2018 New Mexico Senate race: debates and news coverage

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

Abortion     Gary Johnson: Personal aversion but recognizes as law of the land.     Martin Heinrich: Legal without restrictions, including Planned Parenthood.     Mick Rich: Life begins at conception; de-fund Planned Parenthood.     Mick Rich: Abortion rips the moral fabric of our nation.

Budget & Economy     Gary Johnson: Cut government spending by 20%.     Gary Johnson: Cut taxes and cut spending.     Martin Heinrich: Measure distribution of growth, not just overall GDP growth.     Mick Rich: Government red tape destroys job growth.

Civil Rights     Mick Rich: Public leaders need to set example to help diffuse racism.

Corporations     Gary Johnson: Scrap Dodd-Frank and CFPB consumer protections.     Martin Heinrich: Fund Dodd-Frank and CFPB consumer protections.     Mick Rich: Roll back Dodd-Frank and CFPB consumer protections.     Mick Rich: Less government oversight but more federal funding.

Drugs     Martin Heinrich: It's time to legalize marijuana.     Mick Rich: Opposes legalizing recreational use.     Mick Rich: Ending illegal drugs crossing the border will be #1 priority.

Education     Gary Johnson: Competition improves choices.     Gary Johnson: Cut Pell grants; eliminate all student loans.     Martin Heinrich: Privatization especially hurts rural schools.     Martin Heinrich: Address the significant loss in value of Pell Grants.     Mick Rich: Supports vouchers, savings accounts, & scholarship programs.     Mick Rich: Let Pell grants cover job training.

Energy & Oil     Gary Johnson: Humans contribute to climate change, but no government role.     Martin Heinrich: Moral obligation to prevent devastating climate change.     Mick Rich: Coal plant filters can solve CO2 emissions without subsidies.     Mick Rich: Support oil & gas industry for fuel independence.     Mick Rich: Make public lands accessible for energy production.

Environment     Gary Johnson: EPA has an important role to play.     Martin Heinrich: EPA needed to protect health & well-being.     Mick Rich: Environment is fragile, but businesses are overregulated.     Mick Rich: Cost-benefit analyses for environmental improvement projects.     Mick Rich: Wants commercial use of natural resources on federal lands.

Families & Children     Martin Heinrich: Early supporter of gay marriage.     Mick Rich: Vote for opportunities to build jobs and help families.

Free Trade     Gary Johnson: Tariffs hurt U.S. industries.     Martin Heinrich: Tariffs are sledgehammer where surgical approach needed.     Mick Rich: Current trade with China is not fair;impose tariffs.     Mick Rich: Aluminum & steel tariffs are a way to cut a better deal.

Government Reform     Gary Johnson: Let corporations donate as much money as they want.     Gary Johnson: Voter ID disproportionately restricts Hispanic voters.     Martin Heinrich: Overturn Citizens United via Democracy for All Amendment.     Martin Heinrich: Voter ID disproportionately affects minority communities.

Gun Control     Gary Johnson: More gun laws make us less safe.     Martin Heinrich: Ban bump stocks; ban sales to federal no-fly list.     Mick Rich: No restrictions on semi-automatic weapons nor silencers.     Mick Rich: Background checks on all firearm purchases, no exceptions.     Mick Rich: 2nd Amendment is a God-given right.

Health Care     Gary Johnson: Free-market approach to health coverage instead of ObamaCare.     Martin Heinrich: No Medicare work rules; support ObamaCare.     Mick Rich: Restore a free-market approach to health insurance.     Mick Rich: Allow insurance plans to be sold across state lines.     Mick Rich: Reinstate free market model for health insurance.

Homeland Security     Mick Rich: Strong military is essential for our protection.

Immigration     Martin Heinrich: Tough but fair path to earned citizenship, including DACA.     Mick Rich: Illegals must leave & apply for citizenship like anyone.     Mick Rich: New policy on applicant merit, not family relationships.     Mick Rich: We can only accept so many immigrants, but let's negotiate.

Jobs     Gary Johnson: Eliminate federal minimum wage instead of raising it.     Martin Heinrich: Raise minimum wage from $7.25 to $15.     Mick Rich: Remove regulations that discourage hiring, like minimum wage.

Principles & Values     Gary Johnson: Endorsed by Rand Paul; asks Dem to drop out of Senate race.     Gary Johnson: Fiscally conservative and socially cool.

Social Security     Gary Johnson: Some or all of Social Security should be privatized.     Martin Heinrich: Signed Social Security Protectors Pledge.

Tax Reform     Martin Heinrich: Trump tax cuts do little for working families.     Mick Rich: Trump tax cuts stimulated investment & job creation.     Mick Rich: Support Trump tax bill; 80% get a pay cut.     Mick Rich: Low taxes creates job opportunities.

Technology     Gary Johnson: Opposes Net Neutrality; government shouldn't regulate.     Martin Heinrich: More federal spending on transportation infrastructure.     Martin Heinrich: Supports Net Neutrality; reverse FCC's repeal.     Mick Rich: More federal spending on infrastructure repair.     Gary Johnson: Left NM with new highways and a billion-dollar surplus.     Mick Rich: Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure will create employment.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Gary Johnson New Mexico Libertarian Gubernatorial Challenger Martin Heinrich Democratic Challenger New Mexico Mick Rich Republican candidate for New Mexico U.S. Senator New Mexico