Issues
The nine issues presented here are ones that commonly divide Democrats and Republicans. Charted here are the positions of the Republican and Democratic party nominees in each of the nine districts, excluding the independent candidates.*
As the charts show, the Republicans are almost universally in agreement on every one of these issues, with the exception of privatizing Social Security, whereas Tennessee Democrats most often take no position on these issues. This may simply be the reality of running on the Democratic platform in as conservative a state as Tennessee. Only Steve Cohen of Memphis’ district 9 and Alan Woodruff, the challenger in district one, have come out in opposition to Republicans on six of the issues. Jim Cooper of Nashville, the other Democratic incumbent, expressed opposition in only four of the nine issues.
The division between the two parties, however, is evident, and indicates the likelihood of two more years of political inaction in the Capital.
Abortion
Whether to keep abortion legal according to the Roe v Wade Supreme Court decision.
The National Republican platform opposes abortion under any circumstance.
Gay marriage
Whether to legalize gay marriage. Obama has expressed support for gay marriage.
Affordable Care Act
Commonly known as Obamacare. The Republican-dominated House has passed repeated resolutions to repeal the Affordable Care Act, but none have gotten through the Democrat-majority Senate.
Arizona immigration law
Legislation passed in Arizona that requires police officers, while enforcing other laws, to question the immigration status of those suspected of being in the country illegally. Key issues are whether citizens should have to prove their citizenship to law enforcement officers, and whether a state can have its own immigration policy separate from the federal government.
“Stop the War on Coal” Act
Passed by the House on Sept. 20, 2012, the act would significantly deregulate the coal industry from environmental statutes. It would prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating greenhouse gas emissions from power plants and other sources, prevent rules on the storage and disposal of coal ash, and limit Clean Water Act rules. It would also prevent any new rules regulating mountaintop removal coal mining or toxic air emissions standards for coal-fired power plants. Proponents argue that new regulations would cause energy prices to rise.
Drilling for oil; pipelines
Issues are whether to open protected areas such as the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to drilling, and whether to build pipelines such as the Keystone pipeline to bring Canadian tar sands oil to U.S. refineries. After residents in the path of the proposed pipeline protested, the Obama administration supported a decision to cancel the pipeline, although plans to build it on a separate path are underway.
Gun rights
Whether to decrease restrictions on gun ownership and carrying. Although the Obama administration has made no proposals to further restrict gun rights, other groups such as the Brady Campaign continue to lobby for more restrictions and controls, while the NRA continues to lobby for less restrictions.
Social Security privatization
Whether to convert the Social Security pension system to a private investment system no longer managed by the federal government.
Norquist no new taxes pledge
Grover Norquist is the founder and president of an anti-tax advocacy group called Americans for Tax Reform, which petitions members of congress to sign a pledge to never raise taxes under any circumstances. All of the Republican incumbents have signed the pledge.
*Positions on issues are based on statements from the candidates’ websites, social media and/or voting records. If the candidate did not express a clear and consistent opinion on an issue, he or she is listed as taking no position.
The charts are not intended to provide an in-depth analysis of a candidate’s platform. Visit the candidates’ websites or social media sites, if available, for more information on their positions on these issues.
Independent candidates were excluded because there was too little information available on the positions of most of them.