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Posición de los candidatos al Senado de Estados Unidos sobre los temas relevantes

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The only statewide race on Minnesota’s ballot this fall beyond the presidential contest is the campaign for an open U.S. Senate seat. DFL incumbent Sen. Tina Smith is facing off against former U.S. Rep. and talk show host Jason Lewis.

Here’s a quick look at where they stand on top issues for Minnesotans.

View all the candidates and more answers via our voter guide made in collaboration with the League of Women Voters of Minnesota.

 of Trump since aligning with him during his run for state House in 2018. 

 he agrees with the president’s policies regarding the economy, immigration and energy independence. 

does not support defunding police departments

 to law enforcement, including bans on chokeholds, creating a federal use of force standard and a national registry of police conduct.

Despite Smith’s repeated stated opposition to defunding police departments, Lewis maintains that’s what Smith wants to do. 

He does not support defunding police departments and 

 Minnesotans who live in the suburbs and in rural areas are worried that protest and property destruction in Minneapolis and St. Paul will come to their neighborhoods. 

COVID-19, jobs and public safety

Candidates disagree on COVID-19, other issues

Smith supports what she and others call  “

” gun reform measures. She has supported legislation that would ban people convicted of stalking from having firearms, expand background checks for  the purchase of all firearms and supported the 

Lewis prioritizes "preserving and protecting" Second Amendment rights. During his time as a congressman 

he pushed back on strengthening gun control laws

, those working in child care, and local governments -- during the pandemic. She supported the first 

blocked an additional coronavirus relief package

 proposed by Republicans, taking issue with provisions on school choice and corporate immunity from some lawsuits related to COVID-19.

Lewis has been critical of regulations meant to curb the spread of COVID-19 put in place by Gov. Tim Walz and 

, arguing that restrictions violate his ability to campaign.

Republicans rolled out a new pandemic relief bill; Democrats balked

. She opposes efforts to reduce funding to Medicaid or Medicare, though she does not advocate 

 lowering premiums, deductibles, and copays. Lewis 

 a “single-payer, government-driven system.” He also wants to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

 and supports job training and technical training as a viable alternative to a four-year degree from a university. She supports more funding for community and technical colleges and co-sponsored a bill to help college graduates refinance student loans.

Lewis also supports increased focus on technical education. He introduced an amendment that became law to require consideration of dual-enrollment efforts in career and technical education during a 

: She has worked on legislation to provide a path to citizenship 

 and was critical of the Trump administration’s lack of action to keep the Deferred Enforcement Departure program going. She is in support of “

fiscally efficient methods to secure our border

” and is critical of a lack of resources she says slows down the immigration system.

He supports the Mexico border wall and “

stopping this influx of illegal immigration

.” During a town hall earlier this year, Lewis supported Beltrami County’s 

She is pro-choice, has worked for Planned Parenthood and has made 

women’s health and child care assistance

 to ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy and to ban federal funding for abortion or health coverage including abortions. He has been 

endorsed by the group Minnesota Citizens Concerned for Life

 building a better medical supply chain in the U.S., providing more aid to families in need during the pandemic, increased worker training and green energy jobs. Closing the gender pay gap and providing better child care for workers are also on her list of priorities.

  and new precious metal mining as ways to create new jobs and strengthen Minnesota’s economy. As a member of Congress, he voted for the 

, legislative efforts to encourage conservation practices for farmers and introduced the 

 that establishes a federal clean energy standard.

He says that you can have a healthy environment while still operating “

reasonable mining and energy projects and logging

 to stop such projects in northern Minnesota. He supports classifying forest biomass as a renewable resource.

Smith wants to give additional support to small businesses and entrepreneurs. She also supports changing the tax code that benefits families over “

 in 2017. He also supports cutting taxes as a way to 

MPR News Staff

Author

Here’s what you need to know about where candidates running for Minnesota’s open U.S. Senate seat stand on the top issues.

Voter guide: Where the U.S. Senate candidates stand on the issues

Go Deeper.

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