Card image cap

Shontel Brown's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

Office:

On The Ballot: Running, Democratic for U.S. House (OH) - District 11

Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2024.

  • "Roe vs. Wade has been the law of the land for 50 years. We must keep it that way." (x.com)
  • "I was heartbroken to learn that a 10-year-old survivor of sexual assault from Ohio was forced to cross state lines for an abortion. It disturbs me to think she will not be the last victim in a post-Roe era. We must continue our fight to make Roe the law of the land." (x.com)
  • "It's time to codify Roe v. Wade. It's time for the Senate to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act." (x.com)
  • "Women lost their fundamental right to make decisions about their reproductive healthcare when the far-right Supreme Court overturned Roe. For the first time in several generations, we will see women grow up in a world where they have fewer rights than their mothers and grandmothers." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "I Voted in favor of the debt ceiling agreement because the alternative – deep cuts or a default – was much worse. Thankfully, the @WhiteHouse & @HouseDemocrats protected Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, veterans’ care, and the ACA." (x.com)
  • "Instead of working with Democrats to keep government open, extreme MAGA Republicans are continuing to attack abortion rights and seek cuts to Social Security and Medicare. House Democrats are committed to lowering costs, growing the middle class, and defending our freedoms." (x.com)
  • "Providing healthcare coverage to over 93 million people, Medicaid is essential to providing quality care in the United States." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • Voted in favor of S 610 "Protecting Medicare and American Farmers from Sequester Cuts Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "A trickle-down economic plan from Congressional Republicans would lead to higher costs, more inflation, and a massive tax giveaway for the ultra-wealthy. We KNOW trickle-down doesn’t work–in fact, it usually worsens income disparities for hardworking Americans." (x.com)
  • "Everyday Americans pay 99% of taxes they owe, while the top 1% hides over 20% of their income from the IRS each year. We need to make it easier for everyday Americans to receive their tax refunds, instead of making it easier for tax cheats to skip out on paying their fair share." (x.com)
  • "Extremist politicians have spent their first week in Congress making it easier for the wealthy and well-connected to cheat on their taxes while targeting working families and Seniors with a new plan to dismantle Social Security. It’s shameful." (x.com)
  • "Trickle-down economics doesn’t work for American families—it’s just another tax break for the ultra-wealthy in disguise." (x.com)
  • "A trickle-down economic plan from Congressional Republicans would lead to higher costs, more inflation, and a massive tax giveaway for the ultra-wealthy. We KNOW trickle-down doesn’t work–in fact, it usually worsens income disparities for hardworking Americans." (x.com)
  • "Everyday Americans pay 99% of taxes they owe, while the top 1% hides over 20% of their income from the IRS each year. We need to make it easier for everyday Americans to receive their tax refunds, instead of making it easier for tax cheats to skip out on paying their fair share." (x.com)
  • "Extremist politicians have spent their first week in Congress making it easier for the wealthy and well-connected to cheat on their taxes while targeting working families and Seniors with a new plan to dismantle Social Security. It’s shameful." (x.com)
  • "Trickle-down economics doesn’t work for American families—it’s just another tax break for the ultra-wealthy in disguise." (x.com)
  • "Also, for the sake of our democracy, I support initiatives to get money out of politics, overturning Citizens United, and banning Members of Congress from becoming lobbyists. In Congress, I will champion the For The People Act and The John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which will expand voting rights, limit gerrymandering, create new ethics rules, and reduce the role of money in politics." (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Rated 92% by End Citizens United (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "Seven years ago today, 12-year-old Tamir Rice was killed by a police officer. Tamir should be alive today, yet his family and our community still have not seen justice. We need greater accountability in policing. We need the Justice in Policing Act." (x.com)
  • "The House has twice passed the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. The bill would ban chokeholds, stop no-knock warrants, reform qualified immunity, combat racial profiling & establish a police misconduct registry. It's never too late to turn this moment of agony into action." (x.com)
  • "Today, two years after the murder of George Floyd, @POTUS is delivering on the promise of meaningful police reform. This historic order takes key steps that will improve the safety of our communities and restore trust between police and the people they were sworn to protect." (x.com)
  • Rated 20% by National Association of Police Organizations (NAPO) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • "This week I Voted in favor of the National Defense Authorization Act, which included a well-deserved pay raise for servicemembers, expanded eligibility for the Basic Needs Allowance, and new investment in military housing and child care. Proud to support our military and their families." (x.com)
