2020 Federal Candidate Survey
Each election year Citizens Count sends an issue survey to every candidate for state and federal office in New Hampshire. We make every attempt to contact candidates by snail-mail, email, and phone. Candidate survey responses are the primary source for issue positions shown on the Citizens Count website. If a candidate does not respond to the Citizens Count survey, staff will search for candidate issue positions published in newspapers, posted on Facebook, etc.
The issues included in the survey are selected based on input from our online community, consultation with partners, and a review of legislation and candidate platforms. The list below shows questions included on the 2020 survey sent to candidates for U.S. representative, U.S. senator, and president.
Marijuana legalization across U.S.
Should the government legalize marijuana at the federal level?
"Military-style" firearms ban
Should the federal government ban certain "military-style" firearms, such as the AR-15?
Federal oversight of state and local police
Higher tariffs
Do you generally support higher tariffs on imports from countries such as China, where we have a large trade deficit?
Federal minimum wage increase
Should the federal government raise the minimum wage?
Higher federal tax rate for higher income
Should higher income brackets pay more in federal taxes than they currently do?
Increase federal transportation infrastructure funding
Should the federal government increase funding for transportation infrastructure, such as road repair and highway expansion?
Raise social security retirement age
Should the federal government reform Social Security by raising the retirement age from today's age of 67?
Privatize social security
Should the federal government privatize some or all of Social Security?
Means testing for social security
Should the federal government reform Social Security by requiring means testing?
Raise income cap for social security tax
Should the federal government reform social security by raising the cap on income subject to the Social Security tax?
Block grant for Medicaid
Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by giving states a fixed block grant for Medicaid?
Eliminate "essential health benefits"
Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by eliminating the "essential health benefits" insurance plans must cover?
Repeal Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" employer tax penalty
Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by repealing the tax penalty for employers who do not offer health insurance?
Medicare for All, opt-in
Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by allowing citizens to opt into Medicare if they so choose?
Medicare for All, automatic enrollment
Should the federal government amend the Affordable Care Act/"Obamacare" by automatically enrolling every citizen in Medicare, replacing most private insurance?
Federal right to abortion
Should the federal government pass a law guaranteeing the right to an abortion as decided in Roe v. Wade?
Federal abortion ban after 24 weeks
Federal power over states closing/reopening
Student loan payments by income
Should the federal government allow student loan payments to be reduced based on income?
Free tuition at public colleges
Should the federal government provide free tuition at public colleges and universities?
Citizenship for child illegal/undocumented immigrants
Should Congress create a path to citizenship for illegal/undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children?
Mexican border wall
Should the U.S. build a physical wall between Mexico and the U.S.?
Tax carbon emissions
Should the federal government tax carbon emissions?
Federal subsidies for renewable energy
Should the federal government do more to combat climate change by providing subsidies for renewable energy?
Federal subsidies for energy efficiency
Should the federal government do more to combat climate change by providing subsidies for energy efficiency?
Federal funding for climate research
Should the federal government do more to combat climate change by increasing funding for research on climate issues?
