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| 2024 Election: | Joe Biden's book | Kamala Harris' book | Donald Trump's book | JD Vance's book | 2024 Senate Debates |
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| Book Reviews | |||||||||||||||
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(from Amazon.com) | |||||||||||||||
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(click a book cover for a review or other books by or about the presidency from Amazon.com) |
from Past and present Governor candidates from California (number of quotes indicated): |
| OnTheIssues.org excerpts: (click on issues for details) |
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Abortion Antonio Villaraigosa: GOP rejects abortion in case of rape & incest. Brian Dahle: You don't have the right to an abortion in the Constitution. Gavin Newsom: Opposes defunding Planned Parenthood. Gavin Newsom: Welcome women to CA from states without abortion. John Chiang: Longtime ally for reproductive rights. Neel Kashkari: Supports abortion rights. Neel Kashkari: Government out of our lives on abortion. Travis Allen: Skipped vote on resolution for abortion rights. Eleni Kounalakis: Fought to expand access to reproductive choice in California. Eleni Kounalakis: We will enshrine reproductive rights in state constitution. |
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Budget & Economy Brian Dahle: COVID: stop recklessly spending billions of dollars. Brian Dahle: Clawbacks in state contracts for underperforming entities. Delaine Eastin: Build an economy that works for everyone. Gavin Newsom: Government has role in economic growth. Gavin Newsom: Opportunity zones worthy of bipartisan support. Heidi Ganahl: Government has grown too much; we can reduce it. Jerry Brown: Proposes balanced budget and $12.5 billion in cuts. Jerry Brown: $27B budget gap then; multibillion-dollar surplus now. Jerry Brown: Ping-pong budgeting makes no sense. Kamala Harris: Provide protections for homeowners in bank dealings. Kamala Harris: Provide protections for homeowners in bank dealings. Neel Kashkari: Ran program to bail out the nation's largest banks. Xavier Becerra: Trump cuts at HHS has the makings of a manmade disaster. Zoltan Istvan: California needs to construct supercities. |
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Civil Rights Antonio Villaraigosa: LA's diversity program is "absolutely insufficient". Delaine Eastin: Protect equal rights for all. Gavin Newsom: Early supporter for gay marriage. Gavin Newsom: Supports affirmative action. John Chiang: Supports affirmative action. John Chiang: Outspoken in support of gay rights. Kevin Faulconer: Supported same-sex marriage, LGBTQ rights legislation. Neel Kashkari: Supports gay marriage. Steve Farley: Race should be a consideration, not only one. Eleni Kounalakis: I'm proud we have enacted many protections for LGBTQ+ people. Eleni Kounalakis: Recommit to ending violence against transgender people. |
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Corporations Brian Dahle: Seen businesses regulated to death by state bureaucrats. Delaine Eastin: Change corporate tax structure to fund education. Gloria La Riva: Corporations, banks and the Pentagon dominate society. Neel Kashkari: Corporate rate complexity encourages investment abroad. Travis Allen: Private business should take over public rest stops. |
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Crime Antonio Villaraigosa: Reduced violent crime by 50%; increased size of LAPD. Brian Dahle: Rights of criminals shouldn't come before rights of victims. Caitlyn Jenner: Rehabilitate people in prison and bring them back safely. Caitlyn Jenner: I would use as many forces as I could to stop rioting. Caitlyn Jenner: I am in favor of the death penalty. Delaine Eastin: Manage crime with improved education. Doug Ose: Everywhere I see uncontrolled homelessness & nagging crime. Gavin Newsom: Criminal justice reform is crucial; repeal death penalty. Gavin Newsom: Death penalty is ineffective, irreversible and immoral. Gavin Newsom: 2016: Respect state referendum on death penalty; 2019: Don't. Gavin Newsom: Spared 737 people on California's death row. John Chiang: Education & anti-poverty to fight crime. Larry Elder: Police falsely accused of systemic racism, keep cash bail. Neel Kashkari: Don't release dangerous people onto the streets. Travis Allen: Protect victims, not criminals. Eleni Kounalakis: Increasing penalties probably won't do what people want. Xavier Becerra: Invest in local law enforcement to make sure you're safe. |
