Mike Rounds
Republican | South Dakota
Candidate Profile*
Conservative
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Mike Rounds
Party
Republican
Election Year
2020
Election
General
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
(Candidate did not provide)
WORK & MILITARY
(Candidate did not provide)
AFFILIATIONS
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
(Candidate did not provide)
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
Previous Races
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2017-18
100%
2019-20
100%
2020
100%
2017-18
100%, 100% (cum.)â€
2018
100%
2017-2018
100%
2019-20
100%
2020
A
2019-20
94%
2015-16
93%
2017-18
79%
2019
80%, 75% (cum.)â€
2017-18
67%
2019
52%, 59% (cum.)â€
2019
39%, 58% (cum.)â€
2019-20
66%, 57% (cum.)â€
2015-16
56%
2019-20
60%, 51% (cum.)â€
2019
46% (cum.)â€
2019
36%
2019
33% (cum.)â€
2019
D
2017-18
|100%
2019-20
|100%
2020
|100%
2017-18
|100%, 100% (cum.)â€
2018
|100%
2017-2018
|100%
2019-20
|100%
2019-20
|94%
2015-16
|93%
2017-18
|79%
2019
|80%, 75% (cum.)â€
2017-18
|67%
2019
|52%, 59% (cum.)â€
2019
|39%, 58% (cum.)â€
2019-20
|66%, 57% (cum.)â€
2015-16
|56%
2019-20
|60%, 51% (cum.)â€
2019
|46% (cum.)â€
2019
|36%
2019
|33% (cum.)â€
2019
|D
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2018
C
2018
33%
2019-20
17%
2019
15%
2019
33%, 13% (cum.)â€
2017
0%, 9% (cum.)â€
2017-18
9%
2017-18
7%
2017
0%, 4% (cum.)â€
2018
7%, 3% (cum.)â€
2017
0%
2017-18
0%
2017-18
0%
2017-18
0%
2019
0%
2017-18
0%
2018
0%
2019
0% (cum.)â€
2019
0%
2019
F
2017-18
0%
2018
|C
2019-20
|17%
2019
|15%
2019
|33%, 13% (cum.)â€
2017
|0%, 9% (cum.)â€
2017-18
|7%
2017
|0%, 4% (cum.)â€
2018
|7%, 3% (cum.)â€
2017
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2018
|0%
2019
|0% (cum.)â€
2019
|0%
2019
|F
2017-18
|0%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (5)
*Family Research Council Action PAC
Huck PAC
National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF
National Right To Life
Tea Party Express
OTHER (1)
*National Association of Home Builders
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (4)
John Thune (2006)
Mike Huckabee (2015)
State Republican Party Organizations (2017)
WinRed (2020)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (96)
21st Century Majority Fund (2019)
Alamo PAC (2014)
American Future Fund (2014)
American Legacy PAC (2014)
American Principles (2014)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (0)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (7)
Airline Pilots Association (2019)
American Wind Energy Association (2016)
International Association of Firefighters (includes national, state & local affiliates) (2019)
Larry Pressler (2020)
National Air Traffic Controllers Association (2020)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
"I believe that life begins at conception and all life has value."
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds does not support "South Dakota government funding [being] provided to clinics and medical facilities that provide abortion services".
I support the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act, which requires health care providers to provide life-saving treatment for infants who survive an attempted abortion.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds supports the Born Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act and says that "no baby that is born should ever be left to die".
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds supports legislation that bans abortion while only performing an abortion when "the procedure was necessary to save the woman's life".
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds does not support government control of healthcare, but believes that Obamacare "should be replaced with a market-based solution that keeps Americans in control of their health care".
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Did not answer
How would you guarantee Social Security benefits for future generations?
Did not answer
What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
"I support a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution requiring the government to balance its books. I also believe lawmakers should follow the law and pass an annual budget in an open and transparent amendment process."
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds supports taxpayer contribution in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness federal program.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Governments should not discriminate against individuals, organizations or small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds cosponsored the First Amendment Defense Act, which does not allow for the government to discriminate against individuals because of religious beliefs regarding marriage.
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
"Freedom to practice religion without the fear of persecution is a fundamental human right and a pillar of our form of government in the United States. Americans must continue fighting to protect religious freedom until it is recognized as a basic human right everywhere."
I promise to protect the freedom of Christians to share the Gospel and to practice Biblical principles.
Did not answer
What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Did not answer
HEALTHCARE
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has health insurance.
Did not answer
I support the elimination of private healthcare insurance.
Did not answer
How would you promote healthcare coverage that is adequate, affordable and accessible for all?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
"I'm working to find legislative approaches that incentivize [pharmaceutical] companies to lower their prices and produce safe, effective products while at the same time allow the U.S. to continue leading the way in research and development for new life-saving medicines. I cosponsored the CREATES Act again this Congress, bipartisan legislation that seeks to enhance competition in the prescription drug market by fast-tracking the approval process for generic drugs." Rounds has worked towards "addressing the rising costs of prescription drugs, incentivizing primary care and preventative care, and increasing transparency".
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds agrees with the "peace through strength" philosophy for the military.
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds supports Trump's decision to order airstrikes to kill Soleimani.
IMMIGRATION
I am in favor of construction of a wall and other necessary infrastructure on our border that gives complete control over entering and exiting the United States.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds helped to reintroduce the WALL Act, which would "fully fund the border wall along the southern border".
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds supports ICE.
State and federal funds should be denied to any public or private entity, including but not limited to sanctuary cities, that are not in compliance with immigration laws.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds supports legislation to "stop greenlighting driver licenses for illegal immigrants" which also includes blocking funds from sanctuary cities that do not enforce the law.
Employers should be required to use E-verify to confirm the eligibility of their employees to work in the United States.
Did not answer
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
Did not answer
EDUCATION
Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.
Did not answer
VALUES
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.
Did not answer
I support adding sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression as protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Did not answer
ABOUT YOU
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and immigration, which of the following best describes you overall?
Did not answer
Please provide publicly available information validating your answer to the previous question.
Did not answer
Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.
Did not answer
Is there anything else you would like voters to know about you?
Did not answer
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Mandatory minimum sentencing should be required and enforced for violent crimes.
Did not answer
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
"I am a strong supporter of second amendment rights with a proven record of standing up for gun owners. I'm against any additional regulations that restrict individual, law-abiding citizens from owning and using firearms."
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
I support BDS (boycott, divestment, and sanction) against Israel if they refuse to allow the creation of a Palestinian state.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds does not support BDS.
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Rounds does not support legalizing marijuana for recreational use.
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Did not answer
The Electoral College should be abolished.
Did not answer
In priority order, what three areas of legislation do you propose to author or sponsor if elected?
Did not answer
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Did not answer
