Tina Smith
Democrat | Minnesota
Candidate Profile*
Verified Liberal
*Additional information appears below for educational purposes; however, only data received prior to the candidate deadline was considered during Panel Evaluation.
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Tina Smith
Party
Democrat
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
2020
33%
2017-18
25%, 25% (cum.)†
2019
24% (cum.)†
2019-20
30%, 14% (cum.)†
2017-18
6%
2018
5%, 5% (cum.)†
2019
4% (cum.)†
2019
0%, 3% (cum.)†
2019-20
0%, 3% (cum.)†
2019
0%, 1% (cum.)†
2019-20
0%
2017-18
0%
2019-20
0%
2019
0%
2018
0%
2017-2018
0%
2019-20
0%
2019
F
2020
F
2020
|33%
2017-18
|25%, 25% (cum.)†
2019
|24% (cum.)†
2019-20
|30%, 14% (cum.)†
2017-18
|6%
2018
|5%, 5% (cum.)†
2019
|4% (cum.)†
2019
|0%, 3% (cum.)†
2019-20
|0%, 3% (cum.)†
2019
|0%, 1% (cum.)†
2019-20
|0%
2017-18
|0%
2019-20
|0%
2019
|0%
2018
|0%
2017-2018
|0%
2019-20
|0%
2019
|F
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2019
100%, 100% (cum.)†
2017-18
100%
2018
100%, 100% (cum.)†
2019
100%
2018
100%
2018
A
2019
100% (cum.)†
2019
100%
2019
A
2017-18
100%
2017-18
93%
2019-20
75%
2019
75%
2017-18
67%
2018
50%
2019
|100%, 100% (cum.)†
2017-18
|100%
2018
|100%, 100% (cum.)†
2018
|A
2019
|100% (cum.)†
2019
|100%
2019
|A
2017-18
|100%
2017-18
|93%
2019-20
|75%
2019
|75%
2017-18
|67%
2018
|50%
ENDORSEMENTS*
*These endorsements were received after the deadline and were not considered in the Panel Evaluations and are for additional educational purposes only.
LIBERAL (34)
American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 65
American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees Minnesota Council 5
*Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI) Victory Fund
*Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence
*Brady PAC
OTHER (3)
Minnesota Farm Bureau PAC
Pro-Israel America
Teamsters Joint Council 32
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (31)
ActBlue (2020)
Al Franken (2014)
Alan Franken (2015)
Amy Klobuchar (2016)
Angie Craig (2018)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (160)
2020 Senate Impact (2019)
A New Direction PAC (2020)
ActBlue (2020)
Airline Pilots Association (2019)
Alexander Soros (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:
On Feb. 25, Senator Tina Smith voted to successfully block the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act to protect newborn babies who survive abortion. She said medical care for a baby that survived an abortion would be "inappropriate". "I believe strongly that the government has no business interfering in a woman's medical decisions Smith also lobbied against Minnesota's Woman's Right to Know law, which ensures informed consent prior to abortion, and Minnesota's Positive Alternatives program, which empowers women who want to keep their babies by providing support and alternatives."
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds or grants from federal, state, or local governments.
Did not answer
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
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
Did not answer
ECONOMY
It is the government’s responsibility to ensure everyone has a livable income.
Did not answer
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
She is opposed to building the Enbridge pipeline due to climate and clean energy concerns.
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
Under what circumstances should taxpayers help pay off existing student loans?
Did not answer
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:
Candidate’s position on this issue could not be determined by iVoterGuide research staff.
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Did not answer
iVoterGuide Notes:
Smith opposed a 2020 rule proposed by HHS that would expand federally funded discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community, women, the non-religious, and religious minorities. The rule would eliminate protections that are vital to ensuring all eligible people—regardless of sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, or religious affiliation—can receive vital health services and employment opportunities from “faith-based” providers funded by taxpayers. In addition to HHS, in January, seven other federal agencies released similar proposed rules that would leave underserved and underrepresented communities at risk of losing access to vital taxpayer funded services.
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
iVoterGuide Notes:
"Health care is a basic human right." Candidate website, October 5, 2020.
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
NATIONAL SECURITY
The best way to maintain peace is through a strong military.
Did not answer
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of radical Islamic terrorism?
Did not answer
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
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) should be abolished.
Did not answer
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:
She is against defunding sanctuary cities.
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
iVoterGuide Notes:
"Tina believes we’ve also got to make sure that people pursuing four-year degrees don’t graduate with piles of debt. Tina co-sponsored a bill with Senator Elizabeth Warren to help millions of Americans refinance their student debt and also co-sponsors bipartisan legislation that makes sure students know the true cost of their education before they take out a loan." Candidate website, October 5, 2020.
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
iVoterGuide Notes:
Smith supports the Equality Act, which would make it illegal to discriminate against someone for being LGBTQ+. She is also a cosponsor of the Student Non-Discrimination Act that would help to prevent discrimination and bullying of students. "The Supreme Court’s landmark decision that ruled Title VII of the Civil Rights Act does protect LGBTQ+ people from discrimination in the workplace is a tremendous victory — but there is still so much work to be done for the LGBTQ+ community to have complete equality under the law. Still today, Americans can be denied health care coverage because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. We can’t stop fighting for protection from discrimination."
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
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:
"Tina supports passing common-sense laws that keep guns out of the hands of criminals and dangerous individuals." (votesmart.org)
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
I support the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Did not answer
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