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Drugs Antonio Villaraigosa: Pro-legalization with safeguards. Antonio Villaraigosa: Supports marijuana legalization. Brian Dahle: Medicinal and recreational cannabis laws are in conflict. Delaine Eastin: Supports legalization, but would tax more. Ed Perlmutter: Sponsored bill for pot business bank access. Gavin Newsom: Pushed Proposition 64, legalizing adult use of marijuana. Gavin Newsom: I'm not pro-pot, but anti-prohibition; opposed 2010 Prop 19. Gavin Newsom: Let California legalization continue. Jerry Brown: Vetoed prosecutor discretion on drugs; keep it a felony. Jerry Brown: How many people can get stoned and still have a great state? John Chiang: Set up state bank for pot industry. John Cox: Denied wanting to hospitalize marijuana addicts. Neel Kashkari: When you legalize something, you send a signal you approve. Rob Astorino: War on drugs has disproportionately hurt minorities. Steve Farley: Making marijuana business legitimate. Travis Allen: Opposed pot law barring state cooperation with Feds. Eleni Kounalakis: California legalization can work with effective regulations. |
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Education Antonio Villaraigosa: Mayoral control of 22 poorly performing schools. Antonio Villaraigosa: Police in the schools, every day, but not all day. Antonio Villaraigosa: Stop making excuses for lack of success in schools. Brian Dahle: I strongly support school choice, charter schools. Delaine Eastin: In 1960s we invested in community colleges. Delaine Eastin: Expand "First 5" to include mandatory kindergarten. Delaine Eastin: Parental choice but no vouchers. Gavin Newsom: College without crushing debt for every young person. Jerry Brown: No government-imposed standards for public schools. Jerry Brown: Vetoed considering demographics in college admissions. Larry Elder: Won't support schools that indoctrinate children with hate. Larry Elder: Will fight for school choice, charter schools. Neel Kashkari: Side with poor kids, not union bosses. Steve Farley: Need to rebuild educational system. Travis Allen: Parental control, not bureaucrats. Eleni Kounalakis: Helped make college more accessible to working families. Tom Steyer: Free public school from age 3 through community college. |
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Energy & Oil Brian Dahle: Forest management not climate change is cause of wildfires. Brian Dahle: Energy goal: 100% reliable, affordable electricity. Caitlyn Jenner: Skeptical of state goal of zero emissions by 2045. Delaine Eastin: Fight climate change, protect natural resources. Gavin Newsom: California leads the way on green energy. Larry Elder: Against radicals for whom climate change is a religion. Neel Kashkari: Climate change compelling, but do fracking & Monterey shale. Rob Astorino: Open the Monterey Shale to fracking for shale oil. Steve Farley: Coal is the fuel of the past. Eleni Kounalakis: People look to California on climate change, solutions. Eleni Kounalakis: Does not support off-shore drilling because of risk of spill. Eleni Kounalakis: California is leading the clean energy transition. |
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Environment Antonio Villaraigosa: Added 669 acres of open space & 1,549 miles of bikeways. Antonio Villaraigosa: Modernize CEQA to allow new construction projects. Delaine Eastin: Don't give up on a clean environment; not on my watch. Gavin Newsom: Pro-active on energy and resource management. Gavin Newsom: The water we drink & the air we breathe hang in the balance. Jerry Brown: Banned shark fin harvesting to protect sharks and ocean. Jerry Brown: $25B for water-shortage farmland. John Cox: Environmental regs crush business. Rob Astorino: I love our natural beauty, but we need to find balance. Eleni Kounalakis: EPA must provide leadership to stop flood of polluted water. |
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Foreign Policy Eleni Kounalakis: Educate students to national security importance of Israel. |
