Jim Runestad

Republican | Michigan

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

Jim Runestad


Party

Republican


Election Year

2022


Election

General


Race

State Senator, Dist. 23


Incumbent

Yes


Links

Jim Runestad websites FacebookX

EDUCATION

Central Michigan University, Mt Pleasant, Mi, Bs in Education, 1984

Mott CC, Flint mi, Asso. Degree, 1981

Goodrich High School, Goodrich, MI; Graduated 1978, Goodrich mi, HS diploma

WORK & MILITARY

(Candidate did not provide)

AFFILIATIONS

Meals on Wheels, Driver, Family Rights Coalition of Michigan

Member/volunteer, Michigan Association of Counties Judicial Commit, Volunteer

Highland-White Lake Business Association, Member, White Lake Tree Lighting ceremony

co-chair, Huron Valley Chamber of Commerce, Member

North Oakland Republican club, Past President, “The Michigan Conservative Banner

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Oakland county commissioner, 5 1/2

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

(Candidate did not provide)

Race

Previous Races

ENDORSEMENTS*

*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
CONSERVATIVE (7)

*National Rifle Association (NRA) PVF

Right to Life of Michigan

Citizens for Traditional Values-Michigan

*Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners

*National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Michigan

OTHER (11)

MS Manufacturers Association PAC (MMA-PAC)

Great Lakes Education Project

Michigan Farm Bureau AgriPAC

Police Officers Association of Michigan

Michigan Health Choice Alliance

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS

CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (9)

David Staudt (2019)

Eileen Kowall (2020)

Jim Tedder (2014)

John Reilly (2017)

Local, County, and District Republican Organizations (2012)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (50)

Advancing Michigan (2020)

Anthony Bartolotta (2018)

Bill Schuette (2015)

Bizon Majority Fund (2019)

Brandenburg Liberty PAC (2019)


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)

Senate Majority PAC (2020)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (9)

American Association for Justice (2019)

American Federation of Teachers (2018)

American Nurses Association (2019)

Christina O'Brien (2020)

Jones Majority Fund (2017)

OTHER INFORMATION

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?

Abortion should not be allowed in Michigan, with the sole exception being the very rare case where the mother's life is in danger.

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Agree

I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.

Strongly Disagree


iVoterGuide Notes:

Candidate notified iVoterGuide.com that his answer should have included:  "I do have exceptions on the assisted suicide."


ECONOMY

What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?

Taxes should be cut across the board for families and Michigan's businesses

What government spending would you reduce in order to balance the budget?

Cut spending across the board, but limits on executive spending on commissions and committees

Taxpayer-funded public education should be guaranteed through college.

Strongly Disagree


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Disagree

Under what circumstances can government close churches?

None


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D)Tax-payer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be de-funded.

Did not answer

Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?

None


NATIONAL SECURITY

What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?

Did not answer

I support the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions (BDS) movement to pressure Israel to withdraw from occupied territories, remove the separation barrier in the West Bank, allow full equality for Arab-Palestinian citizens of Israel, and promote the rights of Palestinian refugees.

Did not answer


IMMIGRATION

The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.

Strongly Agree

Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?

Those looking to immigrate should go through the current process defined under federal law,


EDUCATION

I support school choice, including voucher programs, tax credits, charter schools, private schools, and home schools.

Strongly Agree


VALUES

Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which is necessary for our system of limited government.

Agree

I support adding gender identity as a specially protected class in non-discrimination laws.

Choose not to answer

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition

Choose not to answer

I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.

Strongly Disagree

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

Christian, Love your neighbor as yourself.


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Strongly Disagree

What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?

Requiring ID and signature verifications under current law. Requiring a more transparent election process.


EQUALITY

Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?

Did not answer

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Strongly Disagree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Which comes closest to your view? A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost.

Did not answer

I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.

Choose not to answer

Michigan geography has not produced economic benefits, however it has worked in other states.


ABOUT YOU

What do you think is the general purpose of government?

To secure the rights of the people and protect them from foreign and domestic adversaries.

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Very Conservative

Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).

I've always been ranked as the most conservative senator in Michigan.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony or been penalized in either civil or criminal court for sexual misconduct? If so, please explain.

No

What else would you like voters to know about you, including your legislative priorities?

I'm fighting for the people's rights for due process, transparency and fairness in the judicial system. I want to support our wonderful Michigan working families.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.

Choose not to answer

I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.

Strongly Disagree


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

None


iVoterGuide Notes:

The candidate notified iVoterGuide.com that his comment should have included: " I believe felon should be limited from having firearms."

Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.

Strongly Disagree

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