Beto O'Rourke (D)

Pro
Should Universal Background Checks for Gun Purchases Be Made Law?

"We need universal background checks in this country. No more loopholes, no more exceptions. This is common sense, supported by most Americans, and will save lives in our communities."

Pro
Should Recreational Marijuana Be Legal Federally?

"Even as marijuana has been legalized in states across our country, inequities have persisted—as white communities have benefited from new business opportunities, while communities of color still face over-policing and criminalization...

Our plan starts with: Legalizing marijuana, providing clemency for those currently serving time, and expunging the records of everyone who has been convicted for possession in the past. But we don't stop there. We will also invest in the communities that have long been most impacted by the War on Drugs—providing a 'Drug War Justice Grant' to everyone who was formerly incarcerated for a nonviolent marijuana offense, funded entirely by a tax on the marijuana industry."

Pro
Should Federal Taxes Be Increased?

"I think you at a minimum roll back the worst elements of the Trump tax cuts. So the top marginal tax rate back up to 39%.

If you were to do that, and in addition make some other structural changes to our tax code — the corporate tax rate, which was brought down from 35% to 21%, bring that back up to 28% — great place to start. And as you probably know, you generate hundreds of billions of dollars over the next 10 years. If you were to tax capital at the same rate that you tax ordinary wage income, like the waiters who are working here, you also get to some greater structural correction to a very unequal economy, and you generate the revenue necessary."

Pro
Should the Federal Minimum Wage Be Increased?

"Ten years ago today, the federal minimum wage was increased to $7.25. Since then, it has gone up $0.00. We need to win the #FightFor15 [$15/hr minimum wage] and ensure every working American is paid a living wage because one job should be enough in this country."

Pro
Should Public College Be Tuition-Free?

“I support free two-year college, earn that associate's degree, realize your full potential, debt-free four-year college. But unlike some of the other candidates on the stage, that's not just for tuition. That is room and books and board, the full cost of being able to better yourself so that you can better this country, and then for that schoolteacher who, in many places like Texas, is working a second or a third job, full forgiveness for her outstanding student loan debt, forgiveness for that person willing to work at the V.A. and serve our former service members.”

Pro
Should Election Day Be a National Holiday?

"Invest in Human-Centered Voter Design that expands vote-by-mail and early voting and makes National Voting Day a national holiday."

Pro
Should the US Abolish the Electoral College?

"Yes, let's abolish the Electoral College... This is one of those bad compromises we made at day one in this country... If we got rid of the electoral college, we get a little bit closer to one person, one vote in the United States of America... If there were no Electoral College, or we were to reform the Electoral College so each state awarded its electors proportionate to the popular vote, you'd have to have every presidential candidate showing up to every state to listen to, talk with, and learn from everyone."

Pro
Should the US Adopt a Climate Change Plan such as the Green New Deal?

"To have any chance at limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 °C and preventing the worst effects of climate change, the latest science demands net-zero emissions by 2050. By investing in infrastructure, innovation, and in our people and communities, we can achieve this ambition, which is in line with the 2050 emissions goal of the Green New Deal, in a way that grows our economy and shrinks our inequality.

We cannot afford to delay any longer. That is why our ambition must be backed up by a legally enforceable standard that holds us accountable to future generations."

Pro
Should the US Re-Enter a Nuclear Deal with Iran?

"Yes, as President, I will rejoin the JCPOA [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action aka Iran Nuclear Deal], conditioned on Iran's compliance with its commitments under the agreement. President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the JCPOA was short-sighted, reckless, and against the recommendations of both the U.S. and Israeli intelligence communities. The nuclear agreement was not perfect—no negotiated agreement can be—but it significantly advanced American interests and was succeeding in blocking Iran’s pathway to achieving nuclear capability. Moreover, our sudden withdrawal has made the United States and our allies less safe and weakened our credibility as a good-faith negotiator for subsequent dealings with Iran and other regimes.

As President, I will reverse these policies."

Pro
Should Abortion Be Legal?

"Beto is committed to appointing judges who respect Roe v. Wade as the settled law of the land and recognize that a woman’s right to make her own decisions about her own body is squarely grounded in the foundational constitutional principles of liberty and privacy...

Beto would work with Congress to... [a]ffirm a woman’s constitutional right to choose under Roe v. Wade and preempt state and local laws banning abortion prior to viability...

Create a universal health care system that includes coverage for the full spectrum of reproductive healthcare, including access to contraception and abortion."

Pro
Should the US Switch to a Medicare-for-All Healthcare System?

“The middle class will not pay more in taxes in order to ensure that every American is guaranteed world-class health care. I think we're being offered a false choice, some who want to improve the Affordable Care Act at the margins, others who want a Medicare for All program that will force people off of private insurance, I have a better path.

Medicare for America. Everyone who is uninsured is enrolled in Medicare tomorrow. Those who are insufficiently insured are enrolled in Medicare...

Our plan ensures that everyone is enrolled in Medicare or can keep their employer-sponsored insurance. When we listen to the American people -- and this is what they want us to do -- they want everyone covered, but they want to be able to maintain choice.”

Pro
Should LGBTQ+ People Have Protection from Being Fired for Being LGBTQ+?

"Members of the LGBTQ+ community still lack comprehensive legal protections, and they face risks to their safety and security every day—in school, at work, and in their communities. Today, in more states than not, you can marry the person you love on a Saturday and risk losing your job for it by Monday morning with no protection under state law.

To protect all LGBTQ+ people, Beto will work with Congress to:

Pass the Equality Act, which would ensure all LGBTQ+ people may fully participate in public life without discrimination in employment, housing, and access to public spaces and services, such as retail stores and banking services."

Pro
Should Transgender People Be Allowed to Serve in the US Military?

"LGBTQ+ troops have served our country since its inception. If elected to serve as Commander in Chief, Beto will celebrate their sacrifice, and make certain LGBTQ+ troops and veterans and their families are granted the dignity of their service. He will do this by:

Overturning Trump’s discriminatory transgender troop ban, including all resulting discharges, ending the 'Deploy or Get Out' policy, and banning the practice of discharging HIV+ servicemembers; and

Directing the Department of Defense to upgrade the service records of openly LGBTQ+ veterans discharged due to their sexual orientation, gender identity, and sex characteristics who wish to receive an upgrade."