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David Harden's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
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Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2022.

  • "The details and substance of the Texas law are both sweeping and dangerous, not only for pro-choice constitutional rights, but for constitutional rights generally because the law authorizes private civil action (read: vigilante justice) to deny these rights to anyone." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • " Every American deserves access to high-quality, affordable medical care. We can improve our healthcare system while lowering costs, ensuring broader coverage, and achieving better outcomes. I support measures that would strengthen the ACA’s framework and provide a public option that will be made affordable to every citizen. Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP protect our seniors, children, and most vulnerable citizens; I will fight to make sure these programs are never eliminated or privatized. Beyond expanding coverage, we must also seek to address the exploding costs of healthcare. We need a comprehensive policy agenda that targets anti-competitive behavior, price-gouging, and bureaucratic waste in the private sector, while also investing in evidence-based public health initiatives." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "Harris voted to raise the social security retirement age 70, depriving Americans of their benefits. Harris led efforts to partially privatize Medicare." (twitter.com)
  • "He voted to block the Medicare and Social Security trust funds from paying benefits to providers. He earned a 0% scorecard from The National Committee toPreserve Social Security and Medicare." (twitter.com)
  • "I am fully committed to protecting Social Security and Medicare and ensuring their solvency and viability. I will protect Social Security and Medicare so we can meet our obligations to seniors, now and long into the future." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "The right to vote is sacred and fundamental. I will fight for efforts to bolster the integrity of our democratic process and oppose legislation directed at limiting access to voting. Gerrymandering, voter suppression, and unethical campaign finance are threats to the legitimacy of our nation's government. I proudly support the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, the For the People Act, and the Democracy for All Amendement. We need our representatives to be responsive to the will of their constituencies, not corporate special interests. Together, we can work to strengthen the democratic process now and long into the future." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "He also voted against the 2021 Defense Budget - putting our men and women at risk." (twitter.com)
  • "The American military is unparalled in strength and capability - and must remain the uncontested global power. National security, foreign policy, and economic prosperity are all connected. Congress must continue to value and support our military, diplomats, intelligence officers, and civil servants as they work together to serve our country and protect our nation. This includes continued support for VA health benefits." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "Climate Change is real and will continue to threaten the lives around Maryland’s Eastern and Western Shores. Climate change is also a national security risk and a disruptive force to our economic future and wellbeing. Climate innovation, technology, and infrastructure will create the jobs of the future. This district is well-suited to build and test these innovations, trade to the world, and lead the future through research and development, targeted private and public capital, and access to some of the globe's best talent right here in the region." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "Our district has lost a decade of opportunity under Andy Harris. My experience with the most complex economic crises worldwide helped create jobs, businesses, and trade to build an inclusive economy. To this end, I support the American Jobs Plan to create economic opportunities for all Marylanders. The district has incredible opportunities with agriculture, tourism, and a Chesapeake Bay economy - but this also means creating the jobs that prepare our district for a new energy and climate future. In the coming decade, this district can also build a more innovative economy focused on health care service and delivery, biotechnology to improve people's lives, and advanced defense technologies to safeguard the homeland." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "Small Businesses: are the backbone of the district's economy and community. Throughout this time of COVID-19, we have realized the value of our small businesses in times of crisis. This is why I believe we need fewer regulatory burdens our small businesses. As a small business owner myself, I’ve seen how regulations strain business owners across America and our district. As we move into a post-COVID economy, I will introduce a regulatory approach to prioritize the resiliency of our local businesses. Equally important, our small businesses can use a hand to leverage capital, technology, and expertise to connect to the highest markets in the world today." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "The district must modernize its infrastructure and energy supply. All-new infrastructure must be an investment in the future economy. The Eastern shore should be a proving ground for new climate infrastructure and technology for the benefit of the region and the world. The federal government must direct special attention to rural communities that lack access to reliable postal services, clean drinking water, and broadband internet access." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "When big corporations use tax havens to dodge paying their fair share of taxes, the rest of us have to pick up the tab. Families pay higher taxes, get fewer services or we all get a bigger deficit. We have to make them pay their fair share. #HardenForCongress #MDPolitics" (twitter.com)
