Rachel Bohman (DFL): 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 1st Congressional District candidate Rachel Bohman submitted her answers to the questionnaire below.
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What do you believe are the most pressing issues facing constituents served by the office you are seeking?
I've been listening to people all across our district and the key issues that keep coming up are economic security; healthcare access and affordability; support for farmers and small businesses; and fear over Republican attacks on our democracy and personal freedoms such as reproductive health and LGBTQI+ rights.
What are the three big goals or policies you hope to accomplish or pass during your time in office?
I will get a Farm bill done that helps every farmer and provides the necessary nutrition support for children, elderly, and families.
I want to pass a federal law for full reproductive rights including protections for birth control, fertility treatments, and for the professionals who provide reproductive healthcare.
I will work on small business legislation that better supports our rural communities and provides the tools these folks need to succeed.
Do you think Congress should pass a federal law on abortion rights and what should it look like?
Yes, I believe we must pass a federal law that reinstates the reproductive rights we had under Roe v. Wade. I believe we should include protections for other areas of reproductive healthcare including birth control, IVF, and other necessary medical procedures the Republicans want to eliminate. I will also advocate for clear protections for healthcare providers who provide this care.
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?
We must pass real immigration reform. We had a bipartisan border security bill with Republicans in Congress, but Trump made them kill it so he could keep demonizing innocent immigrants as a campaign strategy. Our farm, manufacturing, and health care economy depends on immigrant workers but our legal immigration program is severely outdated. The pipeline is not big enough to let in the workers we need. We must have compassionate immigration policies that create a fair and efficient system for those who want to come here legally.
What would you do to address violent crime and drug use?
This is a personal issue for me as both my brother and Mom suffered with addiction. I agree with the current Administration's approach to strengthening prevention, investing in treatment, and expanding recovery support services for addiction.
I also believe we should continue this Administration's focus on funding law enforcement; expanding mental health services; and creating community violence intervention programs.
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?
I fully support the Second Amendment but believe we should have common sense gun safety legislation including reforms like universal background checks, red flag laws, and limits on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines.
I also believe that we should continue investments in law enforcement training and support so they are able to build on their successful gun violence prevention programs.
Do you believe there should be term limits for members of Congress?
I believe in our democracy and election process; I leave the decision on when elected officials should retire to the voters.
What economic policies do you propose to address high prices and cost of living?
I strongly believe in an economic plan where we balance federal spending with reducing our federal debt. I believe that we can help families by lowering the cost of childcare, healthcare, and prescription costs. In addition, I support fighting anti-competitive practices that let big corporations raise prices and undermine competition. We should also restore and expand the Child Tax Credit. We must also protect Social Security and Medicare from the cuts and changes proposed by Republicans.
What is the government's responsibility when it comes to climate change? How would you address it?
Many southern Minnesota farmers and local governments are working to demonstrate their innovation and leadership in climate change. I hope to continue to support bipartisan leadership and funding for climate initiatives that protect our public lands and water.
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?
I believe that we must first invest in strengthening our national infrastructure and digital systems so we can better identify and deal with threats. We must also build public-private partnerships to improve our cybersecurity so we can more nimbly react to the changing threat. We should provide additional support to small businesses and all American citizens so they are better informed on the risks and better able to protect their personal data.
Who won the 2020 Presidential election? How confident are you in the integrity of our elections?
Joe Biden won our 2020 Presidential election. I have a long career in election administration in Minnesota. My full confidence in our system comes from my years of experience along with the number of checks and balances we have to keep our election system safe. I am always proud of the thousands of election judges, local government staff, and the voters who make Minnesota's reputation in integrity and keep us at the highest turnout!