Georgia Senate Candidates on the Issues

The election didn’t reveal a decisive winner for either Georgia Senate seat—which means that Tuesday’s runoff election will determine which party controls the U.S. Senate. (Georgia voters, find out more about how to vote in the runoff here.) 

In preparation for the runoff, the Campus Election Engagement Project—a nonpartisan organization working to help America’s 20 million college and university students vote—has compiled a voter’s guide to the contenders’ relevant stances. 

Here’s where the Georgia Senate candidates stand on the issues.


Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R) vs. Rev. Raphael Warnock (D)

image description: two images side by side, the first is of Kelly Loeffler seated with her hands clasped wearing a grey blazer, the second is of Raphael Warnock standing with his hands in the pockets of his jeans, in front of a grocery store produce section.
In one of two Georgia runoff elections on Jan. 5, Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler will face Democrat Rev. Raphael Warnock. (U.S. Department of Agriculture + Raphael Warnock / Flickr)

Immigration

Expand border walls? Reduce immigration?

Warnock (D)

No. Believes immigration is “desperately broken,” and cites Jesus as an “undocumented immigrant.”

Create path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented residents, including DACA participants, or “dreamers” brought to the U.S. as children?

Criminal Justice/Guns

Enact more restrictive legislation on guns?

Restrict police use of force and increase public oversight?

Economy/Labor

Tighten or loosen regulation of banks and credit card companies?

Warnock (D)

No public position on the topic of bank regulation.

Support “right to work” laws, barring unions from mandating dues?

Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?

Loeffler (R)

No public position found on raising the minimum wage.

Warnock (D)

Yes. $7.25 an hour “is not a living wage.” Will “fight to raise the minimum to a livable wage.”

Health Care

Support the Affordable Care Act (ACA), AKA Obamacare?

Civil Rights

Protect against discrimination based on sexual orientation?

Loeffler (R)

Not if it interferes with religious faith. “People of faith should be protected.” She also sponsored a bill that would essentially prohibit transgender girls from participating in athletics programs.

Support stricter ID requirements and other rules on voting?

Rule of Law

Stance on replacing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg before the November election? (See CEEP Supreme Court guide.)

Support calling witnesses and convicting Trump on impeachment charges?

War on Drugs

Marijuana — Legalize, or ban?

School and Student Support

Support public funding for private or for-profit schools?

Warnock (D)

No position found on school funding.

Support lower interest or forgiveness on student loans?


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Sen. David Perdue (R) vs. Jon Ossoff (D)

Image description: two pictures side by side, the first is of David Perdue speaking into a microphone, the second is of Jon Ossoff speaking at a podium. Georgia Residents: Everything You Need to Know to Vote in the January Runoff
On Jan. 5, Republican incumbent David Perdue will face Democratic candidate Jon Ossoff. (Gage Skidmore / Flickr, Jon Ossoff / Twitter)

COVID-19

Support administration’s response to coronavirus pandemic?

David Perdue (Rep., Incumbent)

Yes. Trump and Pence are “taking the coronavirus very seriously.”  “We’ve done everything we could.”

Jon Ossoff (Dem.)

No. Calls the Trump administration’s handling of the pandemic “gross incompetence.”

Approve of economic response to the coronavirus pandemic?

Immigration

Path to citizenship for DACA participants brought to U.S. as children? Position on expanding border walls and limiting legal immigration?

Economy/Labor

Tighten or loosen regulation of banks and credit card companies?

Perdue (R)

Loosen. Supports  “rollback of federal banking regulations.” Calls Consumer Financial Protection Bureau “rogue agency.”

Support “right to work” laws, barring unions from mandating dues for workers they represent?

Perdue (R)

Yes. Co-sponsored National Right-to-Work Act.

Ossoff (D)

No position found. Has been endorsed by United Auto Workers.

Raise federal hourly minimum wage above current $7.25?

Health Care

Support Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare?

Keep abortion legal, or ban it?

Allow Planned Parenthood to receive public funds for non-abortion-related health care?

Ossoff (D)

Yes.  Will defend Planned Parenthood’s “essential preventative and reproductive health care services.”

Civil Rights

Support gay marriage and other LGBTQ rights issues?

Perdue (R)

No. Sees marriage as “between one man and one woman.” In legalizing same-sex marriage, the Supreme Court “overstepped” its role.

Ossoff (D)

Yes. Supports LGBTQ Rights, and Equality Act against discrimination for gender or orientation.

Strict ID and other rules to combat possible fraud, even if limiting access?

Environment

Consider human-caused climate change a serious threat?

Tighten or loosen environmental regulations?

Address as a top priority by taxing or limiting output of greenhouse gases, supporting renewable energy?

Perdue (R)

Mostly no. Opposed Obama’s Clean Power Plan and limits on offshore drilling. Supports biomass investment.

Rule of Law

Pick Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s replacement before November election? (See CEEP Supreme Court guide.)

Support calling witnesses and convicting Trump on impeachment charges?

Limit campaign donations? Require political ads to disclose largest funders?

Perdue (R)

No position found on campaign donation regulations.

War on Drugs

Marijuana — Decriminalize or legalize?

School and Student Support

Support free or subsidized tuition for lower-income individuals?

Public funding for private or for-profit schools?

Perdue (R)

Yes. Supports “school choice,” including charter and private schools.

Ossoff (D)

No position found. Focuses on increasing teacher pay and strengthening public schools.

Foreign Policy

Oppose military attacks on Iran without congressional approval?

Perdue (R)

No. Opposed bill to require approval. Supported 2020 attack; “justice has been served.”

Ossoff (D)

No position found, although opposed Trump withdrawal from Iran nuclear treaty.

Support blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia?

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About

Oliver Haug is a social media editor and podcast producer with Ms. magazine. They are also a freelance journalist, focusing on LGBTQ+ issues and sexual politics. Their writing has previously appeared in Bitch Magazine, VICE, them.us, the New York Times' newsletter "The Edit," and elsewhere. You can read more of their work at oliverhaug.contently.com, and follow them on Twitter @cohaug.