To help you make informed decisions this election year, KATU News is publishing a series of interviews with people who will appear on your ballot.
We are asking local candidates running for the same office the same series of questions, so you can compare their answers.
Candidates were given approximately seven minutes to answer seven questions. Some candidates chose to spend longer on some questions and so did not answer all of them on camera. We also sent questionnaires to candidates. We will post them as we receive them.
(This interview was conducted after the U.S. Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade)
All candidates running in Washington's Congressional District 3:
Candidate Questionnaire
Who is Jaime Herrera Beutler?
I love Southwest Washington – it’s my home. I grew up in Hockinson. I played on Prairie High School women’s basketball team, picked blueberries and worked at the Vancouver Mall to earn money, and fished at Battle Ground Lake on opening day. And now my husband Dan and I are raising our three young children here.
Why are you running?
Southwest Washington is a special place, and protecting our way of life and who we are is central to me. I want to keep Southwest Washington as a great – and affordable -- place to live, raise your family, and spend your retirement years.
What are your qualifications to be a member of Congress?
I’ve spent nearly my entire life here in Southwest Washington, so I know what makes our region special. Serving this region in Congress has been the honor of my lifetime, and I’ve made it my goal to get results. Of Washington’s 12 members of Congress, I’ve been ranked “most effective” for writing legislation into law that safeguards thousands of jobs here in Southwest Washington, helps preserve our native salmon runs, and protects moms and children from life-threatening medical complications.
This work has earned me the support of countless citizens across Southwest Washington, from business owners to farmers, to cops. I’ve also won awards for never voting to raise taxes. Nobody will work harder for this region than me.
What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the people who live in the 3rd congressional district, and what would you do to address it?
Rising prices of everything from gas to groceries are making life difficult for everyone. The average family is expected to pay $5,200 more for living expenses this year than last year. Combine that with parents having to spend time and gas money driving from store to store because they can’t get formula or other essential items, and we have an affordability crisis. Workers’ paychecks are essentially being reduced because of this massive inflation tax.
I’ve opposed trillions in wasteful spending that contribute to spiking prices, and I’m promoting solutions to get more goods on our shelves and lower gas prices. Hardworking residents should be able to afford a home, feed their families and drive to work. I’ll also hold the line on new and higher taxes. We don’t need to chip away at people’s paychecks any more right now – they need all the financial relief they can get.
What will be a big issue in your district in 5 years? And what will you do as a member of congress to prepare?
Protecting good-paying jobs and our economy have always been my top priority. When I first took office, there weren’t jobs to be found. Now we have an affordability crisis where people can usually find work, but their paychecks aren’t covering housing, gas and groceries. Whatever economic challenge is making life hard for Americans, that needs to be the top focus in Congress.
When our region faced high unemployment, I confronted this issue head-on with legislation that helped preserve tens of thousands of forest product-industry jobs, which was signed into law by a Democrat president. I also started hosting an annual jobs fair right here in our region where dozens of local employers were hiring people on the spot, often providing them with better pay and benefits. I’ve now hosted 11 jobs fairs and am proud to have gotten so many residents into jobs.
I’m in the position to advance effective legislative solutions in Congress whatever the economic challenge, and I’ll do what it takes here in Southwest Washington to solve problems and remove hurdles that are keeping people from supporting their families.
What is the most effective way to reduce the frequency of mass shootings?
Elected officials cannot rest as long as the mental health epidemic and increase in violence are producing these senseless attacks in communities across our country. That’s why I’ve been on the forefront of expanding resources for people struggling with mental illness, from the Helping Kids Cope Act to the Children’s Mental Health Infrastructure Act – both of which work to meet those in mental health crises with critical resources before they act out. It’s why I’ve helped lead efforts to give Southwest Washington schools access to school resource officers who can intervene before an incident takes place, and silent panic alarms.
There’s more to be done to reduce these random, horrific attacks in our communities and I’ll support reforms that make gun ownership safer as long as they do not inhibit law-abiding citizens from exercising their Constitutional rights.
When it comes to access to abortion in this country, what action, if any, should the federal government take?
That Supreme Court ruling – though momentous – does not change abortion access in Washington state where it is still regulated by the governor and legislative majorities and subject to voter initiative.
My record of honoring and protecting life at all stages speaks for itself. For instance, a majority of Americans do not want their tax dollars spent on abortions and they support requirements for life-saving treatment for babies who survive late-term abortion attempts – and that’s where I’ve focused my efforts in Congress.
And I’ve always supported policies that empower families. As co-founder of the bipartisan Maternity Care Caucus in Congress, I’ve championed increasing access to maternal health, child care and Children’s Hospitals for low-income families.
Do you see any threats to our democracy? Please explain your answer.
Lawlessness and violence have no place in our political discourse in America, whether that’s during a presidential transition taking place within the U.S. Capitol or on the streets of Portland and Seattle in protests over racial justice. Any efforts to excuse, normalize or dismiss such violence by individuals from any political persuasion damage our democracy. As elected officials, we must be willing to stand up and enforce our laws and preserve our Constitution -- even when it’s politically uncomfortable.
What is the biggest takeaway from the Coronavirus pandemic?
COVID has shown us that our nation must be better prepared to respond to the next pandemic. We have to secure supply chains so that medical equipment remains available to hospitals and clinics and families can get basic household items; and we must invest in the kind of research that can quickly lead to treatments, cures and preventative medicine that will reduce deaths.
Additionally, we’ve now seen the steep costs of massive government-mandated lockdowns and school closures. Children and families are coping with significant mental health challenges, learning delays and a massive spike in domestic abuse from losing in-person learning and school resources. Countless small businesses closed permanently, and many are still struggling with the effects of the lockdowns. Citizens were barred from safe outdoor spaces that could have benefited their mental health, while pot shops and liquor stores remained open. Government officials must weigh seriously the costs of lockdowns on families and our economy before turning to them as a public health tool in the future.
What do you see as the biggest issue facing this country right now, and why?
In addition to unaffordable gas and other skyrocketing prices, crime is on the rise too. I’ve opposed dangerous calls to “defund the police.” With spiking thefts and violence, and an influx of deadly drugs in our neighborhoods, strong law enforcement is more important than ever. I’m proud to have earned the endorsement of the Washington Council of Police and Sheriffs (WACOPS) in my race, the largest and most influential organization representing law enforcement professionals in Washington state. I earned this endorsement thanks to my efforts in Congress to pay, train and equip local police so we have enough honorable men and women in law enforcement to serve all citizens.
Why should the people who live in your district vote for you?
Nobody will work harder for Southwest Washington than I will. Whether that’s standing up for Social Security and refusing to cut benefits to seniors, lowering prescription drug costs, or stopping Oregon’s congestion-pricing scheme that will slap a commuter tax on Southwest Washington residents who work across the river - I’m the candidate in this race who has shown she will put this region’s needs first.
Who’s your hero, and why?
Abigail Adams. I named my daughter after her. She’s been one of my heroes since my early teens. She was one of the most amazing women to live during our nation’s founding. Abigail really impacted her husband and son – both presidents – more than anyone else. She moved policy. She didn’t even have the right to vote yet you can see her hands on some of the great influencers of the time. I think she would easily be elected over her husband today. Those leadership qualities make her a great role model for young girls.