kenyatta: We really do need radical reform to policing.     Sharif Street: Allow life sentence convictions to be open to parole.     Val Arkoosh: Train our police in de-escalation techniques.

Drugs     John Fetterman: Listening tour, report got governor to support legalization.     John Fetterman: Legalization means billions in revenue, thousands of jobs.     Mehmet Oz: Cannabis safer than alcohol & safer than narcotics.     Mehmet Oz: Marijuana not gateway to narcotics, may be the exit drug.     Sharif Street: Emerging cannabis industry could boost job opportunities.     Val Arkoosh: Decriminalize marijuana, reform on nonviolent drug offenses.

Education     Jeff Bartos: Silencing conservative students is fundamentally un-American.     Jeff Bartos: Critical race theory is "state-sponsored racism".     Kathy Barnette: Competition is the best way to ensure innovation.     Mehmet Oz: Extreme left indoctrinating kids with anti-American ideology.     Mehmet Oz: Will fight for more school choice for all Americans.     Sharif Street: Free state college for family incomes under $110,000.     Val Arkoosh: COVID: Showed tears realizing what her own teens had lost.     Val Arkoosh: Supports funding of public schools, childcare, Pre-K.     John Fetterman: Solid affordable education in public schools and college.

Energy & Oil     David McCormick: Needn't choose between clean environment & affordable energy.     Jeff Bartos: Natural gas is bounty God has given us here in Pennsylvania.     Jeff Bartos: Natural gas is key to future of Pennsylvania's economy.     John Fetterman: Can't ban fracking immediately, have to be honest.     Kathy Barnette: Green New Deal will put millions of people out of work.     Mehmet Oz: I believe in energy independence, don't beg other countries.     Mehmet Oz: Supports fracking, will make us safer and create jobs.     Sharif Street: Put Pennsylvania on track to 100% renewable energy by 2050.     Val Arkoosh: Supports federal efforts to ban fracking nationwide.     John Fetterman: 2018: I oppose fracking; 2022: I support fracking.

Environment     John Fetterman: Focus on green businesses; create green jobs.

Families & Children     Sean Parnell: Denies wife's claim of physical and verbal abuse.     Sharif Street: Every woman deserves access to affordable childcare.     Val Arkoosh: Voters set priorities: the economy, jobs, cost of child care.     John Fetterman: Fight for universal pre-k and childcare.

Foreign Policy     David McCormick: Sanction China for its crimes; reparations for COVID.     Everett Stern: Pro-Israel candidate; attended "Stand Up for Israel" rally.     Jeff Bartos: Supports security for Israel, against Iran nuclear deal.     Jeff Bartos: Hold China accountable, for moving embassy in Israel.     Jeff Bartos: U.S.-Israel relationship is sacred to me and to our family.     Jeff Bartos: Would fight UN Human Rights Council studying racism in US.     Jeff Bartos: Let people sue China for COVID, prosecute IP theft.     David McCormick: Promote equality and pluralism around the world.

Free Trade     David McCormick: With Bush: embrace trade; with Trump: America First.     David McCormick: When China succeeds, the United States succeeds.     Mehmet Oz: We need to focus on creating jobs here in America.     Val Arkoosh: For robust Buy America policies, incentivize retaining jobs.

Government Reform     Carla Sands: Signed Term Limits on Congress Pledge.     David McCormick: Supports Voter ID & absentee ballot signature verification.     David McCormick: Fully supports term limits; pledges no more than two terms.     Everett Stern: After whistleblower at HBSC, unable to find another job.     Jeff Bartos: Election not stolen; Trump not to blame for insurrection.     Jeff Bartos: For voter ID, end "no excuse" absentee ballots.     Jeff Bartos: Signed U.S. Term Limits pledge.     Jeff Bartos: Voting rights bill attempt by radical left to seize power.     Jeff Bartos: Investigate 2020 election, particularly mail-in ballots.     Jeff Bartos: Senseless regulations drive businesses to other countries.     John Fetterman: Mocked Texas AG on voter fraud accusations.     Kathy Barnette: 2020: Something horribly wrong took place in this election.     Malcolm Kenyatta: Opposed law making voting process less accessible.     Mehmet Oz: Government that can give you everything can take it all away.     Pat Toomey: I think Trump committed impeachable offenses.     Pat Toomey: Not clear if impeachment is valid after leaving office.     Sean Parnell: Filed lawsuit against no-excuse mail-in ballot system.     Sharif Street: For same-day voter registration, early voting, vote by mail.     Val Arkoosh: Overturn Citizens United, won't take corporate PAC money.     Pat Toomey: Bipartisan independent commission to investigate Jan. 6th.     David McCormick: January 6 was a dark chapter in American history.

Gun Control     David McCormick: Stand against extreme left who want to abolish our rights.     Jeff Bartos: Proud gun owner since dad gave him Glock on 21st birthday.     Kathy Barnette: I live the 2d Amendment, registered conceal carry holder.     Mehmet Oz: Supported "red flag laws" on his television show.     Mehmet Oz: Proud gun owner, firm believer in Second Amendment.     Val Arkoosh: Ban high-capacity magazines, assault weapons.

