Category2022 elections

All candidates for Minnesota House of Representatives District 1A complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 2:38 PM

Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 1A — incumbent John Burkel (R) and James Sceville (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Democratic Party controls Minnesota’s House of Representatives. Minnesota is one of 13 states with a divided government.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? 

Burkel:                   

  • “Those priorities include tax relief for families struggling to pay the bills with inflation not seen in their lifetimes, NOT California Car mandates and emissions standards imposed on us through MPCA rulemaking.”
  • “Those priorities include fair funding for our nursing homes and rural schools, students and teachers, NOT bloated budgets for bureaucrats at the Minnesota Department of Education and Department of Human Services fostering fraud, corruption, and a lack of transparency.”
  • “Those rural values include respecting our friends and neighbors, supporting our law enforcement, and holding criminals accountable, NOT demoralizing those who protect and serve…creating a revolving door, catch and release crime wave in Minnesota.”

Sceville:   

  • “Defending Democracy means that everyone that is able to vote is able to vote. Mail in voting and early voting should be the standard in Minnesota along with traditional day of cast ballot.”
  • “Education reform doesn’t have to be drastic, but it does have to be effective. Paying our school staff a proper salary, providing incentives for keeping and hiring new rural teachers, creating a school supply trust fund from a cannabis tax, providing alternatives to traditional four year college. Small changes can make a large difference.”
  • “Affordable housing is one of the biggest barriers to entry for becoming an adult. Many children end up growing up and moving to places that they can afford causing brain drain in our already small rural community. We need to get rural development funded and our towns growing.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:



All candidates for Minnesota House of Representatives District 66A complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 2:35 PM

Both candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Minnesota House of Representatives District 66A — Leigh Finke (D) and Trace Johnson (R) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Democratic Party controls Minnesota’s House of Representatives. Minnesota is one of 13 states with a divided government.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office? 

Finke:           

  • “Education and mental health care after COVID demand full attention and we must look forward, not back, to build a better future for our communities.”
  • “We must protect healthcare autonomy and abortion access for women and LGBTQ people”
  • “Expanding representation to all communities (including trans communities) benefits every voter.”

Johnson:       

  • “Fight Inflation, Reduce Taxes, and Fix the Economy”
  • “Rebuild Public Safety and Hold Criminals Accountable”
  • “Establish Excellent Schools and Empower Parents”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:



All candidates for Michigan State Senate District 4 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 2:33 PM

Both candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Michigan State Senate District 4 — incumbent Darrin Camilleri (D) and Houston James (R) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Michigan’s state legislature. Michigan is one of 13 states with a divided government.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?                

Camilleri:           

“As a former teacher, I care deeply about our public schools and our education systems. We need to invest more in our schools from pre-k through college or trade school to give all our kids the opportunity to succeed. And coming from an area of Wayne County that needs substantial infrastructure investment, I want to do all I can to help fix our roads, bridges, and block train crossings.”

James:               

“I am passionate about bypassing political, corporate, and other leadership elites and direct my efforts towards the average citizen. That is what makes America great, the rank and file, the small business owners, skilled trade workers, service workers, farmers and their families. In Lansing, I will advocate for us, all of us.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:



All candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 2:29 PM

Both candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 45 — incumbent Sarah Lightner (R) and Ron Hawkins (D) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Michigan’s state legislature. Michigan is one of 13 states with a divided government.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?                    

Lightner:           

  • “I will continue to fight for tax reform. You deserve to keep more of your hard earned money and I will be your voice in Lansing to work for that.”
  • “Parents should be involved in their child’s education. As a mom, and wife of a school board member, I know how important it is to be involved so we raise productive members of society.”
  • “I will continue to fight for business in Michigan. Working with stakeholders to make our region more site ready will increase the attraction to Michigan.”

Hawkins:               

  • “Bodily Autonomy. In very simple terms, Ron believes that the State should not tell an individual what they cannot remove from their body, nor should the State tell an individual what they must put into their body. The individual has the right to body autonomy”
  • “Constitutional Rights. Ron is a strong supporter of gun rights. Gun rights are clearly established by the United States Constitution and the Michigan Constitution.”
  • “Election Integrity. Ron believes elections must be conducted in a manner that provides the voter with an outcome that is fair and freely conducted.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:



All candidates for Michigan House of Representatives District 43 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 2:27 PM

Both candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Michigan House of Representatives District 43 — Mark Ludwig (D) and Rachelle Smit (R) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Michigan’s state legislature. Michigan is one of 13 states with a divided government.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?                    

