Supports abortion rights. According to NARAL Pro-Choice America, Gravel had a consistently pro-choice voting record during his last four years in office. Gravel has stated firm opposition to the Supreme Court's ruling in Gonzales v. Carhart, which upholds a federal ban on live intact D&X ("partial birth") abortions. Also supports comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education, including accurate information about contraception, which he states would decrease the number of unintended pregnancies and abortions.

Gravel believes No Child Left Behind should be reformed and have increased funding. He believes Head Start needs to be expanded, and universal pre-kindergarten should be available to all, especially low-income families. He believes government should be flexible in encouraging education, utilizing programs that might include extended school days or school years, summer learning opportunities, online and broadcast courses for teachers, and possibly charter schools and increased vocational options.

Wants to reduce "America's carbon footprint," address global deforestation, and work with scientists to determine ways to best combat pollution and climate change. While a senator, he served on the Environment and Public Works Committee, giving him a chance to work on environmental legislation dealing with air, water, waste, and energy.

Believes national security and survivability of the planet are at stake. Would initiate legislation to tax carbon at the source and cap carbon emissions. Is concerned with global deforestation, also a major contributor to global warming. Believes America must work together with other major pollution generators, particularly China and India, to fight climate change. Supports global scientific effort to end energy dependence on oil.

Gravel advocates a universal healthcare system in which equal medical services would be supplied to all citizens, who would pay nothing for health benefits. It would be paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair tax).

Gravel believes the government must end the secrecy that has characterized the U.S. homeland security policies since 9/11. He also thinks that terrorism, both at home and abroad, is a global problem that requires a global response, "not only with intelligence and police work, but with creative economic and humanitarian programs." He believes the United States should work more with agencies like Interpol and with other countries to find terrorists and prosecute them, but believes current U.S. policy alienates those who could help us keep our borders secure.

Supports creating a legal path to citizenship for some illegal immigrants. Supports guest worker programs. Says the construction of a border fence along the U.S.-Mexican border is a cosmetic solution. Says that the NAFTA agreement has worsened the problem, and that better trade policies can help reduce illegal immigration.

Supports same-sex marriage. Opposes the Defense of Marriage Act. Supports full equality lesbian/gay rights. Also supports the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA), federal hate crime legislation that includes sexual orientation and gender identity as protected categories, and the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell."

Supports investing money from the Social Security Trust Fund to improve solvency and allowing workers to leave surplus benefits to their heirs.

Gravel believes in the pursuit of aggressive diplomatic programs to end the war in Iraq, including working with the surrounding countries for an appropriate solution to the ongoing civil war. He opposes military solutions with countries like Iran and Syria, believing diplomacy is the way to improve relations.

Opposed use of military force in Iraq, saying invasion was against U.S. interests. Opposed Bush plan to send additional American troops to Iraq. Supports immediate troop withdrawal; would begin an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops to bring them home within 120 days. Says "aggressive" and "skilled" diplomacy is needed to end sectarian violence. Says non-binding congressional resolutions are ineffective and that Congress should instead demand an end to the war.