U.S. House, 16th District: what did each candidate actually say they'd do?

Where they agree

• All three say costs are squeezing families. Gruters will "fight rising costs so working families can afford gas, groceries, and everyday essentials."² Kirschner: "My first priority is, lowering the cost of living for Gulf Coast families."³ Davis: "rents are climbing, wages are stuck, insurance costs are blowing up."⁶
• Gruters and Kirschner both say they would protect Social Security and Medicare. Gruters: "protect Social Security and Medicare so seniors and those who served can retire with security and peace of mind."² Kirschner: "keep Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, the promises they've always been."³

Where they really split

• Border and crime: Gruters will "work with President Trump and ICE to keep our families safe from violent criminals entering our country illegally." Davis: "We're not going to militarize our streets just because someone's peddling fear."^{2, 6}
• Taxes: Gruters is "ready to cut taxes and fight rising costs." Kirschner: "Tear up the tax breaks that let billionaires pay less than we do."^{2, 3}
• Health care: Davis: "Universal healthcare isn't some scary monster." Kirschner: "Restore every cut to Medicare and Medicaid."^{4, 6}

What each one leaves out

• Gruters' six priorities are one sentence each in a home page section. None names a bill, program or number, and the page doesn't point to a vote or program she ran.²
• Kirschner names a policy on seven of his eleven items and spells out how on two (Gulf Coast protection and the Scalpel Plan). He gives one number, a $1 trillion savings target over three years, and names no funding source for any item.^{3, 5}
• Davis names a policy on all twelve of his items and spells out how on three (pay rules, data centers and surveillance, cannabis). He gives numbers on one ($20 an hour; no income tax rise under $400,000) and a funding source on two. He names no dates.^{6, 8}