Ludwig:       

  • “I will work to restore faith in our elections.”
  • “Climate change must be addressed to maintain our economy and agriculture. Time is short!”
  • “Our public institutions like schools and health departments need less lying and more trying from our legislature”

Smit:   

  • “Adhering and following the Constitution”
  • “Upholding the conservative Republican values”
  • “God, Family, Country”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:



All candidates for Kansas House of Representatives District 15 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 2:25 PM

Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Kansas House of Representatives District 15  — Allison Hougland (D) and Matt Bingesser (R) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Republican Party controls both chambers of Kansas’s state legislature. Kansas is one of 13 states with a divided government.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?                    

Roberts:

“Reducing Residential Property Tax for Kansans is the topic that is prevalent for voters in House District 15. Most frequently constituents have voiced concerns about staying in their homes with the continuous increase in Property taxes. The House Democrats have a plan for that of which I am fully on board.”

Bingesser:       

“I am passionate about promoting good government, strong schools, safe communities, and enhanced infrastructure. We need to work towards policies that benefit the people, not just the special interests. I am committed to being an independent voice for my community.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

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Cuellar, Garcia running for Texas’ 28th Congressional District on Nov. 8

By Samuel Wonacott
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 12:28 PM

Incumbent Henry Cuellar (D) and Cassy Garcia (R) are running in the general election for Texas’ 28th Congressional District on November 8, 2022.

Cuellar, in Congress since 2005, is a member of the Blue Dog Coalition. He was the only House Democrat to vote against a bill in 2021 that would have codified the right to abortion in federal law. Cuellar has run on his record in Congress, saying his membership on the House Appropriations Committee has helped fund education, healthcare, small businesses, veterans, and immigration services programs in the district. Cuellar said, “I think people want us to govern from the center, whether we are Democrats or Republicans. I think people are getting tired of the extreme left and the extreme right.”

Garcia worked as the deputy state director for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R) and the regional field representative for the Texas Commissioner of Agriculture. Garcia has campaigned on reducing inflation, lowering healthcare premiums, and hiring more border patrol agents to secure the border. Garcia said, “The reason why I am running for Congress is to defend faith, family and freedom. The current incumbent Henry Cuellar, who says all the right things, has done absolutely nothing to secure our southern border.”

The outcome of this race will affect the partisan balance of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 118th Congress. All 435 House districts are up for election. As of October 10, 2022, Democrats held a 220-212 majority in the U.S. House with three vacancies. Republicans need to gain a net of five districts to win a majority in the chamber.

Daily Kos calculated what the results of the 2020 presidential election in this district would have been following redistricting. Joe Biden (D) would have received 52.9% of the vote in this district and Donald Trump (R) would have received 45.9%.

A Democrat has represented the 28th Congressional District since its creation in 1993.



Four candidates running for Minnesota state auditor on Nov. 8

By Ethan Rice
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 11:10 AM

Incumbent Julie Blaha (D), Ryan Wilson (R), Will Finn (Grassroots-Legalize Cannabis Party of Minnesota), and Tim Davis (Legal Marijuana Now Party) are running for Minnesota state auditor on Nov. 8, 2022.

Blaha was elected state auditor in 2018. She served as the secretary-treasurer of the Minnesota AFL-CIO and the president of Anoka-Hennepin Education Minnesota, a local affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers. Blaha said she is “committed to protecting local solutions and providing resources to local governments” and “is running for re-election to ensure Minnesotans can continue to make decisions that benefit their communities.”

Wilson worked as an entrepreneur and attorney. He founded and was CEO of a Minnesota-based auditing firm in the medical device industry. Wilson said he “decided to run for State Auditor after recent reports of significant fraud in Minnesota’s safety-net programs and the gross mismanagement of large infrastructure projects, and a disturbing regression in government transparency and accountability that Minnesotans have witnessed in recent years.”

MinnPost’s Peter Callaghan said environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) policy was a key issue in the race. “So far, the issue has emerged in only one statewide Minnesota race. As one of four members of the State Board of Investment, the state auditor helps set policy for how the $130 billion in state funds are invested,” Callaghan said.

