State of Colorado Archives: on Abortion
Brittany Pettersen:
YES on penalties for violent offenses against pregnant women
HB 1154: Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Pregnant Women: Vote to pass a bill that authorizes courts to charge an individual who commits a crime against a pregnant woman that results in the
death or injury of her fetus with homicide and assault, in addition to charges for the underlying crime, effective July 1, 2012. (State Rep. Brittany Pettersen voted YES).
Source: VoteSmart summary: 2014 Colorado Senate voting record HB1154
Mar 19, 2013
Amy Stephens:
Long history of working for pro-Life causes
On Family Values, Majority Leader
Stephens has a long history of working for pro-Life causes
Source: 2012 State House campaign website,StephensForColorado.com
Aug 18, 2012
Amy Stephens:
NO on penalties for violent offenses against pregnant women
HB 1154: Penalties for Violent Offenses Against Pregnant WomenVote to pass a bill that authorizes courts to charge an individual who commits a crime against a pregnant woman
that results in the death or injury of her fetus with homicide and assault, in addition to charges for the underlying crime, effective July 1, 2012.
Source: VoteSmart summary: 2014 Colorado Senate voting record
Mar 19, 2013
Cary Kennedy:
Endorsed by EMILY's List for pro-choice women
EMILY's List is proud to have supported Cary for over a decade. Colorado has never before elected a woman governor, and Cary is poised to make history as the first. Women remain underrepresented in these powerful executive leadership positions, and as
governor Cary will be able to make a tremendous positive impact in the lives of women and families. The GOP will fight for this governorship with all they've got, so let's show Cary the full support of the EMILY's List community.
Source: Emily's List press release: 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Mar 6, 2018
Cory Gardner:
OpEd: extreme push for nationwide Personhood law
Have you seen our newest ad? Colorado women lay out the truth about Congressman Gardner's 8-year crusade to deny a woman's right to make her own choices. Even though Coloradans twice rejected the radically anti-choice Personhood ballot initiatives,
Congressman Gardner continues to push for a nationwide Personhood law in Congress, which would outlaw abortion even in the case of rape and incest and ban common forms of birth control. He even sponsored a bill to make abortion a Class 3 felony.
Seriously? It's 2014!The more Coloradans--both women and men--learn about Congressman Gardner, the more they realize he's just too extreme for our state. As the Director of Women for Udall,
I have seen firsthand that women are shocked to learn about the stark differences between Mark's vision for Colorado and Congressman Gardner's backwards agenda.
Source: MarkUdall.com email: AdWatch on 2014 Colorado Senate race
Aug 5, 2014
Cory Gardner:
Sell contraceptives over-the-counter to avoid Hobby Lobby
[Virginia GOP Senate candidate Ed] Gillespie advocated for over-the-counter sale of contraception: Speaking about the Hobby Lobby case involving employer-sponsored contraception,
Gillespie said he thinks the issue can be skirted if women are just allowed to buy birth-control medication on their own without a prescription--a position that Colorado GOP Senate candidate Cory Gardner also staked out recently.
Source: Politico.com weblog on 2014 Colorado Senate debate
Jul 26, 2014
Cory Gardner:
Make "the pill" available without a prescription
Several Republican candidates for Senate have embraced an unorthodox issue as the midterm election approaches--support for over-the-counter birth control pills. At least three GOP hopefuls have spoken during the summer in favor of allowing certain types
of contraception to be sold without a prescription. Rep. Cory Gardner (R-CO), who is challenging incumbent Sen. Mark Udall (D), on Tuesday released a television ad in which he tells a room full of nodding women, "I believe the pill ought to be available
over the counter, around the clock, without a prescription. Cheaper and easier for you."The ad followed similar remarks by Ed Gillespie, a Republican running for Senate in Virginia, and Mike McFadden, who is challenging Sen. Al Franken (D-MN). "It
probably defangs this increasingly concerted effort by the political left to caricature male Republican politicians as anti-woman, anti-birth control, anti-rainbows and sunshine," said a Republican pollster who specializes in women voters.
Source: Washington Post on 2014 Colorado Senate race
Sep 2, 2014
Cory Gardner:
No Personhood Amendment; birth control over-the-counter
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee will air a new ad Monday in Colorado attacking GOP Rep. Cory Gardner on birth control. The 30-second spot criticizes Gardner for sponsoring a bill in congress called the "Life at Conception Act," while
saying he believes birth control pills should be available over the counter."Gardner is sponsoring a bill to make most common forms of birth control illegal," a male narrator says in the ad. "Gardner's bill also makes all abortions illegal, even in
cases of rape and incest."
