Collin Peterson
Bio | Before running for Congress, Peterson grew up on a farm and eventually graduated Minnesota State University-Moorhead with degrees in Business Administration and Accounting. He became a Certified Public Accountant and eventually a small business owner. |
Status and Position | Current US House of Representatives of Minnesota |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, Minnesota |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 House of Representatives Election MN-07 | MN-07 | Yes | Running | 42.0% |
Campaign Financing | The vast majority of Peterson's campaign funding comes from PAC contributions. Despite his own funding, he has spoken out in favor of regulating contributions in elections. |
Voting Rights | Peterson has not taken an explicit stance on voting rights. |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | For | Supports universal access to healthcare Although Peterson has some apprehensions about the Affordable Care Act, he believes that it protects people with pre-existing conditions. Peterson believes that everyone should have the right to affordable care. |
| Socialized Healthcare | Against | Peterson does not advocate for increased federal expenditure in the form of socialized healthcare programs. |
| Private Healthcare | For | Peterson believes that the private healthcare industry and the proper incentives will provide consumers with more options and lower costs. |
| LGBT Rights | Nuance | Peterson's voting pattern has been mixed. Peterson voted in favor of job discrimination protections for LGBT workers. However, the congressman has also voted in favor constitutionally defining marriage as one-man-one-woman. |
| Taxes | Against | Peterson generally oppose taxes. The congressman does not advocate for taxation as an efficient means of economic growth. Instead, he supports lower corporate taxes while keeping tax relief programs for individuals since the national debt will still be large anyways. |
| Flat Tax Rate | For | Peterson supports enacting tax reform that drastically simplifies taxation. The congressman does not advocate for taxation as an efficient means of economic growth. Instead, he supports lower corporate taxes while keeping tax relief programs for individuals since the national debt will still be large anyways. |
| Abortion | Against | He is pro-life. Despite his party's' tradition, Peterson is outspoken on his pro-life stance in the form of many bills that seek to regulate abortion. He has been endorsed by the group, Democrats for Life. |
| Gun Control | Against | Peterson does not advocate for increased gun control. The only gun control legislation that Peterson supports is red flagging that empowers intervention. However, in general, Peterson opposes the majority of gun control legislation. |
| Assisted Suicide | Against | Peterson warns that assisted suicide puts the most vulnerable of the American population at risk. The only gun control legislation that Peterson supports is red flagging that empowers intervention. However, in general, Peterson opposes the majority of gun control legislation. |
| Government Interference | For | Peterson supports government interference. |
| Planned Parenthood | Against | Peterson is pro-life. |
| Welfare | For | Peterson generally supports welfare programs. Peterson has advocated for bills that enable government investment in the working class. In addition, he has voted in favor of legislation that keeps work requirements for these programs. |
| Welfare | Against | Peterson does not advocate for increasing research on embryonic stem cell research. |
| Death Penalty | For | Peterson supports the death penalty. The congressman supports the death penalty. In addition, Peterson wants to make it easier to seek the death penalty for those who attacked first responders. |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | For | Peterson supports mandatory minimum prison sentences. |
| Military Spending | Against | Peterson considers a reduction in defense spending as a viable option fiscally. |
| War on Terrorism | Against | Peterson is skeptical of any use of force in the Middle East. |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | Peterson supports non-militaristic foreign policy. The congressman has supported tariff reductions and increased foreign trade. He has stated that tariff reductions will directly benefit US agriculture. |
| United Nations power | Unknown | Peterson has not taken a position on the UN. |
| Nationalism | Unknown | Peterson has no explicit stance on nationalism. |
| Free Markets | For | Peterson supports free markets. Domestically, Peterson supports free markets with the simplification of the tax system. In addition, the congressman advocates for an unregulated transnational market with tariff reductions. |
| Brexit | Unknown | Peterson does not have an explicit stance on Brexit. |
| Affirmative Action | For | Peterson voted against banning racial considerations in college admissions. |
| Government Spending | For | Peterson has advocated for increased spending in a lot of areas. |
| Charter Schools | For | Peterson has voted in favor of expanding charter school programs. |
| Common Core | Against | Does not advocate for common core Peterson does not believe that the implementation of common core is good enough. Though he recognizes the possibility of a national standard, he does not necessarily think common core is the answer. |
| Clean Energy | For | He supports increasing government investment in renewable energy. Peterson believes that increasing federal funds in clean energy will expand the industry and spur economic growth. However, he does not believe in regulating the fossil fuel industry. |
| Religious Freedom | For | Advocates for freedom of religion Peterson has voted for protections for citizens' practice of religion. He does not believe the government should interfere. |
| Separation of Church and State | For | He supports the separation of church and state. |
| Slavery Reparations | Unknown | Peterson has not taken a stance on reparations. |
| Border Control | For | Peterson supports increased border security. The congressman advocates for the funding of physical upgrades to border security where necessary. Peterson does believe that DREAMers should still receive protection. |
| Passenger Profiling | Unknown | Peterson has not explicitly taken a stance on passenger profiling. |
| DACA | For | Peterson advocates for maintaining a path to citizenship for those who benefit from DACA. |
| Sanctuary Cities | Unknown | Peterson does not have a position on sanctuary cities. |
| Legalizing Marijuana | Against | Peterson does not support the legalization of recreational marijuana. |