Candidate Profile: Tina Smith For U.S. Senate

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — The 2020 election is heating up in Minnesota and there are plenty of races with candidates eager to serve in elected office. Eyes are primarily focused on the presidential election, but voters will also decide the outcome of seats in the United States Senate.

Patch asked candidates to answer questions about their campaigns and will be publishing candidate profiles as election day draws near.

Tina Smith, a Minneapolis resident, is running for U.S. Senate.

Age: 62
Party affiliation: Democratic Party
Family: Husband – Archie Smith; Sons – Sam and Mason; Grandson - Ari
Occupation: U.S. Senator since Jan. 2018
Previous elected experience: Lt. Gov.
Family members in government:N/A
Campaign website: https://www.tinaforminnesota.c...

The single most pressing issue facing our state is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

When I talk to voters, the issue I hear them bring up most often is the rising cost of health care, especially prescription drugs. That’s why the first thing I did when I got to the Senate was take on the big pharmaceutical companies, and I’m proud of the fact that I’ve passed into law bipartisan legislation to make it easier for generics come to market and help lower the price of drugs like insulin.

I will continue to fight efforts to undermine Medicare and Medicaid, eliminate protections for people with preexisting conditions, and interfere with a woman’s right to make her own health care decisions. Finally, I will continue my work to expand affordable health care options in rural Minnesota and eliminate the health disparities between rural and urban communities as the co-chair of the bipartisan Rural Health Caucus.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

When it comes to the issue of bipartisanship, the difference between myself and my opponent could not be starker.

From the moment I joined the Senate, I’ve made a concerted effort to work with my colleagues across the aisle to get things done. That’s why I fought for a spot on the Senate Agriculture Committee, which has historically been a place where Democrats and Republicans come together to find common-sense solutions for issues that directly affect Minnesota’s farming community. While serving on that committee, I helped author the 2018 Farm Bill, which was signed into law with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Meanwhile, my opponent has been openly hostile to bipartisanship for decades. During his broadcasting career, he told his listeners that Democrats needed to be “obliterate[d]” instead of compromised with, and he even declared “I happen to like gridlock. I get real nervous when politicians start to compromise.” His toxic partisanship didn’t end when he left the radio. Rather, during his lone term in Congress, he was the only member of the Minnesota delegation to vote against the aforementioned Farm Bill, and throughout his current campaign, he has made it clear that, if elected, he will prioritize President Trump’s agenda above Minnesotans’ best interests, going as far as to say in a recent interview that he can't find one area of disagreement with the President.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

Since I joined the Senate, over a dozen of my bills and provisions have been signed into law, I’m proud that much of this legislation has enjoyed broad bipartisan support, which illustrates my commitment to putting partisan differences aside in order to improve the lives of Minnesotans.

What steps should state government take to bolster economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic for local businesses?

In the Senate, I helped pass the CARES Act, a $2.2 trillion stimulus bill that included $1,200 per adult/$500 per child in direct cash payments to individual Americans, enhanced unemployment benefits, the creation of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP). The package also included nearly $340 billion in aid to state and local governments, billions to hospitals and our health care systems, and several other key provisions that helped address the fallout of the economic shutdown.

But more must be done. It’s time for Mitch McConnell to quit blocking additional relief and bring up the House-passed HEROES Act for a vote. This would include more direct assistance to individual Americans, businesses, and state and local governments, as well as much-needed aid for the Postal Service.

How will you address the calls for racial justice and police reform?

The murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and so many others have underscored the dire need to systematically reform policing at the local, state, and federal levels. All Minnesotans--including Black, Brown, and Indigenous Minnesotans--should have the right to feel safe in their communities, and that includes when interacting with police. To do this, we must reimagine policing to ensure that de-escalation and community engagement are at the forefront of decisions and training. I helped introduce the Justice in Policing Act, which would change the culture of departments by holding police accountable, improving police training and practices, making lynching a federal hate crime, and making it a federal crime to conspire to violate existing federal laws.

I also wrote the Supporting Innovation in Public Safety Act, which would help state, local, and Tribal governments reimagine policing in their communities by funding innovative projects and best practices to transform how we deliver public safety and other social services.

List other issues that define your campaign platform:
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What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?
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Also read: Candidate Profile: Jason Lewis For U.S. Senate

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