| 
Karl Dean on VoteMatch | 
| 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)  | Politicians shouldn't insert themselves in abortion decision: Strongly Favors topic 1 | 
| 
No opinion on
 topic 2:Legally require hiring women & minorities
 (0 points on Economic scale)  | (No votes on which to base response) | 
| 
Strongly Favors
 topic 3:Comfortable with same-sex marriage
 (+5 points on Social scale)  | Supports gay marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 First in Tennessee to join Mayors for the Freedom to Marry: 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)  | Support ObamaCare; expand Medicaid: Strongly Favors topic 5 Expand Medicaid for low-income families: Strongly Favors topic 5  | 
| 
No opinion on
 topic 6:Privatize Social Security
 (0 points on Economic scale)  | (No votes on which to base response) | 
| 
Opposes
 topic 7:Vouchers for school choice
 (-3 points on Economic scale)  | Opposes vouchers & for-profit charter schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Expand access to vocational training programs: Opposes topic 7 Increase teacher pay; more resources for schools: Strongly Opposes topic 7 Supports charters; opposes vouchers: Favors topic 7 Small city property tax increase to directed to education: Opposes topic 7 Supports publicly financed, privately led charter schools: Favors topic 7 Expand school choice teacher accountability: Favors topic 7 Charters ok if non-profit, but vouchers not ok: Opposes topic 7  | 
| 
Strongly Opposes
 topic 8:Fight EPA regulatory over-reach
 (+5 points on Social scale)  | Cuts to the EPA are unthinkable: Strongly Opposes topic 8 | 
| 
No opinion on
 topic 9:Stricter punishment reduces crime
 (0 points on Social scale)  | (No votes on which to base response) | 
| 
Strongly Opposes
 topic 10:Absolute right to gun ownership
 (-5 points on Economic scale)  | Strong background checks; ban bump stocks: Strongly Opposes topic 10 | 
| 
Favors
 topic 11:Higher taxes on the wealthy
 (-3 points on Economic scale)  | Raised city property taxes, but after Great Recession: Favors topic 11 | 
| 
Strongly Favors
 topic 12:Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens
 (+5 points on Social scale)  | Earned path to citizenship; they are Tennesseans: Strongly Favors topic 12 Immigrants are part of community; college tuition break ok: Strongly Favors topic 12  | 
| 
Favors
 topic 13:Support & expand free trade
 (+2 points on Economic scale)  | Opposes Trump's tariffs on China: Favors topic 13 | 
| 
No opinion on
 topic 14:Support American Exceptionalism
 (0 points on Economic scale)  | (No votes on which to base response) | 
| 
No opinion on
 topic 15:Expand the military
 (0 points on Social scale)  | (No votes on which to base response) | 
| 
Strongly Favors
 topic 16:Make voter registration easier
 (+5 points on Social scale)  | Nonpartisan redistricting; no voter ID: Strongly Favors topic 16 | 
| 
No opinion on
 topic 17:Avoid foreign entanglements
 (0 points on Social scale)  | (No votes on which to base response) | 
| 
Strongly Favors
 topic 18:Prioritize green energy
 (-5 points on Economic scale)  | Pledged to work toward reducing greenhouse gases: Strongly Favors topic 18 | 
| 
Favors
 topic 19:Marijuana is a gateway drug
 (-3 points on Social scale)  | No recreational marijuana; decriminalize light medical use: Opposes topic 19 Provide treatment for opioids while stepping up prosecution: Favors topic 19 Medical marijuana ok, but opposes recreational use: Favors topic 19  | 
| 
Strongly Favors
 topic 20:Stimulus better than market-led recovery
 (-5 points on Economic scale)  | Economic development statewide instead of just Nashville: Strongly Favors topic 20 Used tax incentives to lure companies to Nashville: Strongly Favors topic 20  |