  • " I will demand more answers to the mismanagement of the pandemic in the early stages, work to form a more comprehensive national plan to test, provide for vaccination distribution and funding, and continue mitigating the spread of COVID-19 from community to community. This virus continues to be a threat to all of us. So it's time Congress works to strengthen our communities to be resilient against threats like the virus." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "Small Businesses: are the backbone of the district's economy and community. Throughout this time of COVID-19, we have realized the value of our small businesses in times of crisis. This is why I believe we need fewer regulatory burdens our small businesses. As a small business owner myself, I’ve seen how regulations strain business owners across America and our district. As we move into a post-COVID economy, I will introduce a regulatory approach to prioritize the resiliency of our local businesses. Equally important, our small businesses can use a hand to leverage capital, technology, and expertise to connect to the highest markets in the world today." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "How can we expect gas to stay cheap when the prices are set by those who know that they can make more money by producing less fuel? High energy prices tell us that we need to move faster on investing in renewable energy and move away from our dependence on fossil fuels." (twitter.com)
  • "I've been working on next-gen power/energy for years. Maryland, incl #MD01, has an opportunity to lead on smart grids, micro-grids, multiple renewable energy sources. We can drive solutions. Burying power lines isn’t the only way to weatherproof the grid" (twitter.com)
  • "This is a great example of the public and private sectors working together to drive renewable energy, blunt climate impact, grow rural economies and prepare for the future. State Greenlights Two Companies to Expand Offshore Wind Energy - Maryland Matters" (twitter.com)
  • "With a ton of other benefits, The American Jobs Plan will lead to a cleaner, more sustainable climate. The plan aims to have100% clean energy by 2035 by focusing our efforts on these areas. This will boost MD1's economy and move it into the modern age. #MarylandPolitics" (twitter.com)
  • "How can we expect gas to stay cheap when the prices are set by those who know that they can make more money by producing less fuel? High energy prices tell us that we need to move faster on investing in renewable energy and move away from our dependence on fossil fuels." (twitter.com)
  • "I am re-upping my earlier article on climate with two policy proposals. First, move to carbon "insets" where companies and individuals direct their investment in carbon offsets to the sector and source of the pollution — by insetting, not offsetting." (twitter.com)
  • "We must root out child labor, excessive carbon emissions, toxic pollution, and dangerous working conditions from global supply chains - and hold companies to the highest standards of transparency and accountability." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "Scalia gave gun control advocates and second amendment hawks a way forward. Democrats, Republicans, and Independents must craft common sense legislation to reduce the risk of these mass killings. Common ground legislation includes universal background checks," (twitter.com)
  • "We need leaders with courage. We need politicians with steel spines. We need folks in Congress who care more about our children than their damn jobs. It's time to stand up and pass common sense gun laws." (twitter.com)
  • "Every American deserves access to high-quality, affordable medical care. We can improve our healthcare system while lowering costs, ensuring broader coverage, and achieving better outcomes. I support measures that would strengthen the ACA’s framework and provide a public option that will be made affordable to every citizen. Medicare, Medicaid, and CHIP protect our seniors, children, and most vulnerable citizens; I will fight to make sure these programs are never eliminated or privatized. Beyond expanding coverage, we must also seek to address the exploding costs of healthcare. We need a comprehensive policy agenda that targets anti-competitive behavior, price-gouging, and bureaucratic waste in the private sector, while also investing in evidence-based public health initiatives." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Immigration and Border Security: I’m committed to finding bipartisan solutions to fix our broken immigration system. I will work across the aisle to create a proposal for immigration reform that strengthens the security of our borders, takes into account the needs of our workforce, respects our values and history, gives certainty to DACA recipients, and creates an earned pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants currently living here as long as they abide by the law, work hard, and pay taxes. I believe we can secure our borders from the undocumented movement of migrants and contraband while still honoring the immense contributions that immigrants make to our shared history, culture, and economy." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "First, what is the Administration's Iranian strategy? The Trump strategy of maximum pressure on Iran has an ill-defined end state. Pulling out of the nuclear deal & imposing sanctions were measures designed to counter malign Iranian influence and actions in the Middle East." (twitter.com)
  • "The Trump Administration unwound a deal that was designed to contain Iran’s most ambitious pursuits. By tearing apart JCOPA, @realDonaldTrump instigated an Iranian response which now has inadvertently challenged the security of the Gulf and undermines American leadership." (twitter.com)
  • "We must pursue multilateral diplomatic resolutions aimed at de-escalating violent conflicts abroad and ensure that our service members are well-equipped to defend our country." (www.hardenforcongress.com)
  • "With regard to North Korea, we must rebuild our alliance with South Korea and Japan, strengthen the Pacific Allied bloc, and deepen our bilateral relationship with India. Biden has charted this course. Leaders lead, others watch from the bench." (twitter.com)
  • "I support Biden's Yemen policy. But, there could be unintended consequences of our disengagement that could actually accelerate misery - the Houthis may actually expand and consolidate power." (twitter.com)
  • " Third, remove all tarifs, taxes and customs from all basic commodities. The goal is to increase supply, lower costs & improve household purchasing power. @YemeniFatima Consider a trade financing mechanism to underwrite risk. Super charge the small private sector @SMEPSYEMEN" (twitter.com)
  • "We must develop trade policy that does not reward foreign nations that engage in inhumane labor practices, human rights abuses, or weak environmental standards. These conditions are not only wrong but also disadvantage our American workers. We must root out child labor, excessive carbon emissions, toxic pollution, and dangerous working conditions from global supply chains - and hold companies to the highest standards of transparency and accountability. Failure to enforce these standards grants an unfair competitive advantage to unethical businesses at the expense of American workers. We must also be tough on employers that illegally take advantage of undocumented migrant workers; these practices put downward pressure on American wages and labor standards." (www.hardenforcongress.com)

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