Christopher Constant
Democrat | Alaska
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Christopher Constant
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2022
Election
Special Primary - U.S. House At Large
Race
U.S. House (Unexpired term)
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, Bachelor's of English, 2017
WORK & MILITARY
Candidate did not provide
AFFILIATIONS
Candidate did not provide
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Fairview Community Council, 2008-2017
Anchorage, 2017-2022
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
U.S. Congress, 2022
Race
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (5)
ActBlue (2022)
Brian Sims (2021)
Elvi Gray-Jackson (2022)
Forrest Dunbar (2014)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (6)
ActBlue (2022)
Cliff Groh (2022)
Elvi Gray-Jackson (2022)
Mark Begich (2022)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2022)
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
Planned Parenthood is a healthcare provider to many people, especially those with low income and little opportunity for primary care. Healthcare is a right.
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Agree
Healthcare decisions, even such grave choices as this, should be help sacred between the individual, their family, and their healthcare provider.
Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?
I believe abortion should be decided by a woman, based on information provided by a doctor. I strongly support women's rights to bodily autonomy, and believe reproductive health care services, including abortion, should be readily available. I support the circumstances outlined in Roe v. Wade, and believe a third-term abortion should be allowed if deemed necessary by a doctor. The recently leaked draft opinion from the U.S. Supreme Court, which would overturn Roe v. Wade, is an absolutely egregious attack on women's rights, and lays the foundation for further degradation of our rights.
ECONOMY
Redistribution of income is needed to lessen the gap between the wealthy and working classes.
Agree
I believe in anti-trust laws and a fair opportunity for people to achieve the American Dream. Centuries of income inequality has led to a wealth gap that is too large for income equality to address. A very small number of Americans have amassed absurd wealth, and with it power. This is an imbalance that benefits very few individuals.
The government should cut spending in order to reduce the national debt.
Agree
I believe our national debt should be lower, and do support some spending cuts. I believe we spend an inordinate amount on our military. However, I don't think spending cuts are the only way to reduce the national debt, and believe a reform of our tax code to eliminate loopholes and more fairly tax the ultra wealthy would have a significant impact. Further, I support increased enforcement of tax paying.
What changes, if any, should be made to the tax code?
I believe the tax code should be reformed to limit loopholes for corporations and the ultra wealthy. I support an inheritance tax and an increase to the estate tax. I support lower taxes on people making less than $250,000, and an increase on the top 1%.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Religious liberty is at risk in the United States and deserves the highest level of protection in the law.
Strongly Disagree
It is not our religious liberty that is under attack, it's our liberty to make choices for our own bodies, our liberty to vote, and our liberty to choose who we can love and marry.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Agree
Businesses should not be allowed to discriminate against people for their age, sex, race, religion, gender identity, or sexual orientation. "We do not serve your kind here" is a value that died at the end of the Jim Crow era and should not be resurrected under the guise of religious liberty.
What should be the relationship between the church and the state?
Church and state should remain separate. We are a secular nation, and the degradation of the separation of church and state is an infringement on our liberty to practice whatever religion we want.
HEALTHCARE
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
I support vaccinations and believe the pathway to widespread immunization is through education rather than government mandates. Government mandates are viewed as overreach by many Americans, and can have the unintended consequence of fueling and growing the anti-vaccine movement. I support limited exemptions for mandatory vaccines in schools and for government employees. I believe private employers have the right to mandate their employees or customers are vaccinated.
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.
I believe in the option for universal health care for all Americans. I do not believe it is required to end private health care options. The private health care industry is flawed to the point that it would not be competitive with a public option, if the public option was designed effectively. Medicare for all is a great slogan, but the program has significant issues and would not provide sufficient coverage for all Americans. I do, however, support a form of universal health care that ensures everyone has access to affordable coverage, no one is forced to stay at a job for health care coverage, and medical bankruptcy is ended.
NATIONAL SECURITY
With regard to America's foreign policy, which view most closely resembles yours: A) The United States should intervene whenever freedom is threatened. B) The United States should selectively help countries trying to grow democracy and fight tyranny. C) The United States has become too involved in others' policies and should remain focused on issues regarding our own sovereignty unless in imminent danger. D) The United States should stay out of foreign conflicts completely.
Option B most closely aligns with my views. We live in a global society where foreign policy cannot be rooted in the belief that America exists in a vacuum. Russia's war in Ukraine is a great example of how actions of another country can impact the entire world, and therefore some level of intervention is necessary. I do not support nation building, I do not support wars to gain access to resources and in general believe any military involvement requires extensive, thoughtful analysis and consideration.
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.
Disagree
I was recently asked "Are you K Street or J Street?" I do not support completely either wing of this enduring argument. I am not supportive of boycotting Israel, but I do have grave concerns over the treatment of Palestinian refugees and support a solution that provides equality for everyone in Israel.
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Agree
What should the United States do to help eradicate the threat of Islamic terrorism?
We should build bridges of friendship where we can.
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Strongly Disagree
I do not believe border fences and the historical enforcement are effective, and believe both measures are trauma-inducing. I support a pathway to citizenship and a reform of our immigration policy.
State and federal funds shall be denied to any public or private entity, such as a sanctuary city, that is not in compliance with immigration laws.
Strongly Disagree
I do not agree that a public or private entity should be punished for providing care and support to undocumented immigrants. No person is illegal. We have to maintain our humanity as we address immigration conflicts.
Who should be allowed to immigrate to the U.S. and under what circumstances?
