Tulsi Gabbard (D)

Con
Should the Death Penalty Be Allowed?

"Executing even one prisoner in error is too great a risk. We must end the death penalty now. As President I will work for comprehensive criminal justice reform including abolishing the federal death penalty."

Con
Should the Use of Private Prisons Continue?

"For-profit prisons are a multi-billion dollar industry. Government agencies spend $80 billion a year on incarceration, and more than half of it goes to for-profit contractors. When we have a market incentive that encourages private companies to profit from incarceration, keeping those cells occupied, creating the largest prison population in the world, something is terribly wrong.

As President, I will end this corruption, get rid of private prisons and work to fundamentally transform our prison system."

Con
Should 2020 Presidential Election Candidates Accept Support from Super PACs?

"The disproportionate power of moneyed interests to influence public policy and election outcomes is deeply concerning. The high cost of campaigns and the perception that elected officials are beholden to special interests undermines the electoral process and contributes to public cynicism. Tulsi is committed to leveling the playing field so that the voices of all Americans are heard...

Tulsi has cosponsored legislation like the Government By the People Act, to promote citizen-led, grassroots-funded campaigns. To encourage the participation of more Americans, the bill would provide a $25 refundable tax credit for participating in the funding of campaigns. It would also match contributions up to $150 at a six to one ratio to boost the power of small donations, and establish a Freedom from Influence Matching Fund (FIMF) program.

Tulsi is working to stop Super PACs from dominating our elections and drown out the voices of voters. She is continuing to work to overturn Citizens United and curtail the unlimited flow of 'big' money from Super PACs that degrades the integrity of our democracy and distorts our electoral process."

Con
Should Voters Be Required to Show Photo Identification in Order to Vote?

Con
Should the US Expand Fossil Fuel Extraction on Public Land?

Con
Should Fracking Be Allowed?

“We need to invest in 100% renewable and safe energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal. I also support a ban on fracking, ending the $26 billion/year in fossil fuel subsidies, as well as all subsidies or waivers to the nuclear power industry, which should itself be completely responsible for paying for its own insurance and paying the long term cost for safe storage of nuclear waste over centuries. I will also work to provide other incentives for a renewable energy economy.”

Con
Should the US Expand Its Use of Nuclear Power?

"I support the carbon neutrality goals of the Green New Deal and the awareness it has brought across the country on the critical issues of energy independence and the climate crisis, however, I do not support 'leaving the door open' to nuclear power unless and until there is a permanent solution to the problem of nuclear waste. I believe we need to invest in 100% renewable and safe energy sources like wind, solar, and geothermal."

Con
Should the Tariffs Imposed on China by President Trump Be Maintained?

"Dana Bash [debate moderator]: So to be clear, congresswoman, would you keep President Trump's tariffs on China in place?

Tulsi Gabbard: I would not, because the approach that President Trump has taken has been extremely volatile without any clear strategic plan and it has a ravaging and devastating effect on our domestic manufacturers, on our farmers, who are already struggling and now failing to see the light of day because of the plan that Trump has taken."

Con
Does the US Need to Increase the Military Budget to Improve National Security?

"The defense budget has spiraled out of control. I will end wasteful regime change wars that cost taxpayers billions of dollars every month & work to end the new cold war & arms race. I will invest in our national security, take care of our troops, ensuring their readiness. I will maintain our strong military, national security, & make significant cuts so we can redirect those dollars to serve the needs of our people here at home."

Con
Should the US Have Withdrawn Troops from Northern Syria in Oct. 2019?

"Donald Trump is not removing our troops from Syria. He's just moving them from the northern Syrian border, allowing Turkey to invade Syria & slaughter the Kurds. He lied to the Kurds, promising them our support while simultaneously preventing them from reconciling with the Syrian government and coordinating a common defense against the Turkish invasion. So basically in short, the impending slaughter & ethnic cleansing of the Kurds in Northern Syria by Turkey is happening because Trump refuses to end our efforts to overthrow the Syrian government. The Kurds are just another casualty of this regime change war which is supported by war-mongering Republicans, Democrats, and the corporate media."

Con
Should the US End the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Policy?

“We need comprehensive immigration reform to address our broken immigration laws and we need to have a serious conversation about the most effective and humane ways to compassionately secure our borders while building bridges and cooperative foreign policy with other countries. We need to ensure we have a clear, enforceable, accessible, and humane pathway to citizenship. Most urgently, we must pass DACA to ensure children who know no other home are allowed to remain in the US and take steps to ensure children are not separated from their parents. We must fund and equip agencies in charge of processing asylum claim and protect migrants, many of whom are women and children, who are going through our asylum process and fleeing natural disasters, religious persecution, or violence under an asylum status.”

Con
Should Immigrants Who Entered the US Illegally Be Denied a Path to Citizenship?

“We need comprehensive immigration reform to address our broken immigration laws and we need to have a serious conversation about the most effective and humane ways to compassionately secure our borders while building bridges and cooperative foreign policy with other countries. We need to ensure we have a clear, enforceable, accessible, and humane pathway to citizenship. Most urgently, we must pass DACA to ensure children who know no other home are allowed to remain in the US and take steps to ensure children are not separated from their parents. We must fund and equip agencies in charge of processing asylum claim and protect migrants, many of whom are women and children, who are going through our asylum process and fleeing natural disasters, religious persecution, or violence under an asylum status.”