2014 Election Debates

2014 Mid-term Election Issues

Social Issues/Women’s Rights Issues

Female Voters – both Democratic and GOP candidates struggle to gain women voters

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/10/20/democrats-republicans-both-trying-to-win-over-women-ahead-of-the-midterms

Colorado – over the counter birth control

http://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/politicsnow/la-pn-republican-contraceptives-women-voters-20140904-story.html

Kentucky – Alison Grimes is trying to defeat incumbent Mitch McConnell, she’s pushing the fact that McConnell did not vote for equal pay or the Violence Against Women Act

http://thehill.com/blogs/ballot-box/senate-races/213769-grimes-hits-mcconnell-on-womens-issues

North Carolina – Kay Hagan’s is accusing Thom Tillis of blocking Planned Parenthood funding and limiting access to abortions. Tillis recently decided he’s OK with over-the-counter birth control, which Hagan says is just “politicking.”

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/she-the-people/wp/2014/06/18/groups-use-war-on-women-strategy-to-bolster-hagan-in-n-c-senate-race/

If you have questions about what Women’s Health is and why it is separate from Men’s Health, check out this interesting TED talk by Paula Johnson.

https://www.ted.com/talks/paula_johnson_his_and_hers_healthcare

Minimum Wage

Illinois - debate over raising it

http://www.mywebtimes.com/news/local/minimum-wage-ballot-question-takes-voters-temperatures/article_d524c96a-91a7-5e5e-a0a8-c742e3474f6d.html

Environment Issues

Colorado – controversy over the use of natural gas, “fracking”

http://www.denverpost.com/election2014/ci_26394883/lets-make-deal-how-colorado-came-fracking-compromise?source=infinite

Iowa – ethanol production is a huge part of the state’s economy, the state wants to protect a rule that requires a certain amount of ethanol (corn) to be in fuel

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/07/ethanol-fuels-iowa-109557.html

Kentucky - Kentucky is a big coal-mining state, people are unhappy about Obama’s plan to cut carbon emissions by 30% over the coming years

http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2014/oct/13/previewing-kentucky-us-senate-debate/

Immigration

Arizona – changes to immigration laws, voters are zeroing in on the issue

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/court-tosses-arizonas-bail-law-immigrants-26217591

Texas - thousands of unaccompanied children have crossed the US-Mexico border into Texas, debate over how to handle the situation

http://www.houstonchronicle.com/business/columnists/tomlinson/article/Texas-businesses-need-immigration-reform-now-5612915.php#/0

Virginia –differing opinions over immigration reforms

http://www.roanoke.com/opinion/commentary/ghadar-virginia-needs-immigration-reform/article_c3581756-fe33-11e3-9aa9-0017a43b2370.html

http://www.politifact.com/virginia/statements/2014/jul/21/ed-gillespie/ed-gillespies-immigration-reform-position-remains-/

Washington State Initiatives

Initiative 1351 - establishes smaller class sizes

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024758146_electclasscostsxml.html

http://www.tvw.org/2014-video-voters-guide video

Initiative 594 - background checks before gun purchases

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2024836193_591explainerxml.html

http://www.tvw.org/2014-video-voters-guide video

Washington State Offices

13. US House of Representatives – Rick Larsen vs BJ Gillot

https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2014/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx

14. Washington State Senator: Doug Ericksen vs Seth Fleetwood

https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2014/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx

15. Washington State Representative: (any race- you pick: Kristine Lytton v. Daniel Miller, or Satpal Sidhu v. Luanne Van Werven, or Vincent Buys v. Joy Monjure

https://wei.sos.wa.gov/agency/osos/en/press_and_research/PreviousElections/2014/General-Election/Pages/Online-Voters-Guide.aspx