The 2024 Indiana Senate race will be contested between Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Banks (R-Columbia City), Democrat Dr. Valerie McCray, and Libertarian Andrew Horning.
And the three candidates have different views on almost every major policy issue this election cycle.
social security:
Addressing the long-term future of Social Security is one of the key challenges facing federal lawmakers. A government report earlier this year predicted that the Social Security Trust Fund would be depleted by November 2033.
The banks said preventing this would require raising the retirement age and increasing means-tested benefits for recipients, but only for future generations.
“And I think we can do that without impacting anyone who relies on Social Security now or who will rely on Social Security in the future,” Banks said.
McCray said there should be no changes to benefits or retirement ages. Instead, she pointed to the Social Security tax cap. Next year, only the first $176,100 people earn will be taxed.
“If we took that cap off and the more money we made, the more money we contributed to Social Security, Social Security would become viable,” McCray said.
Liberal Andrew Horning said he was the only candidate to tackle the country’s larger debt problem, saying most government spending is unconstitutional.
Immigration:
Former President Donald Trump promised a mass deportation program if re-elected. His plan could expel tens of millions of immigrants who are in the country illegally.
McCray said she is tired of immigrants being used as political pawns. She criticized Trump’s deportation plan, calling it “insane.”
“It’s not even possible,” McCray said. “How are you going to deport all those people? Where are they going to go? Who’s going to raise the money to do that? Are you going to turn us into a police state?”
Banks said he fully supports mass deportation, but said it shouldn’t be the only focus.
“When we start cracking down on employers who hire illegal aliens and holding them accountable, we take away the incentive for immigrants to come to the United States or stay in the United States,” Banks said.
Like McCray, Horning doubts the feasibility of a mass deportation program.
“When you think about the scale of that operation, lo and behold, we’ve never done anything like that,” Horning said. “And let me be clear, this whole immigration issue, millions of people coming into this country — yes, the vast majority, huge percentages, under the Biden administration. But this started under the Reagan administration.
Horning said deportations should focus on felons.
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But while the two candidates disagree on many immigration issues, they do agree that the country’s legal immigration system needs reform.
Banks said the conversation should start with securing the southern border, which he believes needs to include a physical wall.
Additionally, he said he supports a merit-based system.
“We’re going to look at the labor needs in our country, and we’re going to prioritize American workers first, and then we’re going to bring in legal immigration to fill the labor gap,” Banks said. .
Banks and McCray agree that the current system is too difficult and bureaucratic.
“It’s about making the process smoother and faster,” McCray said.
Horning said there are currently ample paths to citizenship.
“You know, there’s nothing wrong with people coming here looking for a better life,” Horning said. “And if they can get through the border and get past our security, if they’re coming here looking for a better life, Godspeed.”
Horning said the federal government’s role in immigration has been unconstitutionally overextended. He said countries should play a greater role in border security.
abortion:
Both Democrats and Republicans are debating the nation’s abortion laws following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to end guaranteed abortion rights in 2022.
Advocating for reproductive rights is a key part of McCray’s campaign.
“We can restore the rights we had in Roe v. Wade,” McCray said. “They were enough.”
Horning said he is against abortion, but added that his views on abortion are irrelevant.
“Legally, the federal government has no role in this,” Horning said. “Please don’t do that.”
Horning also noted that countries with good access to abortion and contraception tend to have lower abortion rates.
Banks said she supports banning abortions after 15 weeks.
“And we should ban sex-selective and abnormality abortions at the federal level,” Banks said. “So it should be completely taken off the table.”
Banks added that he doesn’t think the abortion bill has a realistic path to pass Congress either way.
Brandon is our statehouse bureau chief. Contact us at bsmith@ipbs.org or follow us on Twitter. @brandonjsmith5.