"Cory Gardner," the narrator says, "you just can't trust this guy."
The spot marks the latest part of a multimillion-dollar ad buy in the state, a DSCC spokesman said. The DSCC has spent more than $2 million on television
in Colorado so far this cycle.
Gardner said earlier this year that he had changed his position and no longer supported a person-hood amendment like the one mentioned in the ad. But that has not stopped Democrats for hammering him on the issue.
Source: Rollcall PacWatch on 2014 Colorado Senate debate
Sep 22, 2014
Cynthia Coffman:
Pro-choice; moderate on social issues
Coffman ranks high in terms of name recognition due to her current position as the state's attorney general and her marriage to Congressman Mike Coffman, with whom she's currently separated. Compared to other Republican candidates, Coffman has taken a
more moderate stance on social issues like LGBTQ rights and immigration, and was revealed to be pro-choice by a recent CBS4 report. As governor, Coffman said her top priority would be addressing how growth has outpaced infrastructure in the state.
Source: Colorado Times-Recorder on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 17, 2017
Darryl Glenn:
Endorsed by Colo. Citizens for Life & National Right to Life
National Right to Life announced its endorsement of Darryl Glenn for election to the US Senate. "Darryl Glenn has a strong commitment to the right to life and unborn children. He will be a fighter for the unborn in the US Senate," said the National
Right to Life political director. "We are proud to support Darryl Glenn to replace his radical pro-abortion opponent, the current Sen. Michael Bennet, who has voted against unborn babies every chance he got. Bennet has a 0% pro-life voting record in the
Senate."Glenn is committed to legislation that will protect unborn babies. Glenn will block federal funding to the nation's largest abortion provider, and he will vote to prevent taxpayer funding of abortions.
National Right to Life has
one affiliate in each state; the president of the Colorado affiliate, Colorado Citizens for Life, stated, "Colorado needs a pro-life senator who will protect unborn children from a cruel death by abortion. Darryl Glenn has pledged to do just that."
Source: LifeNews.com on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Aug 3, 2016
Darryl Glenn:
Supports fetal personhood; opposes Planned Parenthood
Q: On Abortion: Should abortion be highly restricted?Bennet: No
Glenn: Yes. Has pledged to ban abortions, with no exceptions. Recently has been more ambiguous. Has pledged to fight for personhood Constitutional amendment, which would effectively
overturn Roe v. Wade, prohibit common forms of birth control, and ban abortions nationwide. More recently has hedged on some of these stands.
Q: On Contraception: Should employers be able to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if they disagree with it morally?
Bennet: No. Classify contraception as preventive care so it is covered by all insurance plans.
Glenn: Unclear.
Supports fetal personhood amendment, which might ban birth control pills & IUDs.
Q: On Healthcare: Should Planned Parenthood be eligible to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?
Bennet: Yes
Glenn: No
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Colorado Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Darryl Glenn:
Life begins at conception
Q: Under what circumstances should abortion be allowed?Glenn: I am ardently pro-life and believe that life begins at conception.
I recognize that the current state of our law has created exceptions for rape, incest, and in cases where the life of the mother is at risk.
Source: 2016 AFA Action iVoterGuide on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Nov 8, 2016
Greg Lopez:
I am pro-life
Conservative Values:
I AM PRO-LIFE.
Source: 2022 Colorado governor race website LopezForGovernor2022.com
Feb 15, 2021
Heidi Ganahl:
Declares herself "pro-life" on Facebook, won't elaborate
In what appears to be her first public statement on abortion, Ganahl said she is "pro-life." Responding to a commenter on her Facebook page who asked if she's pro-choice, Ganahl responded, "I am pro-life" and then urged the commenter to
email her directly with "any other questions." Ganahl did not, however, respond to multiple emails from the Colorado Times Recorder asking her to elaborate on her views on abortion rights.
Source: Colorado Times Recorder on 2022 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Oct 15, 2021
Heidi Ganahl:
Make adoption and birth control more accessible
[On reproductive options]: "I think Colorado is a very different state than Texas," Ganahl responded. "Therefore, I would certainly look closely at any legislation that ends up on my desk.""I am pro-life and I believe that there are ways that we can
reduce the abortion rate in our state and our country that are important and that we must work on, such as making adoptions easier and more accessible for families. It also makes birth control more accessible. So that's the approach I'd take."
