Here’s where the candidates in Arizona’s primary stand on the issues
Mar 18, 2016, 4:57 PM | Updated: Mar 22, 2016, 8:47 pm
(AP Photos)
(AP Photos)
PHOENIX — As Arizona readies to head to the polls to pick the presidential candidates on Tuesday, we thought it would be a good idea to let you know where each candidate stands on several issues.
After all, it can be hard to decipher who thinks what in today’s political climate, where debates are chaotic, speeches get complex and you can’t believe everything you read on social media.
For the breakdown below, we used the opinions each presidential hopeful has posted on their respective websites and summed them up in one sentence. They may have said something else prior to or after posting their statement, so it’s best to delve into the issues you care about a little more.
Also, we selected several issues that we feel Arizonans care about most. We encourage you to do more research on every candidate and where they stand on all the issues.
| Immigration | Gun control | Economy | Terrorism | Education | Health care | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Donald Trump (R) | Build a wall to stop illegal immigration, reform immigration process to allow people to enter legally. | Wants to protect Second Amendment, stop politicians from “chipping away at it.” | Feels national debt is crushing burden, wants to drop taxes to improve economy and create jobs. | Has spoken of using harsher interrogation techniques, improving military to intimidate attackers. | Dislikes Common Core, would leave education up to local governments. | Wants to end and replace the Affordable Care Act. |
| Ted Cruz (R) | Build a wall to stop immigration, end amnesty and birthright citizenship, reform immigration process. | Wants to protect Second Amendment, feels it makes Americans “more safe, secure and free.” | Would introduce simple flat tax to lower income tax, remove IRS as a whole and change energy field to make more money. | Thinks rebuilt military and secure borders will help prevent attacks, wants to defeat ISIS, would repeal Iran deal. | Does not like Common Core, wants education decisions made on local level, supports school choice. | In favor of repealing Obamacare. Wants to bring competition to marketplace, let consumers make more choices. |
| John Kasich (R) | Told New York Times he wants to build border wall, does not favor mass deportation, wants path for legal citizenship. | Opposes Obama’s gun control efforts, wants to remove restrictions on concealed carry holders. | Wants to cut taxes by $5 billion to create jobs, balance federal budget. | Has called for the defeat of ISIS, wants to stand up to Russia and China while improving alliances and military. | Does not want federal learning standards, wants local control of education and backs school choice, wants to keep college affordable. | Believes Obamacare does not solve core issues, wants better primary care and rewards for good care. |
| Hillary Clinton (D) | Wants immigration reform, make immigration enforcement humane, defend Obama’s executive actions. | Wants to strengthen background checks, close loopholes, hold irresponsible dealers accountable, keep guns from dangerous/mentally unstable. | Would give families tax reliefs, invest in energy, infrastructure and research to create jobs, close corporate tax loopholes. | Hopes to defeat ISIS and strengthen alliances by defending American values and tackling challenges together. | Promises high-quality learning to every American child, supports teacher training and giving disabled students resources. | Thinks health care is basic human right, wants to defend ACA, crack down on prescription prices and protect women’s health care. |
| Bernie Sanders (D) | Wants to “modernize” border, dismantle inhumane deportation programs, allow immigrants to purchase health care under ACA. | Would improve background checks, close loopholes, ban some weapons and work to fix mental health care. | Pressing for Wall Street reform, wants to help America’s farmers, invest in infrastructure to create jobs, increase minimum wage. | Promises “relentless” pursuit of terrorist and improving diplomatic ties to avoid further conflicts. | Backs free higher education, wants to cut student loan interest rates. | Wants all Americans to have health care under one system, lower prescription prices, fight AIDS/HIV. |
Arizona will award 58 Republican and 75 Democratic delegates. The Republicans are a winner-take-all, while the Democratic ones will be divvied up proportionally.
You can find your local polling place by clicking here.
Remember to keep that dial set to KTAR News 92.3 FM on Tuesday to hear live updates or listen online. You can check back to KTAR.com throughout the night for all your updated news.
