Maryland State Senate District 31 candidate surveys, 2022

Elections in Maryland, 2022

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This article shows responses from candidates in the 2022 election for Maryland State Senate District 31 who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey.

• Click here to see candidates and election results.
• Click here to see Candidate Connection survey responses.

Candidates and election results

General election

General election for Maryland State Senate District 31

Incumbent Bryan Simonaire defeated Brian Kunkoski in the general election for Maryland State Senate District 31 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Bryan Simonaire (R)	71.3	32,215
		Brian Kunkoski (L)	27.2	12,318
		Other/Write-in votes	1.5	681

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 45,214
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey responses

Ballotpedia asks all federal, state, and local candidates to complete a survey and share what motivates them on political and personal levels. The section below shows responses from candidates in this race who completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Survey responses from candidates in this race

Click on a candidate's name to visit their Ballotpedia page.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Lower the state fees associated with owning a vehicle

Abolish the gas tax

Make Maryland an open carry state, protect residents from federal firearms restrictions

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Firearms, animal husbandry

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Spike Cohen. He's the best messenger for the libertarian movement.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Anatomy Of The State

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

9/11 I was in second grade art class when we got the news.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Dishwasher/food runner about 3 years

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

The governor must put the residents rights above all else.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Gun laws, crime, and high cost of living.

What are the benefits and drawbacks of a unicameral state legislature, in your opinion?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Laws get passed with no push back.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Absolutely not.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Yes. Single issue coalitions are necessary to create legislation that benefits all.

What process do you favor for redistricting?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

A civilian board.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

County Executive

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Yes

Do you believe that compromise is necessary or desirable for policymaking?

Brian Kunkoski (L)

Compromise is necessary. Not every official has the same beliefs that I hold.

See also

More about these elections:

• Maryland State Senate elections, 2022

Select a district below to read responses from candidates in those races:

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