Source: News Primer on 2022 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Dec 16, 2021
Jared Polis:
Fund Planned Parenthood; require insurers' contraception
Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal? Jared Polis (D): Legal. Strong pro-choice advocate.
Walker Stapleton (R): Mostly ban, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of mother. Won't say if he'll sign abortion restriction bills.
Q: Let employers withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?
Polis: No.
Stapleton: Unknown.
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health services?
Polis: Yes.
Stapleton: Unknown.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Colorado Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Joe O`Dea:
Supports a nationwide ban on late-term abortion
Joe O'Dea strongly supports a nationwide ban on late-term abortion, a nationwide ban on taxpayer funding for abortion, a nationwide parental choice requirement, and will fight any attempt to make religious hospitals perform a procedure they object to.
Joe does not support a ban in the case of rape, incest, or the life of the mother or early in the pregnancy. Some of us do not agree with this part of his position.
Source: 2022 Colorado Senate campaign website JoeODea.com
Jul 19, 2022
John Hickenlooper:
Planned Parenthood supports reproductive health
Q: Support Planned Parenthood receiving public funds for non-abortion care?John Hickenlooper: Yes. Supports Planned Parenthood, as "a staunch supporter of reproductive health."
Corey Gardner: No. Voted to defund Planned Parenthood.
Source: CampusElect on 2020 Colorado Senate race
Oct 10, 2020
John Walsh:
Fight against laws banning nearly all abortions
John Walsh will fight to protect the fundamental constitutional rights of American women. In just the last few months, states such as Alabama, Missouri, and Georgia have passed laws banning nearly all abortions, under nearly all circumstances.
Some of the laws that state legislatures are considering are so draconian that they do not allow for abortions even in case of rape, incest, or when the mother's health is at risk.
The states that have passed these laws know that they are entirely unconstitutional. But because Mitch McConnell and Cory Gardner have been stacking the
Supreme Court with ultra-conservative judges, they now believe that they are close to overturning or greatly restricting the rights set out in Roe v. Wade.
Source: 2020 Senate campaign website JohnWalshForColorado.com
May 19, 2019
Jon Keyser:
Life is sacred; a pro-life Coloradan
As a father and a husband, Jon believes that life is sacred and those who cannot protect themselves deserve to be protected.Jon is a pro-life Coloradan and will be a pro-life United States Senator.
America has a long history of protecting the vulnerable across the world, and Jon believes it's time for us to protect the vulnerable here at home as well.
Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website JonKeyser.com
Feb 3, 2016
Ken Buck:
Opposes abortion rights, even in cases of rape and incest
Buck stuck to his hard-right position on abortion and gay marriage. However, Buck insisted that voters care more about unemployment and government spending. "We get caught on these social issues when the voters want to know about unemployment; they want
to know about spending," Buck said when asked to elaborate on his opposition to abortion rights, even in cases of rape and incest.Bennet and the Democrats have swiped at Buck for his social conservatism. Buck punched back at Democratic efforts to
highlight those position instead of his promises to cut taxes & federal spending. But the abortion question didn't go away. At one point in the debate, and Bennet laid into Buck for opposing abortion rights. "Who's going to jail?" Bennet asked, referring
to women seeking abortions.
Buck replied, "I don't think abortion's going to be criminalized anytime soon. You have tried once again to take this debate off-topic. Once again, I am going to focus my campaign on the issues Colorado voters care about."
Source: CBS-4-Denver coverage of 2010 Colorado Senate debate
Oct 24, 2010
Ken Salazar:
Abortion decision should be between a woman and her God
I believe the decision to have an abortion should be between a woman and her God. I will defend that Constitutional right.
But I hope that we can work together as a nation to find common ground that makes abortions rare, by providing the best information about and access to healthcare, and by teaching our children the life skills to make good choices.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com
Aug 11, 2004
Ken Salazar:
Supports parental notification but not extreme limits
I do not support mandatory waiting periods, spousal consent, biased counseling requirements or other extreme limits on abortion rights.
I do support parental notification, with appropriate bypass procedures, and bans on late term abortions, except when necessary to protect the life or health of the mother.