Health Care     Carla Sands: Vaccine mandates put us on slippery slope to tyranny.     David McCormick: Government should never impose vaccine mandates.     Jeff Bartos: Vaccinated but opposed to federal mandates.     Jeff Bartos: Vaccine mandate is a backbreaker for small businesses.     John Fetterman: Supports single-payer health care.     Kathy Barnette: Don't force people through coercive mandates.     Kathy Barnette: Remove stigmas associated with mental illness.     Mehmet Oz: Elites fighting COVID pandemic took away our freedom.     Mehmet Oz: Expand access to private sector plans for prescription drugs.     Mehmet Oz: Criticized for promoting dubious cures on his TV show.     Sharif Street: Create a public option to compete with private insurers.     Val Arkoosh: Focus on disparities in health outcomes for Black moms.

Homeland Security     David McCormick: Advocate for resources for military and veterans.     Everett Stern: Found money-laundering at HSBC bank to fund terrorist groups.     Val Arkoosh: Robust funding for military installations & veteran benefits.     John Fetterman: Hold up our end of the bargain for veterans.

Immigration     Craig Snyder: Refugees among most loyal and contributing Americans.     David McCormick: Stop illegal immigration; finish building the Wall.     Jeff Bartos: Secure the border, cut funding for sanctuary cities.     Kathy Barnette: A merit-based immigration policy that puts Americans first.     Mehmet Oz: We need to have a secure border with a barrier to protect us.     Mehmet Oz: We're subsidizing cartels involved in human trafficking.     Sean Parnell: 30,000 refugees from Afghanistan is irresponsible.     Val Arkoosh: Fair pathway to citizenship for those willing to work for it.     John Fetterman: Investments toward keeping our borders strong.

Jobs     John Fetterman: Joined newspaper employees on the picket line.     Malcolm Kenyatta: We need to value service industry employees.     Sharif Street: Strengthen workers ability to collectively bargain.     Sharif Street: Increase minimum wage to $12, increase to $15/hour by 2025.

Principles & Values     Carla Sands: Had brief career as movie/TV actress 1987-1991.     David McCormick: America is exceptional; will stand up against wokeness.     Everett Stern: Protecting US is life's passion, central purpose of career.     Everett Stern: Voted for Trump in 2020, but thinks his behavior "atrocious".     Jeff Bartos: People just need government to get out of the way.     Jeff Bartos: Matters to me that I'm Jewish, not to average voter.     Jeff Bartos: Marxists are trying to divide us by race.     Jeff Bartos: The only candidate with meaningful ties to the state.     John Fetterman: Mentored young boy whose parents had died of AIDS.     John Fetterman: Doesn't live in Lt. Gov.'s mansion; but opened pool to kids.     Malcolm Kenyatta: Liberty and justice not currently attainable for all.     Mehmet Oz: Immigrant father loved US; saw deep darkness of alternatives.     Mehmet Oz: We need to expand the role of religious institutions.     Pat Toomey: Choice between radical left wing and Trump, not referendum.     Val Arkoosh: I am ready to call Republicans on their BS and get to work.     Mehmet Oz: We cannot move on from 2020 election, but Biden is President.

Social Security     John Fetterman: American bargain is the ability to retire with dignity.

Tax Reform     Jeff Bartos: Cut spending and waste, give working families tax breaks.     Malcolm Kenyatta: Require online retailers to collect & remit local sales tax.     Mehmet Oz: I believe in capitalism which means lower taxes, regulations.     Val Arkoosh: Corporations, wealthy must pay their share.

Technology     Jeff Bartos: Rein in Big Tech--but owns stock in Google and Apple.     Kathy Barnette: Break up monopolies colluding to censor unwanted speech.     Sharif Street: Continue to invest in electric vehicle infrastructure.     John Fetterman: Invest in rural broadband & infrastructure .

War & Peace     Mehmet Oz: For leaving Afghanistan but Biden surrendered to Taliban.     John Fetterman: Forever wars line the pockets of defense contractors.

Welfare & Poverty     John Fetterman: Fight GOP cutting SNAP benefits for families & kids.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Carla Sands Republican Challenger Pennsylvania Craig Snyder Republican Senate Challenger Pennsylvania David McCormick Republican Challenger Pennsylvania Everett Stern Republican Senate candidate Pennsylvania Jeff Bartos Republican Challenger Pennsylvania John Fetterman Pennsylvania Democratic nominee for Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. Kathy Barnette Republican Challenger Pennsylvania Malcolm Kenyatta Senate Candidate Pennsylvania Mehmet Oz Republican Challenger Pennsylvania Pat Toomey Republican Jr Senator Pennsylvania Sean Parnell Republican Challenger Pennsylvania Sharif Street Democratic Challenger Pennsylvania Val Arkoosh Democratic Challenger Pennsylvania