  • "Today, I voted in support of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This bill supports our servicemembers by: ✅Bringing down kitchen-table costs for military families ✅Investing in diversity & inclusion programs ✅Promoting #cleanenergy technology in @DeptofDefense" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 2670 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7900 "National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Since President Biden took office, Democrats have created more than 13 million jobs. We are bringing supply chains back home, rebuilding our infrastructure, and unleashing a clean energy revolution. #PeopleOverPolitics" (x.com)
  • Rated 4% by Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted against HR 2811 "Limit, Save, Grow Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5376 "Build Back Better Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "It was an honor to attend @NNA_US's event on Capitol Hill last week and get a chance to chat with affordable housing advocates about the importance of working together to alleviate housing insecurity nationwide." (x.com)
  • "My morning was filled with excitement as I attended Via Sana's ribbon cutting. Vía Sana is MetroHealth’s new 72-unit affordable housing rental residence in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood. This center will provide new opportunities for our community." (x.com)
  • "The #BuildBackBetter Act: Invests in childcare, Makes college more affordable, Lowers the costs of health care and prescription drugs Builds more affordable housing. What’s more, it is fully paid for by making large corporations and wealthy Americans pay their fair share." (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of HR 8294 "Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • "Last month, @HouseDemocrats kept their promise to help combat inflation & lower kitchen-table costs for Americans when we put People Over Politics and passed the #InflationReductionAct." (x.com)
  • "We did it! The House has passed the Inflation Reduction Act. Next stop is the @WhiteHouse" (x.com)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 7688 "Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of H.R. 5376 "Build Back Better Act (Inflation Reduction Act of 2022)" (votesmart.org)
  • "I applaud President Biden for extending the pause on student loan payments until June 2023. This will ensure continued financial relief even while the student loan cancellation program is on hold due to litigation. As a result, the almost 1.07 million Ohio borrowers who qualify for The Biden-Harris student loan forgiveness program will continue to receive financial relief." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "In fact: 28% of those who attended my telephone town hall in February 2023 had zero to $10,000 in student loan debt – which means the Biden Administration's plan could eliminate their debt, leaving them with more money to contribute to our economy. I remain committed to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress to provide additional relief for student borrowers. " (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "The Biden Administration's student debt forgiveness plan would be a financial lifeline for many in our community and help boost our economy at home and nationwide. Under President Biden's program, over 700,000 applications for debt relief have already been approved for Ohioans." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "The Joint Consolidation Loan Separation Act will provide student loan borrowers the much-needed relief that offers economic freedom for survivors and allows them to regain their financial footing." (x.com)
  • "I will continue to support bills that strengthen our voting rights, including the For The People Act and the John R. Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act. The American people agree with me, overwhelmingly supporting Democratic Legislation to safeguard elections and protect the right to vote." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "State Voter ID laws could restrict the voting rights of over 200,000 trans voters in next week’s election. The right to vote belongs to every American, and we must ensure that our most vulnerable communities are not disenfranchised." (x.com)
  • "The right to vote is a sacred, hard-won freedom. As part of our efforts to form a more perfect and inclusive union, we must combat issues like voter suppression that silence the voices of historically marginalized communities. During the last decade since the Supreme Court first gut voting rights in Shelby County v. Holder, questions of election security have grown and state legislatures have made it increasingly more difficult for Americans to vote." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • Voter in favor of "H.R. 5746 "Freedom to Vote: John R. Lewis Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "In the 117th Congress, I voted for legislation that invests in initiatives to reduce harmful air pollutants and greenhouse gases and move us closer to achieving a clean energy economy that works for everyone." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "Locally, I support Cuyahoga County’s new microgrid deployment initiative, which will make Cleveland's electrical systems more resilient and reliable. My commitment is always to ensure continued climate progress and ending polluters' attacks on clean energy initiatives." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • "Ohio’s Eleventh Congressional District has the potential to lead the country in the clean energy transition by investing in energy grid modernization to tackle the climate crisis and ensure a thriving clean energy economy. Through climate-forward legislation, we can make that potential a reality." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • Voted against H.R. 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "The U.S. is already the world’s top producer of oil and gas. We cannot drill our way to energy independence. @HouseGOP’s #PollutersOverPeople bill attacks clean energy and reverses climate progress with handouts to the oil and gas industries." (x.com)
