Duf Sundheim
Republican | California
Candidate Profile
Moderate
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Duf Sundheim
Party
Republican
Election Year
2016
Election
Primary
Race
U.S. Senator
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, BA, 1975
Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, JD, 1980
WORK & MILITARY
GPS Mediation, APC, Principal, 2001-2016
CRAFT, CEO, 2007-2010
Doty, Sundheim, and Gilmore, APC, President, 1986-2001
Palo Alto Bar Association, President, 1991-1992
AFFILIATIONS
California GOP, Chairman, Republican National Committee
Member, LINC, Co-Founder
Northern California Lincoln Club, Chairman, Stanford Athletic Board
Member, Volunteers for Youth National Program, Member
UC Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies, Board Member, Californians for Pension Reform
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Chairman of the California GOP, 2003-2007
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
(Candidate did not provide)
Race
ENDORSEMENTS
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (6)
Secretary George Shultz
CEO John Chambers
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy
Congressman Ed Royce
Charles Schwab
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (7)
John Campbell
John Sidney McCain
Local, County, and District Republican Organizations
Mitch McConnell
Rob Portman
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)
Spirit of Democracy California
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
OTHER IMPORTANT ISSUES
Congress should repeal the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Agree
Human life begins at conception and deserves legal protection at every stage until natural death.
Neutral
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.
Agree
The U.S. military should wait for militant Islamic groups to directly threaten our national security on our shores, rather than eradicate them now wherever they may be worldwide.
Strongly Disagree
The United States must maintain a nuclear arsenal that is safe, reliable, modern and numerically superior to those of potential adversaries.
Agree
I support legislation such as the First Amendment Defense Act (FADA) that would prohibit discrimination against individuals, organizations and small businesses because of their belief that marriage is only a union of one man and one woman.
Neutral
The federal government should establish Common Core as a nationwide academic standard for high school graduation.
Strongly Disagree
I oppose the resettlement of Syrian refugees into the U.S. without proper vetting.
Strongly Agree
Current regulations on domestic oil exploration and drilling are more restrictive than are necessary.
Agree
It is the government’s responsibility to be sure everyone has health care and a livable income.
Disagree
Judeo-Christian values established a framework of morality which permitted our system of limited government.
Agree
More restrictive gun control laws are needed to protect public safety.
Disagree
The founders established pure democracy in the Constitution because they believed that it is the best form of government to ensure the safety and equitable treatment of all citizens.
Strongly Disagree
Free enterprise and the right to private property turn mankind's natural self-interest into the most productive economic system there is.
Agree
Governments should pay to develop wind and solar energy solutions until they are economically feasible.
Disagree
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States.
Agree
Governments should define marriage as between one man and one woman; no other definition of marriage should be legalized or supported with public funds.
Disagree
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Neutral
The United States should help defend Israel from attack by its enemies.
Strongly Agree
Planned Parenthood should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments.
Neutral
Marijuana should be legalized and regulated like tobacco and alcohol.
Disagree
Islamic law (Sharia) does not pose a threat to the United States and its Constitution.
Disagree
Based on the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution, please arrange the following entities, starting with the highest source of authority, and continue the list in descending order of authority, skipping any that do not apply: Academia, Congress, Constitution, God, Industry, Media, Professional Sports, Supreme Court, Voters.
God, Voters, Constitution, Congress, Supreme Court
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
My wife and I are pro-life. I have a brother with a disability, and the thought that he could have been aborted because he had a few numbers off in his DNA is something I cannot even imagine. However, my father died of Alzheimer's. My mom, sisters and I had to decide whether to terminate his life. As we all were crying, unsure of what to do, I found myself thinking "I do not want some government official deciding whether people in our situation made the right decision." So whether it is a difficult decision at the end of life or at the beginning of life, we have to have confidence that the people involved, in consultation with their medical and spiritual advisors, will make the right decision.
What in the nature of mankind caused America’s Founders to carefully define, separate, and limit powers in the Constitution?
John Locke, in defining the state of nature, made clear that the individual is free and independent. If the state of nature is free, then individuals have inherent natural rights. As Locke noted, we have a political obligation to protect life, liberty, and property, which in our Declaration of Independence became the pursuit of happiness. Our system respects the state of nature and preserves liberty.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
It is my rock. Around 1999 I took a class at the Pacific School of Religion. I was considering becoming a minister. The professor was Doug Adams. He encouraged me not to become a minister: "Given your gifts, if you really want your life to be about service and you have real courage, you should make politics your service." Every day when I get up and when I go to bed I read something to help me start and finish my day. It was given to me by Secretary George Shultz. Example: Tuesdays: Pick out one aspect of God, as you understand God, which means a great deal to you. Compliment God for that aspect. But the most important thing to me is to appreciate the gift of life every minute of every day. The morning sunrise, the interaction with the person that checks me out at the grocery store, my ability to communicate with my son who lives 2,000 miles away. The wife that has stood with me for over 32 years. I do my very best in each and every one of those situations.
Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which of these best describes you?
No Answer
Please defend your answer to the previous question by referencing your publicly available track record.
I strongly oppose this format. It is backward looking and forces me to put things in ways others think about them, but I do not. My life is based on the vision God has given me. But I want to start a dialogue - so I have filled these out. I am guided by the light I am provided. I understand that light may not be nearly as strong as others. I eagerly look to interact with you, to learn from you, to benefit from that interaction. But to make judgments of me or others based on answers to these questions, I find of limited value.
E-mail address and phone number for voters to reach you.
duf@sundheimforsenate.com
Additional comment from candidate:
My aspiration is to help other people achieve theirs. I believe I can do that best representing the people of California in the U.S. Senate. If that is not the case, I will still strive to help others. Thanks for all you do and I hope this is the start of a long and mutually beneficial relationship.
