Pete Stauber (GOP): 2024 Election Guide
Welcome to WCCO.com's 2024 Election Guide!
We reached out to Minnesota major party candidates running in U.S. congressional races this fall. Candidates were asked to provide answers to a set of political questions of high importance to voters.
Minnesota 8th Congressional District candidate and incumbent Pete Stauber submitted his answers to the questionnaire below.
This is not a paid advertisement nor does WCCO endorse any candidate.
What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing constituents served by the office you are seeking?
From playing professional hockey to serving 23 years in law enforcement, I am a problem solver. I believe our best days are ahead. Americans – not the government – make America great. The Minnesotans I hear from every day throughout the 8th Congressional District need a voice in Washington who will champion causes built on our values and beliefs. I am passionate about fighting for our way of life, putting America first, ending the invasion on our southern border that's causing humanitarian and national security crises, and doing all I can to turn the page on four disastrous years of Biden-Harris failed economic policies and broken promises.
What are the three big goals or policies you hope to accomplish or pass during your time in office?
I am fighting in Congress for our way of life because I want our children and grandchildren to have those same opportunities and freedoms we enjoyed. I am running for Congress because I am committed to being part of the solution. Federal policies should encourage – not inhibit – job creation. I will continue to pursue policies that will unleash the economic engine in the 8th District, help working families thrive in the region, and provide endless opportunity and greater prosperity for everyone.
Do you think Congress should pass a federal law on abortion rights and what should it look like?
As the father of six beautiful children including two who were adopted, I believe all life has value and should be protected. However, before we were blessed with our first child, my wife and I struggled to conceive. I support all families who are trying to have a child, whether that's through natural birth, adoption, foster care, or fertility treatment like IVF. I support congressional action on policies that protect the sanctity of life and opportunities for families to grow.
According to polls, illegal crossings at the southern border and immigration policy are consistently ranked as a top issue for Americans. What do you propose to address these concerns?
In their first 100 days in office, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris issued more than 90 executive orders that weakened our border security and immigration system. As the invasion on other southern border followed, Harris, the self-proclaimed "Border Czar," did nothing. In fact, I've visited the southern border more than Harris and I've seen the chaos with my own eyes and I've talked to Border Patrol agents and local law enforcement about the desperate situation. To combat those open border policies, we need to restart Donald Trump's construction of the border wall, increase the number of Border Patrol agents, and strengthen laws to protect unaccompanied children from human trafficking. America needs to regain law and order and her sovereignty at the border. Let's end the border invasion.
What would you do to address violent crime and drug use?
As a retired police officer of 23 years, who was endorsed again by the Minnesota Police and Peace Officers Association, I will always stand with our police, sheriffs, and emergency responders. Unlike Washington Democrats, including Kamala Harris, who called to defund our law enforcement and in 2020, raised bail money for violent criminals who were rioting in Minneapolis, I will do all I can to provide our police with the resources needed to keep our communities safe. We are clearly at a crossroads in our nation between those defending law and order and standing and supporting our law enforcement, and those misguided individuals who are more interested in sending criminals back to the streets while denigrating and vilifying our police.
Guns are the leading cause of death among children and teens in the United States. What do you believe the federal government should do to reduce gun violence?
Washington Democrats are wrongly focusing on law-abiding citizens. Let's stand with law enforcement and put criminals behind bars. As a 23-year police officer and victim of two violent gun crimes, I am committed to protecting the Second Amendment which guarantees the right of individual, law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms and defend their family.
Do you believe there should be term limits for members of Congress?
As a member of the House of Representatives, I am term limited every two years when voters can choose to fire me or send me back to Congress. Times are tough, but we have the opportunity to change course and put Americans, not their government, in charge of setting a new way forward. I was proud to get endorsed by President Donald Trump for a fourth straight time. Like President Trump, I will fight to get our economy moving again, end the invasion on our southern border, and restore our nation's standing here at home and abroad.
What economic policies do you propose to address high prices and cost of living?
The Biden-Harris economy is crippling working families. Our costs of living are skyrocketing. Energy prices are through the roof. The American dream of homeownership for young families is virtually unattainable. Minnesotans are fed up with how expensive everyday items have become – a bag of groceries shouldn't cost $100. Under President Trump, we saw record job growth and wages were rapidly rising. We had a good economy when he was in office and we look forward to doing it again.
What is the government's responsibility when it comes to climate change? How would you address it?
Rather than rely on adversaries who have no regard for the environment, we must bring our manufacturing jobs back home to our own country. I'm focused on making America an energy dominant and critical mineral powerhouse. This will secure our economic future, reduce our dependence on foreign adversaries, and strengthen our national security. By putting America first, we will restore the heartbeat of our economic future where American workers and industries again take the lead on the global stage.
As government, health care, and financial institutions face increasing threats to cybersecurity, what measures should policymakers and Americans alike take to protect people from these ongoing threats?
The American people are under threat of cyberattacks now more than ever. With technology all around us and used in our daily lives, bad actors are looking for every opportunity to scam Americans and steal their sensitive data and information. That is why I supported strong, bipartisan legislation like the NTIA Policy and Cybersecurity Coordination Act when it passed the House this Congress. This legislation would create an office within the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to analyze and develop policies related to cybersecurity. Additionally, the House passed the Taxpayer Data Protection Act, which will deter criminal behavior by increasing the penalties for the unauthorized disclosure of personal tax information.
Who won the 2020 Presidential election? How confident are you in the integrity of our elections?
We need to make sure every vote counts and that nobody cheats. The border crisis has shown the need to secure the voter registration process and preserve the right to vote for American citizens, safeguarding our democracy. We should require an individual to provide proof of citizenship when registering to vote in federal elections. We also should provide states with access to existing federal databases so they can clean up their voter registration rolls and remove noncitizens from the rolls. Only Americans should decide the outcomes of our elections.