Jim Gilmore
Historical Details
Position on Issues
Against| Read My Position
"I'm against Common Core and I feel very strongly about it. And the reason is that I had the experience with this. I know what this is really about. Education is absolutely a local function. That's where the parents and the teachers know what the demographics of their kids are like and can tailor the education in the best possible way to their kids."
Against| Read My Position
"In Virginia we have a balanced budget amendment. ... I'm skeptical, frankly, of a Balanced Budget Amendment. I think we probably ought to be in a position where we can get our legislators to begin to make some decisions about what's vital and what's not vital, if we have a sense of direction. And you know what I'd rather do? I'd rather grow this economy."
For| Read My Position
"I'm not a legalization guy. I think that it's not a substance, it's a lifestyle, and a quality of life and approach that I'm afraid I can't adhere to. I understand that some people are able to use marijuana in a recreational way and it probably doesn't hurt society, but at the end of the day, I don't believe we ought to be legalizing and putting the legitimacy of the state on to substance abuse. I just don't believe it."
Other| Read My Position
At a 2015 Presidential debate Gilmore said, "I have proposed there be a Middle East NATO so that we can combine our allies there to stand up to Iranian expansion, and at the same time join together to begin to stop and this ISIL thing before it becomes an actual state."
Undecided| Read My Position
Supports increased spending on national defense
For| Read My Position
"We have to be prepared to drill in ANWR. We have to be prepared to drill offshore. And oil prices will go down if the United States has a decisive energy policy."
Other| Read My Position
Gilmore has not specifically addressed the privatization of VA services. However, he supports new management in the VA and increased funding and recruitment of VA psychologists.
For| Read My Position
Q: "Between the beginning and eight weeks, abortion would be OK if necessary?"
A: "Not OK, but the question is, should the law prohibit it at that point? And I've never taken that position. On the other hand, my record has governor of Virginia with the pro-life movement has been very strong. We passed a 24-hour waiting period, parental notification, & informed consent. I signed the partial-birth abortion ban. And I think I have furthered our pro-life movement very substantially, even though not everybody would agree with every nuance of my position."
For| Read My Position
Other, 2000
As Governor of Virginina, Gilmore declined a request to declare a moratorium on executions in Virginia.
For| Read My Position
Generally supports NSA domestic surveillance and mass data collection for the purpose of national security
For| Read My Position
"If I were the President I would eliminate that approach. I'm not against health care, but I would not be in favor of the Obamacare approach. I believe we are doing better whenwe liberated businesses to offer these programs to the private sector."
For| Read My Position
In 1999 Gov. Gilmore tried to launch a voter ID program in Virginia, but Democrats blocked the program.
Other| Read My Position
"I believe that at the national level we can make a commitment to higher education. Not usurp the states. We can use that bully pulpit to make it clear that this is a crisis and it must be addressed. This high expenditure without any type of oversight or accountability. The increase of administrators and not teachers. The expenses that are being loaded onto students. The increased debt is a national crisis. And I believe it can be addressed from Washington somewhat by leadership and working with the governors in order to address this problem nationwide."