I do not believe our government can support fully open borders, and we do need an immigration process. However, I believe we are a nation founded on immigration and that our immigration system is in dire need of reform. I support an increasingly diverse nation that supports and appreciates the range of cultures within our communities. I serve a district that has two of the most diverse census tracts in the nation.
VALUES
Sexual orientation and gender identity should be protected classes in non-discrimination laws.
Strongly Agree
As the first openly LGBTQ+ candidate for statewide office in Alaska's history, I understand the importance of breaking barriers for my community. I have experienced discrimination throughout my life. As an elected official, the discrimination I experience is often public. It is critical we protect our community members from hate.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Agree
The historic racism of our institutions is extremely well documented, from red-lining to withholding the G.I. bill to veterans of color, to teaching our children a white-washed history that glamorizes colonialism. If we don't reckon with our mistakes and systemic failures, we cannot provide a brighter future. This is not to say all institutions are fundamentally racist, or to ignore progress that has been made over decades. And CRT is simply the modern bogeyman of the extreme right wing.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
My spiritual beliefs and values are deeply personal.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
We cannot disenfranchise U.S. citizens from our democracy.
What laws would you propose to change present voting practices?
I support national adoption of vote-by-mail, with in-person voting centers also being open. I support an opt-out policy for voter registration, rather than opt-in. I support making election day a federal holiday to provide access to polling centers. I oppose the new wave of laws that discourage voter participation and outright target minorities and low-income communities.
EQUALITY
Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.
Agree
The fact is, white people historically were provided opportunities that people of color were not. Those opportunities, including being given land, resulted in wealth that could be passed down through generations. This has made equality in our nation impossible. I do not know what appropriate reparations are. As a white man, I do not believe it is my place to decide what makes us whole as a nation. I support a movement led by leaders within communities of color to start the conversation.
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism is a threat to everything, including domestic security. The United States is experiencing an extreme spike in domestic terrorism due to the rise of white nationalism. Decades of focusing on Islamic terrorism has allowed the extreme right to become emboldened. They are growing militias and showing up in our communities, unashamed. These are brazen groups who no longer feel the need to hide in the shadows. They are running for office. Racism is responsible for the January 6th attack on our democracy.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
I support the use of hydraulic fracking to extract oil and natural gas resources.
Neutral
I represent a state where oil and gas development is the backbone of our economy. It funds our government, our schools and provides livelihood to rural villages, many of them Alaska Native. A quarter of our oil and gas is acquired by fracking. While I believe we must move to renewable energy, I believe it must be a transition. If we suddenly shut off oil and gas production, people in Alaska will literally die. We cannot afford to have the move to renewable energy be the next form of colonialism.
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.
I most closely align with option B, but with the caveats I listed above. Stricter laws and regulations have to be implemented to force the transition away from oil and gas. However, we as leaders are responsible for ensuring our communities are not left behind in that transition. In Alaska, many of those communities are Alaska Native, and are deeply tied to oil and gas production. We must transition as a nation, not as a top-down directive that leaves people unemployed and unable to heat their homes.
ABOUT YOU
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?
Liberal
I am a life-long Democrat and very progressive on a lot of issues, but I am not a monolith and represent a unique state with different circumstances than most of the country. As such, I look at each issue individually.
Please provide publicly available information, including interviews and media reports, validating your answer to the previous question (other than your website).
https://www.adn.com/politics/2022/05/03/qa-with-alaska-us-house-candidate-christopher-constant/ https://thebluealaskan.com/tag/christopher-constant/
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?
My path to this election started at the localist of levels. I served for nine years on a community council, which is government at the neighborhood level. My first mission in public service was to change a park where people were drinking themselves to death into a dog park. I understand the issues my constituents are facing. After serving on the community council, I was elected to the city assembly where I helped lead the city through a major earthquake, a port modernization plan and the COVID-19 pandemic. I have fought in the trenches of public service, and I am ready to take that fight to Washington where I can work on behalf of the entire state.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
Police officers should be personally immune from prosecution for conduct consistent with departmental policy (qualified immunity) while on duty.
Neutral
I am a strong supporter of police and voted to fund a near 50% increase in my city's police force. I believe in good police officers. I do not believe in protecting bad police officers. It is more critical than ever to have sunshine on police policies to ensure that in practice they are within the law. An officer should have qualified immunity if their conduct is consistent with policy and those policies must be legal.
I support redirecting funds from police departments to mental health and community programs.
Agree
I support an increase in mental health and community programs, and voted to fund and implement a mental health first responder program in my city that diverts calls for someone in a mental health crisis from police to mental health professionals. This eases the burden on the police force and allows them to focus on calls of a criminal nature. I support using the savings of those diverted calls to fund the mental health response. However, I do believe we need to adequately fund our police.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
I believe in common-sense restrictions such as universal background checks and red flag laws. However, I am from a state where many people survive on subsistence practices, and can often unintentionally interact with large apex predators. Guns are a part of life in Alaska in a way they are not in other states. I am a firearm owner. I support the Second Amendment.
Victims of gun violence should be able to sue firearms dealers and manufacturers.
Strongly Agree
Yes, as recently detailed in the Sandy Hook settlement against Remington, gun manufacturers are using misleading marketing techniques to sell guns. I view this as very similar to historic marketing practices by the tobacco industry. Further, in Texas, they have passed a law that allows a third party a private right of action to sue people who get abortions. Under the same principle, victims of crime should have this right.
