Richard Shelby in 2016 AL Senate race

On Abortion: Roe v. Wade flawed on both a constitutional & moral basis

Shelby: I am resolutely pro-life and believe that the Supreme Court's ruling in Roe v. Wade, in which it decided that abortion is a constitutional right, is terribly flawed on both a constitutional and moral basis. I believe that it is our ethical and moral duty to protect the dignity of human life, particularly when it comes to the lives of the most vulnerable members of the human race. I have consistently voted to prevent the use of any federal funds to perform abortions. I am also a cosponsor of S. 1553, the "Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act." S. 1553 would prohibit abortions after 20 weeks with the exception of saving the mother's life or in the event of rape or incest.

On Principles & Values: Judeo-Christian values should guide all that we do

Shelby: As a lifelong Presbyterian, I strongly believe that our nation was founded on Judeo-Christian values and that those values should guide all that we do. Throughout my tenure in public office, I have consistently fought for conservative principles. I know that the best form of government is one that is smaller and less intrusive.

Q: Considering all issues (social, economic, national security, etc.), which political philosophy best describes you?

Shelby: Very Conservative

Q: Please defend your answer by referencing your publicly available track record.

Shelby: I currently have an 87% conservative rating from Heritage Action, an A+ lifetime rating from the NRA for protecting the Second Amendment, and an A+ lifetime rating from Numbers USA for my strong record on immigration. I have also received the "ACU Conservative Achievement Award" from the American Conservative Union.

On Budget & Economy: Opposes raising the debt limit; opposes $18T debt

Richard Shelby: I believe that our nation's debt crisis is one of the most important challenges facing our nation and must be addressed. When President Obama took office, our nation's debt was at a staggering $10.6 trillion. Our debt has now skyrocketed to over $18 trillion under this Administration's misguided policies. The cycle of debt accumulation is unsustainable and will only lead to placing more debt on the backs of future generations. That is why I strongly opposed raising the debt limit last October. I believe that we simply cannot continue to raise our debt ceiling with no reforms to curb the driver of our debt crisis: wasteful spending.

On Foreign Policy: Immediate moratorium on Syrian refugees

Shelby: During these uncertain times around the world, we must have a strong military. I have always supported efforts to properly train and equip our men and women in uniform, and will continue to fight to protect the American homeland and its interests.

I would also put an immediate moratorium on Syrian refugees coming into the U.S. President Obama's refugee plan relies on a vetting system that does not do enough to ensure that terrorists are not infiltrating the system. I recently voted against the omnibus because it gave a blank check to the President to continue with his plans that I believe will put Americans in harm's way.

Lastly, I would stop the President's executive action on gun control. In order to ensure the safety of Americans, we must not allow for any action that takes away law-abiding citizens' right to protect themselves.

On Government Reform: Peer pressure & education to get people to register to vote

Richard Shelby: I believe that the best way to get individuals to register to vote and get out to the polls is by positive support from peers in their community. Organizations like the League of Women Voters of Alabama are critical to educating citizens about the importance of voting and recognizing that this constitutional right is one that many around the world do not have. Voting is the best way to have your voice heard as a citizen of this great nation and to hold those who represent you accountable for their actions.

On Immigration: I oppose any and all proposals to grant amnesty

Richard Shelby: Our nation's immigration system is broken. We have a President who has completely disregarded the rule of law and made our immigration crisis even worse. By contrast, I have consistently advocated for stronger illegal immigration laws and enforcement of the laws currently on the books. In particular, I oppose any and all proposals to grant amnesty to the more than 10 million people illegally present in the United States today. While the United States is a nation founded by immigrants, and I fully support a fair and reasonable means of allowing individuals to immigrate to America legally, it is simply wrong to reward people who break U.S. immigration laws while so many others wait their turn to come to America legally.

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Voter presidential angst overcome in Senate primary

Jonathan McConnell, a 33-year-old former Marine, attacked Shelby's age, longevity, record and ethics. On Sunday, he campaigned at the door to the Donald Trump rally hoping to tap into those GOP voters angry with the establishment. In the end, the anti-Shelby vote splintered among McConnell and the other three challengers. And more notably, the results indicate that even some passionate Trump voters turned their ballots over and chose Shelby.

On Homeland Security: Stalwart protector of Redstone Arsenal & Marshall Center

Even as he proclaims America is about to crumble under the burden of its budget deficit, Shelby is a stalwart protector of Redstone Arsenal, Marshall Space Flight Center and the Tennessee Valley Authority. During his five terms as a senator, he has funneled massive amounts of federal money to the University of Alabama, greatly benefiting the state.

On Principles & Values: OpEd: Makes Obama the icon of our xenophobia

The Republican fights President Barack Obama--who has been made the icon of our xenophobia--"every hour of every day," according to a commercial he is running. And there's some truth to that. On issues where the Obama administration has stated a position, according to a recent study by Congressional Quarterly, Shelby voted against the White House 63.9 percent of the time. He leads the Senate in that statistic.

His opposition to a U.S. Supreme Court nominee that Obama has not even selected is a recent example of his blind opposition to the president. It may be a politically savvy strategy, but it interferes with the efficient workings of government

On Corporations: Don't smother small banks with unnecessary regulations

Shelby's Financial Regulatory Improvement Act would revise provisions of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a 2,000-page bill that was passed in 2010 and implemented sweeping regulations to America's banks & financial institutions.

Shelby said while the bill was touted as "Wall Street reform" many of the regulations have negatively impacted community and regional banks.