Source: 2004 Senate campaign website, SalazarForColorado.com
Aug 11, 2004
Mark Udall:
AdWatch: defend woman's right to make her own choices
Have you seen our newest ad? Colorado women lay out the truth about Congressman Gardner's 8-year crusade to deny a woman's right to make her own choices. Even though Coloradans twice rejected the radically anti-choice Personhood ballot initiatives,
Congressman Gardner continues to push for a nationwide Personhood law in Congress, which would outlaw abortion even in the case of rape and incest and ban common forms of birth control. He even sponsored a bill to make abortion a Class 3 felony.
Seriously? It's 2014!The more Coloradans--both women and men--learn about Congressman Gardner, the more they realize he's just too extreme for our state. As the Director of Women for Udall,
I have seen firsthand that women are shocked to learn about the stark differences between Mark's vision for Colorado and Congressman Gardner's backwards agenda.
Source: MarkUdall.com Campaign email on 2014 Colorado Senate race
Aug 5, 2014
Michael Bennet:
Classify contraception as preventive care & no moral issue
Q: On Abortion: Should abortion be highly restricted?Bennet: No
Glenn: Yes. Has pledged to ban abortions, with no exceptions. Recently has been more ambiguous. Has pledged to fight for personhood Constitutional amendment, which would effectively
overturn Roe v. Wade, prohibit common forms of birth control, and ban abortions nationwide. More recently has hedged on some of these stands.
Q: On Contraception: Should employers be able to withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if they disagree with it morally?
Bennet: No. Classify contraception as preventive care so it is covered by all insurance plans.
Glenn: Unclear.
Supports fetal personhood amendment, which might ban birth control pills & IUDs.
Q: On Healthcare: Should Planned Parenthood be eligible to receive public funds for non-abortion health services?
Bennet: Yes
Glenn: No
Source: CampusElect Voter Guide to 2016 Colorado Senate race
Oct 9, 2016
Mike Johnston:
Woman's health between her and her doctor
Women have the right to make their own health care decisions in consultation with their physicians.
They also have the right to birth control as part of their insurance. Twice, Mike fought for legislation to provide access to long-acting reversible contraception.
Source: 2018 Colorado Governor website MikeJohnstonForColorado.com
Sep 1, 2017
Randy Baumgardner:
Voted YES on penalties for violent offenses against fetuses
HB 1130: Penalties for Violent Offenses Against FetusesVote to pass a bill that authorizes courts to charge an individual who commits a crime against a pregnant woman
that results in the death or injury of her fetus with homicide and assault, in addition to charges for the underlying crime, effective July 1, 2012.
Source: VoteSmart summary: 2014 Colorado Senate voting record
Mar 19, 2013
Ron Hanks:
Pro-life, but would allow exceptions for rape and incest
In a 2010 survey, Hanks wrote: "I am pro-life, but I will hold open a measured and narrow window for medical experts--I am not one--to provide expertise and guidance in specific situations. We should not consider abortion a form of birth control without
consequences, nor advocate it as such to our children. We must promote adoption, and remove the shame from carrying a child to term. No federal funding, and this issue would be better addressed by the individual states."According to the
VoteSmart website, Hanks responded [to their] survey "directly by taking the Political Courage Test. "Hanks (who ran under his birth name, Loren) ran for Congress in District 1, located in Northern California. Hanks answered "yes" to the following
questions, and in an email to Colorado Politics he affirmed the positions in the survey and added context on others. "My answers from that survey remain valid and are my positions to this day," he said.
Source: Colorado Politics on 2022 Colorado Senate race
Apr 19, 2021
Ryan Frazier:
Pro-life & pro-conservative values
My mom raised us with conservative values, a faith in God, perseverance, and a mind-set of doing your part. I still carry those same values with me today and they've guided me as a father, businessman, and while serving in the U.S. Navy.
I'm pro-job growth, pro-balanced budget, pro-life, pro-second amendment, and pro-worker. Common sense and a straightforward approach is part of the fabric of America's progress.
Source: 2016 Colorado Senate campaign website FrazierForColorado.com
Feb 3, 2016
Tim Neville:
All human life is precious and must be protected
I stand by the founding principles of our conservative Republican Party:- Right to Work--I believe no one should be compelled to pay union dues to get or keep a job
- The right to life of the unborn--we should protect the next
generation, not fund its destruction.
- Traditional Family Values--loving parents make better decisions about the educational, social, and moral development of their children than government bureaucrats.
-
Second Amendment --is a bulwark against tyranny
My Beliefs: - I believe governments do not create jobs. People do!
- I believe that all human life is precious and must be protected.
