On the candidates: U.S. Senate

Ben Williams, Politics Editor
October 28, 2020

U.S. Senate:

  • Richard “Dick” Durbin (Democrat) (incumbent)
  • Mark Curran (Republican)
  • Danny Malouf (Libertarian)
  • David Black (Green)
  • Dr. Willie Wilson (Willie Wilson Party)

If a position has an asterisk (*) at the end, it means that the candidate’s personal stance was not clear, and that position belongs to the candidate’s political party.

Economics:

 

Taxes on the rich Federal minimum wage Corporate taxes and bailouts Welfare COVID-19 Economic Recovery Social Security
Durbin Raise Increase to $15 Maintain taxes but close loopholes; increase bailouts Increase spending on welfare programs Bailouts for certain industries, including airlines Opposes private accounts; cut benefits for the wealthy
Curran Raise through a wealth tax Maintain Maintain taxes but close loopholes; opposes bailouts No official stance Allow businesses to reopen Allow individuals to opt out of Social Security; maintain benefits for incoming retirees
Malouf Abolish income tax Abolish minimum wage to increase jobs and hours* End corporate bailouts Cut any programs that won’t benefit the economy in the long run No official stance Immediately allow individuals to opt out of Social Security 
Black Significantly raise Increase to $20 Raise corporate taxes; end bailouts Guaranteed livable income for all Increase unemployment benefits, aid local and state governments, freeze on evictions and foreclosures Increase funding by eliminating income cap
Wilson Lower Increase to a living wage Lower corporate taxes Provide reparations for African-Americans Provide additional benefits to those unemployed due to COVID-19 Eliminate cap on Social Security deductions

Domestic Policy

 

Gun policy Abortion policy Drug rehabilitation Veterans’ Affairs
Durbin Institute universal background checks Pro-choice; federal subsidies on contraceptives and required insurance coverage on abortions Increase access to treatment for opioid addiction and limit opioid prescriptions to fight addiction Expand health care to provide all necessary health care procedures to veterans
Curran No additional restrictions Only allow abortions when they will save the life of the mother Fight addiction by increasing border security to prevent smuggling of opioids into the U.S. Expand health care to provide all necessary health care procedures to veterans
Malouf No additional restrictions Personally pro-life but opposes federal restrictions on abortion No official stance Privatize*
Black Start with universal background checks and assault weapon ban Pro-choice; make abortions cheaper or free with tax money* No official stance Provide health care under Medicare For All
Wilson No official stance No official stance Increase funding for addiction treatment No official stance

 

Criminal Justice

 

Police reform Death penalty Marijuana possession Prison reform Prostitution & Sex Work
Durbin Increase training and vigorously investigate misconduct Opposes Opposes medical and recreational marijuana legalization Help create a path back into society for inmates Keep prostitution illegal
Curran Police are not a problem; address systemic racism by investing in minority communities instead No official stance Opposes recreational marijuana legalization Help create a path back into society for inmates Keep prostitution illegal
Malouf Defund police; end war on drugs, qualified immunity, militarization of police forces, no knock raids, and prosecuting victimless crimes. Opposes Fully legalize marijuana and all other drugs Keep harmless people out of prison by legalizing victimless crimes like drug possession Legalize prostitution and all sex work
Black End militarization of police; redirect funding towards anti-poverty and mental health resources Opposes* Fully legalize marijuana* Keep harmless people out of prison by legalizing victimless crimes like drug possession; expand rehabilitation* Legalize prostitution and all sex work*
Wilson Opposes defunding police No official stance Legalize marijuana, but tax and regulate it End forced prison labor  No official stance

 

Immigration

 

Border security Sanctuary cities DACA Immigration quotas + requirements Deportation ICE & detention centers
Durbin Increase border security but treat immigrants gently Maintain funding Supports Welcome all refugees and asylum seekers; no additional restrictions Limit deportation to only very violent criminal immigrants Consistently investigate misconduct in ICE facilities
Curran Build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border; expand security tech Abolish Supports Use a merit-based system for accepting immigrants Opposes immigration raids for deportation Continue to use ICE to keep borders secure
Malouf Decentivise mass immigration by cutting welfare No official stance Supports No additional restrictions, but expand job opportunities for immigrants No official stance No official stance
Black Open borders* Expand use of sanctuary cities* Keep all immigration legal* Allow all immigrants* End deportation* Abolish ICE and detention centers*
Wilson No official stance No official stance Supports No official stance No official stance No official stance

 

Education

 

College tuition Affirmative Action Public school funding + teacher salaries School choice Universal preschool
Durbin Taxpayer-funded community college Expand affirmative action Increase funding to public schools & provide tax credits for school workers Opposes taxpayer-funded private school vouchers Offer incentives to states to expand pre-K to children in need
Curran Work to make college cheaper; increase funding to struggling public universities No official stance Maintain funding Supports taxpayer-funded private school vouchers No official stance
Malouf Remove government incentives and subsidies; allow competition to lower price End affirmative action* Maintain funding Reduce government barriers against private schools Opposes
Black Taxpayer-funded college for all and forgive all student loans Expand affirmative action* Increase public school funding* Opposes taxpayer-funded private school vouchers* Supports
Wilson Taxpayer-funded college for all No official stance Increase public school funding No official stance No official stance

 

Environment

 

Climate action  Green New Deal Disposable plastics Fracking Alternative energy
Durbin Invest in clean energy,  tax carbon emissions, pay low and middle class people to use clean energy Opposes Offer discounts to customers who don’t choose disposable plastic products Mandate strong safety standards for fracking on public lands Fund investments in alternative energy and offer rewards for individuals and companies who use it
Curran Invest in research on carbon emission-capturing devices and export them globally Opposes No official stance No additional restrictions No subsidies or restrictions on alternative energy
Malouf Encourage individual responsibility in reducing carbon footprint Opposes No restrictions No additional restrictions No subsidies or restrictions on alternative energy
Black Tax carbon emissions; ban fossil fuels; reimagine transportation Supports Ban disposable plastics Ban fracking 100% Clean Energy by 2030
Wilson Continue to study human impact on climate change before making policy No official stance No restrictions No official stance No official stance

 

Elections

 

Felon voting rights Undocumented immigrant voting rights Electoral College Minimum voting age Ranked- choice voting
Durbin Supports Supports* Opposes Maintain Opposes
Curran Supports No official stance Supports* No official stance No official stance
Malouf Supports No official stance Supports No official stance Supports
Black Supports Supports* Opposes No official stance Supports*
Wilson No official stance No official stance No official stance No official stance No official stance