Debra Heffernan

Meet the Candidate

Party Legend

  • DDemocrat
  • IIndependent
  • LLibertarian
  • RRepublican
  • NNonpartisan
  • UUnaffiliated

Running For:
State Representative
District:
6
Political Affiliation:
D
Phone:
302-762-3478
Statement:
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*** If a candidate did not respond, please use the contact information provided to reach out to them directly. View the resource page for additional voting records of incumbent legislators on other important issues.

Survey

Response Legend

  • SSupport
  • OOppose
  • −Declined to Respond/Undecided, Position Unknown/Unclear
  • *Comment
  • †Declined to respond, Position based on citation
  • !Running Unopposed

Question Response Comments/Notes
1. The Delaware Constitution should be amended to protect the right of parents to the control, custody, and care of their children from government interference, which requires the government to prove that it has a strong, compelling reason to restrict that right, such as in cases of abuse and neglect. (HB 319, 2022) O† Note: Planned Parenthood Survey Question: Do you support the ability of teenagers under the age of 16 to confidentially access safe and legal abortion? Answer: "Yes."
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2. Public schools should seek to strengthen the parent-child relationship, and should not be required to implement or integrate expansive and comprehensive sex education curriculum that includes LGBTQIA+ role play, sexual practices, and identities. (HB 199, 2021) O† Note: Planned Parenthood Survey Question: Do you support expansive and comprehensive sex education curriculum in public schools that is inclusive of LGBTQ+ sexual experiences and identities? Answer: "Yes. Every student should have an opportunity to learn about consent, sexual health, risk reduction and healthy behaviors. A comprehensive sex education curriculum inclusive of LGBTQ+ experiences is potentially the best way to dispel stereotypes, teach sexual health in a medically accurate way, and educate students on the need to practice safe sex across all identities. It is also found that an inclusive curriculum can create more positive outcomes for LGBTQ+ youth in terms of their self-esteem and perspectives on healthy behaviors."
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3. Delaware law should protect fairness and the integrity of women’s sports. (HB 199, 2021; SB 227, 2022) O† Note: Sponsored HB 199, to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Delaware Constitution.
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4. Individuals and faith-based entities should have the right of conscience to freely live out their sincerely held convictions regarding human sexuality and conception, without fear of government infringement or retaliation. (HB 199, 2021) O† Note: Sponsored HB 199, to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the Delaware Constitution.
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5. Abortion is the act of violently ending the life of another human being. Lawmakers should work to promote the value of and protect human life from conception to natural death, versus expanding abortion access through all 9 months of pregnancy. (SR 24, 2022; HB 40, 2022; SB 235, 2022; HB 140, 2022; HB 455, 2022; SB 343, 2022; HB 460, 2022). O† Note: Planned Parenthood Survey Question: Would you support a state constitutional amendment to fully protect access to abortion care? Answer: "Yes. And I have already had the opportunity to support a similar bill. I was a House co-prime on Sen. Gay’s SB 343, a constitutional amendment for reproductive liberty, along with Rep. Longhurst and Rep. Minor-Brown. While that bill was not moved during the 151st General Assembly, I will actively support a similar constitutional amendment if introduced in the upcoming session."
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6. Assisted Suicide, the act of deliberately assisting or cooperating in helping someone terminate his or her life, should not be legalized in Delaware as an end-of-life option. (HB 140, 2022) -
7. A State of Emergency declaration extended beyond 30 days should depend on the consent of the people of Delaware through the General Assembly. (HB 49, 2021; HB 247, 2021). -
8. The right of Delawareans to keep and bear arms, as protected by the US and DE Constitutions, should not be infringed. Better enforcement of current laws to prevent crime versus more restrictive gun control is needed to protect public safety. (HB 450, 2022; SB 8, 2021) O† Note: Co-Sponsored HB 450, prohibiting the manufacture, sale, offer to sell, transfer, purchase, receipt, possession, or transport of "assault weapons."
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9. To preserve the integrity of our elections, the legislature should strive to eliminate opportunities for fraud in the election process. (HB 15, 2022; HB 25, 2022; SB 320, 2022) O† Note: Co-Sponsored SB 320, to establish permanent mail-in voting.
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