Where Republican presidential candidates stand: The economy and crime & policing
ON THE ECONOMY
Ryan Binkley: Binkley, a 56-year-old Texas businessman, has proposed a 7-year plan to “rescue” the economy. He has called for a 2% cut across the board for nondefense discretionary spending in a push to reduce the country’s budget, in addition to reforming Social Security. He has also called for extending Trump-era tax cuts, calling it a pro-growth position for the country. He has railed against Congress for its budgeting process, including temporary measures to avoid government shutdowns.
Ron DeSantis: The Florida governor, 45, has promised that on day one of his presidential administration, he would reverse Biden’s signature economic policies. He has said he would slash spending and mandate work requirements for safety net programs. DeSantis said he has a goal of achieving 3% economic growth for the U.S. He has also said he would extend some Trump-era tax cuts and ban individual stock trading by those in Congress and other executive branch officials.
Nikki Haley: Haley, 51, and a former SC governor who holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting, has called for tax cuts, reduced regulation and a balanced budget. She has touted policies she says would help “working families,” including decreasing tax rates for individuals and small businesses and eliminating federal gas taxes. Haley has vowed to veto any government spending bills exceeding pre-pandemic levels.
Donald Trump: The former President, 77, receives some of his highest marks from voters on his handling of the economy. Trump and his fellow Republicans passed a $1.5 trillion tax overhaul in 2017, which will expire in 2025. He has criticized the growing federal debt, though his critics point out that Trump did little to address it during his term. The nation’s budget and debt increased under his watch. He has also been more skeptical of free trade initiatives than some Republican counterparts.
ON CRIME & POLICING
When addressing rising crime rates, the business owner and pastor has criticized efforts to reduce funding for police and other law enforcement officials. In response to questions from USA TODAY, Binkley said he supports a “broken windows model of policing,” a widely controversial idea that cities can lessen serious crime by cracking down on minor offenses. He has also called for providing additional training for police and further resources for community-level policing programs.
In the wake of the mass shooting in Lewiston, Maine, in October 2023, DeSantis blamed Democratic policies and called for institutionalizing more people over mental health concerns. DeSantis has balked at most gun control measures. As governor, he had signed anti-crime legislation that pushed back against bail reform, increased sentences for drug traffickers and more. DeSantis has often claimed Florida’s crime rate is at a 50-year low, though some experts have taken issue with the statistic.
In sweeping statements about the need to improve law and order across the country, Haley has sought policies that better support law enforcement, hold district attorneys accountable for prosecuting according to the law, and get “illegal guns off the streets.” During her two terms as governor, she enacted policies to reduce prison recidivism rates, including launching a program to help people convicted of crimes find jobs. Haley has opposed gun reforms.
Trump supports increased powers for police and says Democratic policies are leading to crime sprees in big cities. Meanwhile, opponents say his proposed crackdowns threaten civil liberties. Trump did sign the First Step Act into law, which expanded some early-release programs for people convicted of crimes and reduced certain mandatory minimum sentences, among other changes. He also issued several high-profile pardons and commutations while in office.