Trina Borenstein
Democrat | Michigan
Candidate Profile
Liberal
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Trina Borenstein
Party
Democrat
Election Year
2024
Election
General
Race
State Rep., Dist. 106
Incumbent
No
Links
EDUCATION
Washtenaw Community College, Ann Arbor, Associate, 2003
WORK & MILITARY
Food and Drug Mart, Assistant Manager, 4 years
AFFILIATIONS
League of Women Voters of Northeast Michigan, Vice-President
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Precinct Delegate, 6
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Candidate did not provide
ENDORSEMENTS
LIBERAL (2)
Michigan AFL-CIO
American Federation of State, County & Municipal Employees (AFSCME) Council 25
OTHER (1)
AFSCME MI 925
REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (3)
AFL-CIO, Mental Health Now, Moms Demand Action
MDP Rural Caucus
AFS-CME
SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS
CONSERVATIVE
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (1)
Rebecca Lee Warren (2013)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)
Austin Marsman (2024)
Democratic National Committee (2024)
Joe Biden (2024)
State Democratic Party Organizations (2024)
Marie Fielder (2022)
RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (0)
OTHER INFORMATION
Trina Borenstein completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?
all
Chemical abortion drugs should meet essential safety standards (such as in-person consultation with a medical doctor) and require reporting to gather evidence on reactions and outcomes.
Disagree
Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).
Strongly Disagree
I support 'aid in dying' laws which legalize assisted suicide and euthanasia.
Strongly Agree
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
Under what circumstances can government close churches?
I've never heard of a government closing a church, but I would support such an action if the church were a demonstrable threat to the safety of the public.
Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.
Agree
An individual or business that is OPEN TO THE PUBLIC should serve the public. Otherwise, they should either not be open to the public, or they should find a line of business that won't require them to compromise their values.
NATIONAL SECURITY
The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.
Disagree
Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?
Israel is important to the US because of the long history between them and that fact that nearly every Israeli has relatives in the US. Other than that, it's largest significance is as a democracy among a sea of theocracies, and I believe we have some responsibility to other democracies around the world.
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) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.
A.
Under what circumstances (if any) should a government, school, or employer be allowed to require vaccinations?
Wherever the person in question will be in close proximity to others, like a barracks, classroom, or restaurant. The fact that they are *allowed to" is not the same as requiring them to.
ECONOMY
Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.
Strongly Agree
What is your position on the minimum wage?
A minimum wage is one on which a single person can afford shelter and food. That is currently about $25/hr in Northern Michigan.
Should environmental and social issues, like ESG (environmental, social, and governance) ratings, be used as criteria in deciding where to invest public monies?
Yes
IMMIGRATION
The U.S. should do more to physically secure the southern border.
Disagree
EDUCATION
The state should fund education by allowing dollars to follow the child through programs which protect parents' freedom to choose their child's school – public, private, or homeschool.
Strongly Disagree
Public education is the right of every American citizen. I have no problem with private schools, but it is the responsibility of every taxpayer to fund the public institutions, even if they choose not to utilize them.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY
I support redirecting funds from police departments to community programs.
Neutral
Sometimes. Again, too broad a question to be answered satisfactorily.
2ND AMENDMENT
What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?
Gun owners should be required to keep their guns secure. Guns ownership should be limited to appropriate weapons for security and hunting - no multi cassette assault weapons - those are instruments of war, not safety or hunting. People with known violent tendencies should be restricted to less lethal firearms, maybe muzzle loaders.
Should teachers be allowed to carry guns at school?
No
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No.
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No.
What do you think is the general purpose of government?
To protect its citizens against foreign and domestic elements, while ensuring their access to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
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 Liberal
VALUES
Children are the most vulnerable members of society and must be protected from abuse, including gender ideology, grooming, and bodily mutilation.
Strongly Disagree
There is no question that children must be protected from abuse, however, "gender ideology" is a made-up problem, grooming comes from EVERY direction, and bodily mutilation is way too vague a term. Is circumcision mutilation? Many would say so. Are piercing the ears of an infant or young child mutilation? Many would agree.
Parents should have the right to make decisions for their minor children.
Agree
Taxpayer funds should be used to provide gender transition services.
Agree
I believe this, because I believe in Medicare for all, in which case all healthcare services will be provided with public monies.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Disagree
I would only say this is true if only a religious institution can perform a marriage - in that case, all civil unions would be just that, and not a "marriage" between any two people.
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am Jewish, and my spiritual beliefs and values have been informed by the upbringing I received.
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Agree
States should join the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact which makes the Electoral College irrelevant.
Strongly Agree
EQUALITY
Is racism a threat to domestic security in the United States? Why or why not?
Racism, bigotry, intolerance - these are all threats to domestic security. Whenever you have systemic "othering" of people you perceive as less than yourself, you foment volatile situations.
I agree with Critical Race Theory (CRT) which asserts that the institutions in the United States are fundamentally racist.
Neutral
CRT asserts that *many* institutions have evolved to where they are today while incorporating systemic racism - *not* that they are fundamentally racist. This is not a matter of opinion, this is a simple fact. It is our responsibility to learn where the racist bases are, and work to change the outcomes based on them.
Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Disagree
The nature of this question is so broad and simplistic, that the only possible genuine answer is, "it depends."
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
Which comes closest to your view? (Select all that apply) A) Stricter environmental laws and regulations cost too many jobs and hurt the economy. B) Stricter environmental laws and regulations are worth the cost. C) Stricter environmental laws undermine U.S. energy independence and deter development of reliable electricity sources. D) Climate change is real and requires urgent policy action.
B and D are both equally reflective of my view.
What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?
Solar