According to the Minnesota State Board of Investment’s website, the board “serves the State of Minnesota by investing the assets of state and local employee benefit plans, other public retirement savings plans, tax advantaged savings plans, and non-retirement assets.” The board comprises the governor, who serves as chair, the state auditor, the secretary of state, and the attorney general.

Blaha said there were “significant risks and…significant opportunities in how climate is changing and how we’re transitioning energy. The evidence is overwhelming, and it’s also common sense. How many of us are sinking our savings into coal right now?” Wilson said the state should “let the chief investment officer and the manager they work with be unleashed to get the best-possible return. The chief investment officer doesn’t need the state board of investments to tell them to take classes of assets off the table. We don’t need a partisan thumb on the scale.”

In the 2018 election, Blaha defeated Pam Myhra (R) 49.4%-43.2%. Rebecca Otto (D) served as state auditor before Blaha, assuming office in 2006.



All candidates for Kentucky’s 30th Circuit Court Division 1 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 11:07 AM

Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Kentucky’s 30th Circuit Court Division 1 — Anthony Jones and Emily Monarch — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Kentucky District Courts are trial courts of limited jurisdiction in Kentucky. Matters heard by the district courts include city and county ordinance violations, juvenile matters, traffic offenses, misdemeanors, probate, preliminary felony hearings, small claims, and civil cases involving $4,000 or less. Along with the family courts, the district courts hear domestic violence cases. 

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Jones:       

  • “I have spent virtually my entire career in the courtroom. I have been trained as a Prosecutor and Defense Attorney, and I utilize that training to see a case from both perspectives.”
  • “I am experienced in identifying root issues for criminal conduct and utilizing programs to end the cycle.”
  • “I derive joy from witnessing Defendants make positive changes in their lives through the system and ensuring that victims feel restored.”

Monarch:

  • “As a business owner and practicing attorney representing clients for over twenty years, I will bring real-world perspective to the bench.”
  • “I will build a justice system that worked efficiently and fairly. I have been successful in both law school and law practice because of my ability to quickly isolate the important facts of a case and apply them correctly to the law.”
  • “I will treat everyone who appears before me with dignity and respect. I am a mom of three and from toddlers or teenagers, I have always carefully balanced consequences against second chances while always protecting the safety of my children and their community.”

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:

City elections in Louisville, Kentucky, 2022



All candidates for Colorado House of Representatives District 11 complete Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey

By Ballotpedia staff
In 2022 elections
October 19, 2022 at 11:05 AM

Both of the candidates running in the November 8, 2022, general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 11 — incumbent Karen McCormick (D) and Tara Menza (R) — completed Ballotpedia’s Candidate Connection survey. These survey responses allow voters to hear directly from candidates about what motivates them to run for office. 

Eighty-eight of the country’s 99 state legislative chambers will hold regularly scheduled elections in 2022. The Democratic Party controls both chambers of Colorado’s state legislature. Colorado is one of 14 states with a Democratic trifecta.

Here are excerpts from candidates’ responses to the question: What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?                        

McCormick:

  • “Strong support of public education is a critical part of the foundation of our system of government. I ran for office to prioritize funding for public education, educators, schools and students across our state.”
  • “Current and future generations are depending on us to take bold action to mitigate the effects of climate change and protect our precious resources of water, land and air. This is our only Earth and it will take everything we’ve got to be sure we have a liveable planet well into the future.”
  • “Health care is a fundamental need for all humans. We need food, water, shelter and care when sick or injured. Our systems of physical and mental health care delivery continue to need measures to lower costs and increase accessibility.”

Menza:           

  • “Tara will take crime seriously with the goal of getting drugs off our streets and ensuring hardened criminals are fully prosecuted while seeking solutions to address root causes of rising crime, such as mental health and addiction.”
  • “Tara’s legislative fiscal goals will be to help keep costs low for citizens, their families, and local small businesses. She will work to ensure homeowners and renters don’t get pushed out of their communities due to regulations and high taxes.”
  • “Tara will support legislation for school choice, homeschool protections, parental rights, and more transparency in Colorado’s state education curriculum. Children belong to their parents, not the government and the state’s policies need to focus on education, nothing else.”       

Click on the candidates’ profile pages below to read their full responses to this and other questions.

We ask all federal, state, and local candidates with profiles on Ballotpedia to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. Ask the candidates in your area to fill out the survey.

Additional reading:

Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2022