  • "Rather than helping hardworking Americans, the "Strategic" Production Response Act is a giveaway to Big Oil–the same industry that enjoyed record-shattering profits last year at the expense of working families. This bill is a win for Big Oil–not the American people." (x.com)
  • Voted against H.R. 1 "Lower Energy Costs Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted against H.R. 21 "Strategic Production Response Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "As a licensed gun owner and a Christian, I believe in the Second Amendment and the power of prayer. But let us not forget: "faith without works is dead." That's why "thoughts & prayers" alone won't suffice: we must do the work and pass gun reform to keep our communities safe." (x.com)
  • "Northeast Ohio is no stranger to the pain and trauma of the gun violence epidemic. As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Taskforce, I am convinced that common sense gun reform will make our country and communities safer." (shontelbrown.house.gov)
  • Rated 0% by the National Rifle Association (NRA) (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S. 2938 "Bipartisan Safer Communities Act" (votesmart.org)
  • "Extreme MAGA Republicans are bringing back their push to repeal the Affordable Care Act and take away our health care. Their radical scheme will leave millions uninsured and hike costs for millions more." (x.com)
  • "I am proud to become the newest member to support Medicare for All. Thank you, @RepJayapal" (x.com)
  • "No more GoFundMe’s. No more medical debt. Today I joined @RepJayapal, @RepDebDingell & @SenSanders to reintroduce #MedicareForAll so that EVERYONE can access high-quality, affordable care— because healthcare is a human right." (x.com)
  • "Today marks 13 years since the #AffordableCareAct was signed into law – a landmark piece of legislation that advanced health equity for all Americans. I stand with @WhiteHouse in their continued commitment to ensuring every American has access to quality, affordable healthcare." (x.com)
  • "A worker’s wages and health should never be at odds. By voting YES on today's resolution, I ensured that freight railroad workers will receive seven days of paid sick leave. I am proud to stand with rail workers to put people over profits." (x.com)
  • "America is one of the few countries worldwide without universal paid family and medical leave. The Build Back Better Act ends this national disgrace, ensuring no person has to choose between caring for themselves or their family and their paycheck." (x.com)
  • "I'd like to thank #OH11 constituent Donna Price for sharing her story with @WaysMeansCmte. A nurse, a mother of 3, and a caregiver for her disabled mother, Ms. Price said we need affordable childcare and paid family and medical leave. I agree, Ms. Price, and I have your back." (x.com)
  • "The Pregnancy Discrimination Act has been in effect for over four decades, yet pregnant workers—especially women of color—still face obstacles in the workplace. We must build on this legislation by ensuring paid family and medical leave for working families." (x.com)
  • "Democrats are taking on special interests to lower costs for working families. Because of our work, we’ve finally forced Big Pharma to lower the price of insulin and other prescription drugs. #PeopleOverPolitics" (x.com)
  • "I won’t stop fighting for the Build Back Better Act. From investing in childcare and college affordability to reducing the costs of health care and prescription drugs, the bill would cut costs for Ohio families and give them a long overdue shot at getting ahead." (x.com)
  • "No person should have to choose between paying for prescription drugs or putting food on the table. That is why the Build Back Better Act allows Medicare to negotiate lower drug prices." (x.com)
  • "Our Dreamers achieve extraordinary things. Their contributions to our nation enhance our economy, enrich the arts, and strengthen our country. We owe our DACA recipients so much, and it's about time we returned the favor. The Senate must act now to #ProtectDACA." (x.com)
  • "The House passed the Dream and Promise Act to finally provide Dreamers with a pathway to citizenship one year ago today. It's time to get this bill across the finish line because home is here." (x.com)
  • Rated 7% by NumbersUSA (justfacts.votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692: "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6968: "Suspending Energy Imports from Russia Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7108: "Suspending Normal Trade Relations with Russia and Belarus Act" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 5692: "Ukraine Security Assistance and Oversight Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 6833: "Continuing Appropriations and Ukraine Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7691: "Making emergency supplemental appropriations for assistance for the situation in Ukraine for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2022, and for other purposes." (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of S3522: "Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7520: "Protecting Americans' Data from Foreign Adversaries Act of 2024" (votesmart.org)
  • Voted in favor of HR 7521: "Protecting Americans from Foreign Adversary Controlled Applications Act" (votesmart.org)

Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.

arrow_upward