Colorado Voter Guide
Below you can find information on the contests in Colorado for Senate and one race for the U.S. House, as well as several important amendments and propositions. Incumbents (those who currently hold the office) are marked with an asterisk.
Additionally, there are many other races — and in many states, propositions and ballot measures — that will be voted on this year and will have a profound impact on young people’s lives. Find out more about these races and view your complete ballot by checking out Rock the Vote’s election resources.
A Senator serves in the United States Senate, which is the upper chamber of the United States Congress. A senator’s job is to represent the people living in their state. A significant part of their role is to write and vote on new laws, confirm judicial and Cabinet nominees, and ratify treaties. They are elected for 6-year terms.
Where They Stand…
John Hickenlooper
Democrat
Cory Gardner*
Republican
Voting Rights and Democracy Reform
Do you support efforts to expand voting rights and access to democracy?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform
Do you support policies that will advance racial justice?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Do you support efforts to reform the criminal justice system?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: N/A
Do you support efforts to decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana usage for those over the age of 18?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Climate Change
Do you support efforts to advance a clean energy agenda and combat the effects of man-made climate change?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Student Debt
Do you support efforts to make college more affordable for all students and ease the debt burden for graduates?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: Yes
Economic Opportunity
Do you support raising the minimum wage?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
LGBTQ+ Equality
Do you support equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ people?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Gun Violence Prevention
Do you support common-sense gun violence prevention measures, such as background checks and limits on high-capacity magazines?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Health Care Access and Affordability
Do you support affordable and accessible health care coverage as a right for all Americans and commit to maintaining protections for pre-existing conditions?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Do you support a woman’s right to quality, affordable healthcare, which includes access to comprehensive contraception and abortion-related care?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Coronavirus Response
Do you support a stronger federal response to the coronavirus, including widespread testing and long-term economic relief to those struggling financially during the pandemic?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Immigration Reform
Do you support a comprehensive immigration reform agenda that includes an end to inhumane detention policies and a path to citizenship?
John Hickenlooper: Yes
Cory Gardner: No
Endorsements
To show which candidates are champions for the issues you care about, we’ve listed the endorsements each candidate has received from Rock the Vote Action Fund partners that are progressive movement leaders on the above issue areas. These key partners include Planned Parenthood Votes, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Latino Victory Fund, Color of Change PAC, as well as any of their state affiliates.
John Hickenlooper
Democrat
Planned Parenthood Votes
NARAL Pro-Choice America
Moms Demand Action / Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
Human Rights Campaign PAC
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
Cory Gardner
Republican
A U.S. Representative serves in the United States House, which is the lower chamber of the U.S. Congress. A Congressperson’s job is to represent the people living in their district. A significant part of their role is to write and vote on new laws. They are elected for 2-year terms.
Where They Stand…
Diane Mitsch Bush
Democrat
Lauren Boebert
Republican
Voting Rights and Democracy Reform
Do you support efforts to expand voting rights and access to democracy?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
Racial Justice and Criminal Justice Reform
Do you support policies that will advance racial justice?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: No
Do you support efforts to reform the criminal justice system?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
Do you support efforts to decriminalize and/or legalize marijuana usage for those over the age of 18?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
Climate Change
Do you support efforts to advance a clean energy agenda and combat the effects of man-made climate change?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: No
Student Debt
Do you support efforts to make college more affordable for all students and ease the debt burden for graduates?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
Economic Opportunity
Do you support raising the minimum wage?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
LGBTQ+ Equality
Do you support equal rights and protections for LGBTQ+ people?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
Gun Violence Prevention
Do you support common-sense gun violence prevention measures, such as background checks and limits on high-capacity magazines?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: No
Health Care Access and Affordability
Do you support affordable and accessible health care coverage as a right for all Americans and commit to maintaining protections for pre-existing conditions?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: N/A
Do you support a woman’s right to quality, affordable healthcare, which includes access to comprehensive contraception and abortion-related care?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: No
Coronavirus Response
Do you support a stronger federal response to the coronavirus, including widespread testing and long-term economic relief to those struggling financially during the pandemic?
Diane Mitsch Bush: N/A
Lauren Boebert: No
Immigration Reform
Do you support a comprehensive immigration reform agenda that includes an end to inhumane detention policies and a path to citizenship?
Diane Mitsch Bush: Yes
Lauren Boebert: No
Endorsements
To show which candidates are champions for the issues you care about, we’ve listed the endorsements each candidate has received from Rock the Vote Action Fund partners that are progressive movement leaders on the above issue areas. These key partners include Planned Parenthood Votes, NARAL Pro-Choice America, Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, League of Conservation Voters Action Fund, Latino Victory Fund, Color of Change PAC, as well as any of their state affiliates.
Diane Mitsch Bush
Democrat
Planned Parenthood Votes
NARAL Pro-Choice America
Moms Demand Action / Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
Lauren Boebert
Republican
Amendment 76 would amend the Colorado state constitution to say that “only a U.S. citizen can vote”. This is already the case in Colorado and around the country. Amendment 76 would also strip the right of 17-year-old Coloradans to vote in Primaries should they turn 18 by the General Election.
This information brought to you in partnership with the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
Proposition 115 bans abortion after 22 weeks of pregnancy and establishes criminal penalties for medical professionals who provide this care. Prop 115 has no exceptions for health or individual circumstances — even in cases of rape or risks to the woman’s health.
This information brought to you in partnership with the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
Proposition 116 will permanently reduce state income tax from 4.63% to 4.55%. Proposition 116 will result in $2 Billion in spending being eliminated in the first ten years. These cuts will likely come in the form of permanent cuts to K-12, higher education, healthcare and transportation.
This information brought to you in partnership with the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
Proposition 117 will make the creation and use of enterprise funds, used for funding critical needs like transportation, universities, environmental programs, state parks and health care much harder.
This information brought to you in partnership with the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
Prop 118 would provide up to 12 weeks of paid family and medical leave to care for yourself, an ill family member or a new child.
This information brought to you in partnership with the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
This measure would repeal the piece of the 1982 Gallagher Amendment that limits residential property taxes to 45% of the total property tax base statewide. Removing the limit on property taxes will result in added revenue to be spent on schools, libraries, first responders, and more.
This information brought to you in partnership with the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center.
Methodology
To determine the candidates’ stances on the above issues, Rock the Vote Action Fund researched their websites, public statements, debate performances, and voting records. When too little or no information was available on a topic, we listed “N/A” for “Not available.” If a candidate’s record or statements were mixed on an issue, we used our best judgment to classify their overall position to provide the clearest picture to young voters about who will stand up and be an advocate on the issues important to them.