Cory Gardner in 2020 CO Senatorial race

On Civil Rights: Against same-sex marriage but now law of the land

Corey Gardner: Mixed. Sees marriage as only between a man and woman, but calls same-sex marriage "the law of the land, and it is important that we treat everyone with dignity and respect."

John Hickenlooper: Yes. "If all people are created equal, then by extension of law, logic, and love, every adult couple should also have the freedom to join in marriage."

On Education: Filed brief for tax dollars for private religious schools

Corey Gardner: Yes. Filed a Supreme Court brief supporting the use of public funds to pay for educating children in private religious schools.

John Hickenlooper: No. Supports parents selecting the best schools, but "would not support the use of publicly funded vouchers for private or religious school education."

On Education: Let employers donate tax free to employees' student loans

Corey Gardner: No general stand found. Did introduce bill allowing employers to contribute tax free to employees' student loans. Discharge federal student loans for the permanently disabled.

John Hickenlooper: Reduce federal student loan interest to 2.5% or less, with "expanded loan repayment and forgiveness programs, tuition-free community college"; minority scholarships.

On Energy & Oil: Pushed for clean-tech investments

Corey Gardner: Mixed. "Humans are contributing to climate change." Will push for clean-tech investments, but voted against cutting carbon emissions from power plants.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. "The defining challenge of our time." Must face with "fierce sense of urgency." Would rejoin Paris Accord; calls for 100% renewable energy by 2050.

On Environment: Voted to repeal EPA rules regulating methane emissions

Corey Gardner: Voted to repeal EPA rules regulating methane emissions on public lands. Repeal wetlands and waterway protection. Open Alaska wildlife refuge to oil and gas drilling.

John Hickenlooper: As governor, adopted low-emission vehicle standards and developed tough methane standards, but fought restrictions on oil drilling near homes and schools.

On Foreign Policy: Voted against blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia

Corey Gardner: No. Voted against blocking arms sales to Saudi Arabia in June 2019.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. Supports cutting off military support. "I don't think supporting the Saudi campaign in Yemen is a great idea."

On Government Reform: Require Senate candidates to e-file campaign finance reports

Cory Gardner: Unclear on disclosure. Supported requiring Senate candidates to e-file campaign finance reports. No other position found.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. Backed election bill H.R.1 to strengthen disclosure and campaign finance laws. Weakening them "has led to corruption." Also, overturn Citizens United decision that removed campaign finance limits.

On Government Reform: Overturn Colorado being in National Popular Vote Compact

Corey Gardner: No. Opposes Prop 113, as does Colorado Republican Party. Donated to campaign to overturn Colorado's participation.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. Previously ambivalent but now supports Prop 113, as does Colorado's Democratic Party.

On Gun Control: Opposed background checks gun show and online sales

Corey Gardner: No. "Strong supporter of Second Amendment rights." Keep "guns out of the hands of criminals," but opposed background checks for gun sales at gun shows and online.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. "Will fight for comprehensive, common-sense policies to tackle gun violence," including universal background checks, restoring assault weapons ban, and magazine limits.

On Health Care: COVID: government containing, stabilizing supply-chain

Corey Gardner: Yes. "HHS, through a number of its agencies, is actively leading critical prevention, containment, and supply-chain stability."

John Hickenlooper: No. "Only way to regain our confidence and restart our economy is having the capacity to either test or vaccinate every American."

On Immigration: Voted against protecting DREAMers from deportation

Corey Gardner: Mixed. Voted against protecting DREAMers from deportation. Later co-sponsored legislation for a 12-year pathway to citizenship combined with increased border wall funding.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. Wants to see "a permanent pathway to citizenship for our DREAMers." Calls expanded border wall "ineffective" and a waste of billions.

On Jobs: Co-sponsored the National Right to Work Act

Corey Gardner: Yes. Co-sponsored the National Right to Work Act, repealing bargaining provisions requiring union membership as a condition of employment.

John Hickenlooper: No. Called for legislation reversing Supreme Court ruling that government workers can't be forced to contribute to labor unions.

On Jobs: People will lose their jobs from minimum-wage increase

Corey Gardner: No recent position found. Earlier: "Hundreds of thousands of people will lose their jobs as a result of a minimum-wage increase." Opposed increasing overtime-pay availability.

John Hickenlooper: Yes. Supports $15-per-hour federal minimum. "Workers cannot get ahead without affordable child care, paid family leave, and fair compensation."

On Tax Reform: Voted for President Trump's 2017 tax cut

Corey Gardner: Yes. Voted for the 2017 tax cut. "My goal was to bring relief to hard-working Coloradans ., and I'm proud that after months of work, we've achieved this goal."

John Hickenlooper: No. "Congress should not pass on almost $1.5 trillion in additional debt to future generations, and hand out tax breaks to the wealthiest Americans who don't need them."

On Immigration: Opposed 2013 bipartisan bill; later co-wrote DACA bill

On Energy & Oil: Opposes ending coal use; would kill jobs

On Health Care: Supported efforts to repeal Affordable Care Act

On Health Care: I want to fight against Medicare for All

A: We need to continue health care policy to drive down the cost of health care and increase the quality. I am committed to making sure that Medicare remains a viable strong safety net. We have to make sure that this important safety net program continues. I've been fighting to make sure that taxes don't increase the cost of health care. I want to fight against 'Medicare for All,' which means that 20-year-old will be competing against somebody who is 65 and over.

On Health Care: Prevent Big Pharma from denying generic status to some drugs

A: I've worked hard on several pieces of legislation to increase competition to drive down costs. I've introduced a bill on price transparency that would help consumers be able to shop better for more affordable prescription drugs and also legislation that would prevent the Big Pharma companies from denying generic status to certain drugs. When a drug goes on generic, we can have more affordability. And more competition means more general affordability as well.

On Jobs: COVID: Rehire America plan would help pay people

A: I'm fighting hard to make sure that we have an economy that recovers, creating more jobs and more opportunities, especially for people who are 50 and older. I've introduced the Rehire America plan that would help pay people, making sure that they're getting their salaries, and helping businesses get through this challenging time. So, together, we have to get through this. But we have to make sure that our economy gets back to its full force and strength.

On Social Security: Social Security one of the most important social safety nets

Gardner: I'm going to continue to protect Social Security. It's one of the most important social safety nets that we have as a country. Medicare and Social Security are two of the key things that we have for generations of Americans who have paid into them. We have to make sure that they are safeguarded so they can continue to pay out to those people who have invested all of their lives into these programs. We need to make sure that people stop borrowing against the Social Security trust fund.

Q: Your senior healthcare policy?

Gardner: I've worked hard to promote $10 billion for nursing homes, with additional dollars going toward their relief during COVID-19 so that they will be in place long-term. I've also worked hard to fight for reimbursement for telemedicine, telehealth visits through Medicare and other programs. Seniors who are able to receive care at home without having to go to the doctor will result in better care.

On Drugs: After seeing legal pot in CO, supports it for all states

After the Justice Department adopted a harsher attitude toward state legalization of cannabis, Gardner said, he decided to co-sponsor the STATES Act with Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA). The Act, which has not been passed, would prevent the federal government from interfering with states' cannabis laws.

On Foreign Policy: Led bipartisan opposition to China's election interference

Democratic heavyweight Elizabeth Warren is a signatory to the letter, as is Chris Coons (D-DE) and Republican centrist Cory Gardner. The letter's wide spectrum of support suggests that, unlike the investigation into Russian meddling, future attempts to uncover Chinese actions in the United States may have a bipartisan character.

On Families & Children: Correct family policies that promote divisions