-
I believe Colorado needs a broader range of educational choices for parents, from tax-credits to vouchers and charter schools.
Source: 2016 Senate campaign website, NevilleForColorado.com
Oct 9, 2015
Tim Neville:
OpEd: Parked "crisis pregnancy van" outside the Capitol
A week before the legislative session ended in May, Sen. Neville sponsored legislation to require physicians to tell women extensive--and potentially inaccurate--information about the unborn fetus.
The measure would've forced women to get a medically unnecessary vaginal ultrasound and wait 24-hours before getting an abortion.
In the hours leading up to the vote that ended up failing, Sen. Neville brought a "crisis pregnancy van" to park outside the Capitol.
When Democratic colleagues criticized him for being needlessly divisive, he replied: "I can't pick what's going to be divisive or not."
Source: The Colorado Independent on 2016 Colorado Senate race
Sep 8, 2015
Tom Strickland:
Protect freedom to choose; government has no role
I strongly believe the government has no role in the private decisions of a woman in consultation with her doctor.
I trust Colorado women to make responsible choices affecting their lives, and that's why I'll fight to make sure they continue to have that freedom.
Source: StricklandForColorado.com, "Issues: Choice"
Sep 25, 2002
Walker Stapleton:
Ban abortion with exceptions for rape & incest
Q: Abortion: Mostly ban or mostly legal? Jared Polis (D): Legal. Strong pro-choice advocate.
Walker Stapleton (R): Mostly ban, with exceptions for rape, incest and life of mother. Won't say if he'll sign abortion restriction bills.
Q: Let employers withhold contraceptive coverage from employees if disagree with it morally?
Polis: No.
Stapleton: Unknown.
Q: Let Planned Parenthood receive public funds for non-abortion health services?
Polis: Yes.
Stapleton: Unknown.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Colorado Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Joe O`Dea:
Abortion with no limits is excessive
JOE O'DEA (R): I believe, for the first five months, that decision should be between a woman and her doctor. After that, for rape, incest, life of the mother, medical necessity, I believe that decision should also be between a woman and her doctor.
Michael Bennet voted for a bill that supports abortion up to and including the moment of birth. And he wants taxpayers to pay for that. That's excessive.
SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D): He has said that he would have voted for all three of Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees, notwithstanding the fact that he knows that they overturned Roe vs. Wade.
He opposes Colorado's law codifying a woman's right to choose. I'm proud to live in a state is one of the first states to codify that law. And he opposes it. He voted for a ballot issue that banned abortion and had no exceptions for rape or incest.
Source: CNN SOTU interviews on 2022 Colorado Senate race
Oct 16, 2022
Joe O`Dea:
Access to abortion in first 20 weeks, but ban after that
Democrats are unconvinced that O'Dea is the kind of moderate he's projecting himself to be. While he has vocalized support for abortion access within the first 20 weeks of pregnancy and with limited exceptions afterward, The Colorado Sun [reports] that
he signed a petition in favor of putting a ban on abortions after 22 weeks with limited exceptions on the 2020 ballot. They also highlight his support for Trump's three Supreme Court appointees, who would ultimately be a part of the majority opinion in
overturning Roe v. Wade.The communications director for O'Dea acknowledged that while O'Dea did sign a petition for the abortion ban, he reiterated in a statement that "Joe supports a woman's right to choose in the first 5 months of pregnancy,
and opposes late term abortion. He'll vote that way. There will be some who don't agree with Joe's well established opposition to late term abortion just as there are Republicans who disagree with his support for abortion rights early on."
Source: The Hill on 2022 Colorado Senate race
Oct 3, 2022
Michael Bennet:
Proud that Colorado codified right to choose
JOE O'DEA (R): I believe, for the first five months, that decision should be between a woman and her doctor. After that, for rape, incest, life of the mother, medical necessity, I believe that decision should also be between a woman and her doctor.
Michael Bennet voted for a bill that supports abortion up to and including the moment of birth. And he wants taxpayers to pay for that. That's excessive.SEN. MICHAEL BENNET (D):
He has said that he would have voted for all three of Donald Trump's Supreme Court nominees, notwithstanding the fact that he knows that they overturned Roe vs. Wade.
He opposes Colorado's law codifying a woman's right to choose. I'm proud to live in a state is one of the first states to codify that law. And he opposes it. He voted for a ballot issue that banned abortion and had no exceptions for rape or incest.
Source: CNN SOTU interviews on 2022 Colorado Senate race
Oct 16, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023