Republican Eric Hansen in Senate debate

Republican Eric Hansen laid out policies and initiatives he hopes to showcase to the public and implement if elected to the Senate this past Wednesday on Oct. 16 at Mitchell Hall. 

The debate took place without the two other candidates on stage, with Mike Katz failing to meet the debate criteria and Lisa Blunt Rochester declining to participate.

“Our campaign tried to make it work,” the Blunt Rochester campaign said in a statement provided to The Review. “Right now, the Congresswoman is focused on meeting voters where they are, and that is exactly what she is doing today.”

Hansen expressed his discontent with Blunt Rochester’s absence in the debate.

“I wish Lisa Blunt Rochester had been here because I think it’s really good for her constituents and for the voting public as a whole to hear more,” Hansen said speaking to the media after the debate. “I would ask her, ‘Please, Lisa, make yourself more known because people need to hear about you. People need to see you. I’ve heard this up and down the state.’”

Hansen, a newcomer to Delaware politics and a former Walmart executive for seven years, spoke about his unique position.

“The people who created the problems are not the people who can fix the problems,” Hansen said. “Having fresh blood, fresh thinking, someone who’s not a politician, I think, is really going to be helpful for Delaware. I’m proud of the fact that I’m coming in as a proud non-politician, as a reasonable Republican,”

Hansen began during the debate by addressing the economy, emphasizing that for many families in Delaware, the cost of basic necessities has become unaffordable due to inflation.

“We have a spending problem in the U.S., Congress spends like it’s not their money and they’re just trying to get reelected, which is probably largely the case,” Hansen said. “As a country, we waste about $1 trillion a year. So imagine if we spent that $1 trillion on programs that didn’t waste the money.”

Hansen proposed a tax relief initiative for first-time homebuyers and those earning less than $50,000 a year, suggesting a temporary tax pause for this income bracket.

Hansen stressed that his “Hansen Spend and Tax Reduction Act” would adjust government spending and implement a 2% across-the-board reduction.

When pressed on whether these cuts in government spending would include military and veterans’ benefits, Hansen doubled down on the importance of the military during the debate. 

“Now with the military, I think that’s another conversation we need to have because having a strong military is critical to the safety and security of this country and, frankly, the world,” Hansen said.

Hansen also spoke on restoring trust in government, emphasizing the need for term limits to renew public trust in elected officials, including the Supreme Court.

“To me, term limits are critically important,” Hansen said. “It’s a way to get fresh blood and fresh thinking into the government.” 

On the topic of abortion, Hansen was clear about his stance following the overturning of Roe v. Wade and the will of the people on the topic of abortion in Delaware to all of those watching and listening during the debate. 

“To be very clear, I, as a U.S. Senator, will not vote for a federal abortion ban, full stop,” Hansen said.

Ethan Grandin/THE REVIEW

However, he said the issue of abortion should be left to the states and that more discussion was needed on the state level.

Regarding immigration, Hansen said he would have voted for the Bipartisan Border Reform Bill, which failed to pass in the Senate earlier this year due to opposition from former President Donald Trump.

Hansen added that the bill was a temporary solution and that more stringent vetting should be implemented to ensure that only skilled and law-abiding individuals are admitted.

“What I think is really necessary is more vetting to make sure we’re letting in the right people, based on skills,” Hansen said. “Making sure that drug dealers, gang members and terrorists are not coming in.”

On the issue of gun violence, Hansen argued that the majority of the problem stems from violent offenders and that state law enforcement may lack the resources to address it during the debate.

“The vast majority of violent crimes, including gun crimes, are committed by repeat violent offenders,” Hansen said. “If the state isn’t going to prosecute violent criminals and keep them off the street, then I would bring in a federal task force to prosecute those violent criminals.”

Hansen clarified, however, that the federal task force he referenced applied specifically to violent crimes and not to issues like voting rights or abortion.

In his closing statement, Hansen addressed the challenges Delaware faces and emphasized that his private sector experience would help alleviate the state’s economic struggles, contrasting himself with his opponent.

Hansen will face Democrat Blunt Rochester and Independent Katz in the upcoming general election on Nov. 5.

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