One of Virginia’s two U.S. Senate seats is up for election this year.
No Democrats are challenging Sen. Tim Kaine in the primary, but five Republicans are competing to run against him in November. They are: Hung Cao, Jonathan Emord, Edward “Eddie” Garcia Jr., Scott Parkinson and C.L. “Chuck” Smith, Jr.
Primary elections are June 18, but in-person early voting is available through June 15.
Hung Cao
Cao declined to answer questions for inclusion in the voter guide.
“Our campaign is not doing surveys right now,” a campaign spokesperson wrote in an email.
Website: hungforva.com
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Jonathan Emord
Age: 63
Occupation/job title: President, Emord & Associates law firm
Education: Bachelor of Arts in political science and history from University of Illinois (1982), doctorate of law from DePaul University College of Law (1985)
Previous elected offices held (if any): N/A
Military service (if any): N/A
Website: emordforva.com
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing the nation and, if elected to Congress, what legislation would you put forth to help address it?
The Biden administration’s open border policy and incentives for illegal entry are creating a vast underground illegal economy and are enabling drug traffickers, sex traffickers, gangs, and terrorists to enter the nation with impunity. We must amend asylum laws to prohibit asylum seekers from entering the United States, compelling all to seek asylum either at the U.S. embassy in their countries of origin or in an adjacent country. We must invoke Article I, Sec. 10 of the Constitution to allow border states to protect their border. We must make illegal entry punishable not only by deportation but also by a permanent ban on citizenship. We must complete the border wall and provide block grants to the border states willing to defend the border. To guarantee our national security, get our economy back on track, and reduce crime in our streets, our top priority must be securing our borders.
Social Security and Medicare could fall short on money in the next decade. How would you propose to reform the programs or the method for funding them and would you consider cuts to keep the programs solvent?
Every employed American pays a Social Security tax and is promised by the federal government social security benefits. We must honor that promise and commitment. We cannot place the economic burden of the federal government’s mismanagement of Social Security on the backs of those who need it most: our senior citizens. We must redirect funds from general revenues to shore up the system. To do that, we must return our country to a growth economy and must pay down our enormous and all-consuming national debt, a $35 trillion debt that will skyrocket to $60 trillion in the next seven years unless we substantially reduce federal spending and grow the economy. Those cuts in spending will reduce inflation and interest rates, bolstering economic growth. Those steps will ensure the resources necessary to shore up the Social Security system, enabling us to keep the promise to seniors.
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Edward “Eddie” Garcia Jr.
Candidate did not respond to questions sent for inclusion in the voter guide.
Website:eddiegarciava.com
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Scott Parkinson
Age: 41
Occupation/job title: Vice President of Government Affairs, Club for Growth
Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Wisconsin
Previous elected offices held (if any): N/A
Military service (if any): N/A
Website: ScottParkinson.com
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing the nation and, if elected to Congress, what legislation would you put forth to help address it?
Freedom. Extreme liberals in Congress are trying to change the fabric of America. On economic policy, radical Democrats including Sen. Tim Kaine, are pushing the U.S. economy toward socialism, redistribution, and total government dependency. These policies result in higher costs for everyone and threaten the economic prosperity of the American people. On American sovereignty, Kaine and Biden’s open border policies make us less safe. Criminal aliens and dangerous drugs like fentanyl are all over our communities. Government must enforce the rule of law and provide for the security of our citizens. COVID lockdowns and shutdowns have opened the eyes of the people that our freedoms and rights are jeopardized under Democrat rule. I’ll use the appropriations process and the powers of a senator to protect the God-given freedoms of the American people.
Social Security and Medicare could fall short on money in the next decade. How would you propose to reform the programs or the method for funding them and would you consider cuts to keep the programs solvent?
I strongly oppose payroll tax increases. I strongly oppose cuts to benefits. We must stop the Democrats from enacting Medicare for All, which actually abolishes Medicare for seniors and creates a single-payer health care system that decreases choice and competition in the health insurance marketplace, resulting in a lower quality of care for seniors. On Social Security, I believe Americans should have the option to invest in private accounts. The new program would not be a government mandate on retirement security, but an option to increase retirement security for the American people that were interested in managing their own private account. No cuts. More options.
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C.L. “Chuck” Smith
Age:71
Occupation/job title:Smith Law Group, PLLC
Education:Bachelor’s degree, doctoral degree, North Carolina Central University School of Law
Previous elected offices held (if any):Chairman Republican Party city committee, Virginia Beach
Military service (if any):Marine Corps, Navy Judge Advocate General (JAG) Corps
Website:Chucksmith4senate.com
What do you see as the most pressing issue facing the nation and, if elected to Congress, what legislation would you put forth to help address it?
Border. Close the border and shut down immigration until we fix it.
Social Security and Medicare could fall short on money in the next decade. How would you propose to reform the programs or the method for funding them and would you consider cuts to keep the programs solvent?
Do not touch Social Security. Reduce national debt, stop giving money to foreign wars.