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Free Trade Kevin Faulconer: Supported USMCA trade pact, chaired pro-trade group. Kevin Faulconer: NAFTA has been phenomenally successful. Eleni Kounalakis: Newsom: Kounalakis critical to state's interests abroad. Eleni Kounalakis: Make sure California is a good place for foreign investors. |
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Government Reform Antonio Villaraigosa: Increase voter turnout among Latinos & all demographics. Brian Dahle: Crazy to ban candidate withholding tax returns from ballot. Caitlyn Jenner: We need to have integrity in our election system. Doug Ose: Amend California environmental law, don't tear it up. Gavin Newsom: Campaigned to boost student registration. John Cox: Smaller districts better against special interests. Travis Allen: Sponsored voter ID law. Eleni Kounalakis: For publicly funded campaigns and campaign finance reform. Xavier Becerra: Cut red tape for new businesses creating jobs. Xavier Becerra: Joined UCLA Voting Rights Project to defend right to vote. |
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Gun Control Antonio Villaraigosa: Supports Life Act: restrict ammunition, licenses, & weapons. Antonio Villaraigosa: Ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Antonio Villaraigosa: Member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns. Antonio Villaraigosa: Ban sales of assault weapons and Saturday night specials. Gavin Newsom: Supports background checks. Gavin Newsom: Allow suits against gun makers for negligence. Jerry Brown: Ban hunting with lead bullets; but detachable magazines OK. Jerry Brown: Include semiautomatic pistols in unsafe handgun law. Neel Kashkari: Require background checks before all firearms sales. Travis Allen: Gun laws hurt the innocent. Eleni Kounalakis: Questionnaire response: NO THANKS NRA. JUST GIVE ME AN F. |
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Health Care Antonio Villaraigosa: Healthcare.gov problems caused loss of confidence in Feds. Delaine Eastin: Provide universal healthcare for all. Brian Dahle: Strengthen our rehabilitation and mental health services. Gavin Newsom: Supports HealthySF: available to all uninsured residents. Gavin Newsom: We will lead a massive expansion of health care. Gavin Newsom: Expanded health care to millions of uninsured Californians. Jerry Brown: Insurance companies must cover maternity leave & services. John Chiang: Fix Obamacare instead of repeal. Neel Kashkari: Fix ObamaCare's fundamental flaws, or replace it completely. Eleni Kounalakis: For single-payer and will fight for universal healthcare. Xavier Becerra: I won the fight to protect the Affordable Care Act. Xavier Becerra: As Secretary of HHS negotiated prescription drug prices. |
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Homeland Security Gavin Newsom: Don't gut programs to pay for military buildup. Jerry Brown: Governor's Military Council: avoid DOD budget cuts. Eric Swalwell: The military can be a check on Trump administration. |
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Immigration Antonio Villaraigosa: Immigration reform is an economic and moral imperative. Antonio Villaraigosa: Latino heritage is part of our American heritage. Brian Dahle: Opposes sanctuary state status. Brian Dahle: Streamline path to citizenship, cooperate with ICE on crime. Caitlyn Jenner: I am pro-border protection & pro-ICE. Caitlyn Jenner: Path to citizenship for undocumented; deport "bad ones". Delaine Eastin: Supports Dreamers against deportation. Gavin Newsom: Sanctuary cities build trust. Gavin Newsom: Border wall is just rhetoric; celebrate diversity. Gavin Newsom: National Guard for crime on border, not immigration. Hilda Solis: Supports "Fast for Families" in favor of immigration reform. Jerry Brown: Supports state aid to illegals' children and DREAM Act. Jerry Brown: National Guard for crime on border, not immigration. John Chiang: Muslim immigration ban forsakes American values. John Chiang: Chinese Exclusion Act wrong then; Muslim exclusion wrong now. John Cox: Border wall needs to be built, to keep out MS-13. John Cox: Sanctuary State law puts our families at risk. Neel Kashkari: Sensible immigration reform needed, but not open borders. Neel Kashkari: Expand visa programs for highly skilled workers. Travis Allen: Sanctuary cities protect criminals. Eleni Kounalakis: Chance for all regardless of race, class, immigration status. Eric Swalwell: When we're in majority, ICE masks are coming off. Xavier Becerra: Would avoid cutting insurance for undocumented immigrants. |
