Wagner touts her record, Trump policies; Schupp says district needs change, Obamacare
The relatively affluent and educated, majority white district -- which takes in much of
But suburban voters -- women in particular -- have soured on the
Schupp, a four-term state legislator, seeks to unseat Wagner with the same focus. The incumbent supports
"She has absolutely voted against the interests of this district," said Schupp, 65, of
But Wagner said there are better, more cost-effective alternatives to the Affordable Care Act. Moreover, she says her constituents have benefited from policies advanced by Trump and the
"I line up dead ahead in terms of the policies that he has promoted," said Wagner, 58, of
COVID a top issue
The candidates have stark policy differences reflecting their parties' centrist positions on issues including abortion access, immigration and gun ownership.
But ahead of the
Schupp has criticized what she said were delays by the
"This party has not stepped up to help us as a nation get past COVID, and certainly
Wagner, who quarantined herself in March after potential exposure to COVID-19, said
"I think that's just political posturing," she said of Schupp's criticisms.
Wagner paid for local radio advertisements encouraging people to wear masks and social distance, she said, and made legislation like stimulus checks and unemployment aid a focus for the
With the election looming, she has also publicly called on
Experience
Wagner grew up in south
In 2005, she was appointed by former President
Wagner lists among her chief accomplishments the Justice for Victims of Trafficking Act, a 2015 law that criminalized the advertisement of trafficked children, and the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking, or FOSTA, Act, a 2018 law she pushed with then-Sen.
Schupp, whose state senate district encompasses a politically mixed area with some of
Schupp grew up in
She was elected in 2000 to the
She has listed as her chief accomplishments Nathan's Law, which aimed to increase safety at day care centers by restricting capacity, and the Justice for Survivors Act, creating a network of nurse practitioners to handle sexual assault cases. She has also pushed legislation to forbid "surprise" emergency-room bills and to require training for mental health professionals to help curtail youth suicide.
Health care, crime
The competitiveness of the race has seen both candidates launch a slew of advertisements that echo their counterparts' ads in other House races:
Schupp does not support defunding police nor universal health care, she said. She wants to strengthen the Affordable Care Act with more public options, while allowing people to remain with private insurance if they choose, Schupp said.
"What I support is a public option that allows people to get the care that they need," she said.
She pointed to an
"I wasn't able to get that done through the Legislature," Schupp said, "but the people of
Wagner says she will protect preexisting conditions with a bill she introduced in 2019 that would write the protection into federal patients' rights laws, and support health savings accounts and association health care plans, which allow people to buy coverage pooled through industry groups.
"We've got to lift up the private insurance market and allow for association health care plans, making sure that we have catastrophic coverage that you can buy across state lines," she said.
Wagner has campaigned on conservative values, including scaling back regulations, and a firm stance against abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or dangerous pregnancy.
"I believe my views on life are more in line with the district than
And she has touted endorsements from the
"This is a law-and-order district," Wagner said.
Wagner, in addition to advertisements trying to tie Schupp to left-wing movements, also accused Schupp of "siding with dangerous criminals" in an ad labeled "mostly false" by the nonpartisan Politifact.
Schupp said the ads are a deflection, and accused Wagner of being absent from the district.
"People want access to who is representing them," Schupp said.
Schupp has campaigned on supporting Obama-era immigration policies, reentering the Paris Agreement on climate, and strengthening labor unions, touting endorsements from the
She supports abortion access and health care coverage providing women access to contraceptives.
"I trust women," she said, "to make the right decision for themselves and their families."
Fundraising
Schupp, who has vowed not to accept campaign contributions from corporations, has outraised Wagner in recent months after launching her campaign in December. As of July, she raised just more than
Wagner, with national connections through the state and national
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