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Jobs Antonio Villaraigosa: Union organizer but disagrees with teachers unions. Brian Dahle: Voted against allowing child-care workers to unionize. Jerry Brown: Extend unemployment benefits federally. Eleni Kounalakis: Removing affirmative action ban allows for more inclusivity. |
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Principles & Values Brian Dahle: I pledge to tell you the truth, restore power, work hard. Caitlyn Jenner: Conservative on economy; progressive on social issues. Caitlyn Jenner: I don't like labels, I'm kind of middle of the road. David Hadley: Social moderate and fiscal conservative. Gavin Newsom: Strict separation of church and state. Jerry Brown: Proclaim May 2 as California "Day of Prayer". Larry Elder: Our government is what's ruining the Golden State. Larry Elder: My parents taught this great truth: Hard work wins. Zoltan Istvan: I'm pro-choice, pro-small business, and secular. Brian Dahle: On 2020 election: Yes, Biden is our president. Eleni Kounalakis: Family understood the value and opportunity country offers. Eleni Kounalakis: Trump motivated me to run for office, defend democracy. Eric Swalwell: GOP weaponizes faith, need to do Christian podcasts. |
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Social Security Antonio Villaraigosa: Entitlement reform must be part of reining in debt. Antonio Villaraigosa: Safeguard the hard-earned pensions of employees. Jerry Brown: Cap benefits & increase retirement age. Neel Kashkari: We must cut entitlements, to avoid national insolvency. Neel Kashkari: Index for inflation; increase retirement age; means-testing. |
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Tax Reform Brian Dahle: Repeal the gas tax and roll back excessive regulations. Gavin Newsom: Supports tax hikes for public good. John Cox: California is over-taxed and over-regulated. John Cox: Roll back tide of tax increases & job killing regulations. Travis Allen: California must cut taxes. Tom Steyer: Take on corporations that are not paying their fair share. |
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Technology Caitlyn Jenner: Spend money on desalinization plants, not high-speed rail. Jerry Brown: Supports high speed rail in CA to create jobs, ease traffic. Jerry Brown: Pay for high-speed rail project with cap-and-trade revenue. Jerry Brown: 32-year quest to build nation's first high-speed rail line. John Chiang: More private money for high-speed rail project. John Cox: High-speed rail project is corrupt; ax it. Kevin de Leon: Preserve net neutrality in California, if Feds won't. Neel Kashkari: Day one, high-speed rail train is dead. Travis Allen: Fix roads with existing funds, not new taxes. Travis Allen: High-speed rail project is corrupt; ax it. Tom Steyer: New technologies are disruptive, less expensive, and clean. Zoltan Istvan: Provide a humanoid robot to every California household. Zoltan Istvan: Even with regulation, autonomous AI is dangerous. |
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War & Peace Antonio Villaraigosa: End wars & spend in US in stead of Baghdad and Kandahar. Jerry Brown: World assured of America's resolve in combating terrorism. |
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Welfare & Poverty Jerry Brown: 1977: Visited tenement & prison to see 1st-hand. Kamala Harris: Tenants not named in foreclosure can stop eviction process. Neel Kashkari: With $40 & no job, economy hasn't improved since 2011. |
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Gubernatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - Senatorial winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - U.S. House of Representatives winners and losers in each state: AK - AL - AR - AZ - CA - CO - CT - DE - FL - GA - HI - IA - ID - IL - IN - KS - KY - LA - MA - MD - ME - MI - MN - MO - MS - MT - NC - ND - NE - NH - NJ - NM - NV - NY - OH - OK - OR - PA - RI - SC - SD - TN - TX - UT - VA - VT - WA - WI - WV - WY - |
All material copyright 1999-2022 by Jesse Gordon and OnTheIssues.org Reprinting by permission only. |
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Page last edited: Mar 15, 2026
