John Hickenlooper on VoteMatch

VoteMatch Responses (Click here for VoteMatch quiz)
VoteMatch Question & Answer (Click on question for explanation and background)	Based on these stances: (Click on topic for excerpt & citation)
Strongly Favors topic 1: Abortion is a woman's unrestricted right (+5 points on Social scale)	Fight GOP-controlled legislatures' restrictive abortion laws: Strongly Favors topic 1 Against fetal heartbeat laws; favors access to contraception: Favors topic 1 Women have the right control their own health care: Strongly Favors topic 1 Supports access to abortion: Favors topic 1
Strongly Favors topic 2: Legally require hiring women & minorities (-5 points on Economic scale)	Make the case that we can deliver an urban agenda: Favors topic 2 As Denver mayor, I diversified my police force: Strongly Favors topic 2 Supports commission investigating reparations for slavery: Strongly Favors topic 2 2018: declared "Equity For All Day" on gender pay gap: Strongly Favors topic 2
Strongly Favors topic 3: Comfortable with same-sex marriage (+5 points on Social scale)	Called special legislative session to pass same-sex marriage: Strongly Favors topic 3 Supports gay marriage and LGBTQ rights: Favors topic 3 2012: It's time to pass civil unions: Strongly Favors topic 3 Let's pass civil unions!: Favors topic 3
Strongly Favors topic 4: Keep God in the public sphere (-5 points on Social scale)	One Congregation-One Family: churches mentor homeless: Strongly Favors topic 4
Favors topic 5: Expand ObamaCare (-3 points on Economic scale)	Implemented ObamaCare and expanded Medicaid in Colorado: Favors topic 5 Opposed Colorado publicly-financed healthcare: Opposes topic 5 Against single payer; supports public option: Favors topic 5 ObamaCare not perfect; it has helped but needs improvement: Favors topic 5 Stabilize private markets & deal with high-cost pools: Strongly Favors topic 5 Too soon to make changes in Obamacare: Opposes topic 5 Basic health care is a right, not a privilege: Strongly Favors topic 5 2012: Make healthcare both affordable and accessible: Strongly Favors topic 5 Not acceptable for 2,500 kids to lose CHP health coverage: Favors topic 5 Current health costs restrain job growth & hurt families: Favors topic 5
Favors topic 6: Privatize Social Security (+2 points on Economic scale)	Update constitutional barriers in state's retirement program: Favors topic 6
Opposes topic 7: Vouchers for school choice (-3 points on Economic scale)	Increase investment in education by additional $100M: Opposes topic 7 Against amending Constitution to ban gay marriage: Favors topic 7 Federal funds will ensure excellence in Education in CO: Opposes topic 7 Support great teachers in a 21st Century education system: Opposes topic 7
Strongly Opposes topic 8: Fight EPA regulatory over-reach (+5 points on Social scale)	Support nuclear power: Favors topic 8 Toughest methane regulations in the country: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Solve problem of disposal of high-level radioactive waste: Opposes topic 8 Watershed cleanup shouldn't always meet fed. standards: Opposes topic 8 Start methane capture rule; finish Water Plan: Opposes topic 8 Develop federal land instead of protecting the sage grous: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Supports Obama's "Great Outdoors" conservation ethic: Strongly Opposes topic 8 Water policy: Collaboration, Conservation and Capacity: Strongly Opposes topic 8
Strongly Opposes topic 9: Stricter punishment reduces crime (+5 points on Social scale)	Record of being pro-active against police misconduct: Opposes topic 9 Suspend death penalty; it's too random & doesn't deter: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Issued stay of execution for convicted killer: Opposes topic 9 Sigred bill to expunge arrest record if mistaken identity: Strongly Opposes topic 9 Changed mind on death penalty, to oppose it as governor: Opposes topic 9 Longer minimum prison sentences do not reduce crime: Opposes topic 9 $34 million for violence-preventing mental health services: Opposes topic 9
Strongly Opposes topic 10: Absolute right to gun ownership (-5 points on Economic scale)	Guns make you less safe, not more: Opposes topic 10 Ban on high-capacity magazines: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Mental illness & weak gun laws both contribute to violence: Strongly Opposes topic 10 School shootings weaken country by terrorizing ourselves: Opposes topic 10 Make mental health part of discussion on mass killings: Opposes topic 10 Universal background checks for all gun sales: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Develop a program to reduce suicides by gun: Neutral on topic 10 Universal background checks & ban on high capacity magazines: Strongly Opposes topic 10 Universal background checks but no assault weapon ban: Opposes topic 10 Keep guns out of the hands of mentally ill: Favors topic 10
Strongly Favors topic 11: Higher taxes on the wealthy (-5 points on Economic scale)	Treat dividends & long-term capital gains as ordinary income: Strongly Favors topic 11 Higher taxes on the wealthy; lower taxes on working families: Strongly Favors topic 11 Mom-and-pop tax credit for five or fewer full-time employees: Strongly Favors topic 11 Double the EITC (Earned Income Tax Credit): Favors topic 11 $5 trillion of tax cuts to the wealthy is not the answer: Favors topic 11
Strongly Favors topic 12: Pathway to citizenship for illegal aliens (+5 points on Social scale)	Federal agents taking children from parents is kidnapping: Strongly Favors topic 12 Need a comprehensive reevaluation of our immigration laws: Favors topic 12 Crazy to drive out 11 million illegal immigrants: Favors topic 12 Family separation policy is cruel and un-American: Favors topic 12 In-state tuition & driver's license for undocumented people: Strongly Favors topic 12 Not soft on immigration, but against Arizona immigration law: Favors topic 12 Protect DREAMers instead of deporting them: Strongly Favors topic 12
Strongly Favors topic 13: Support & expand free trade (+5 points on Economic scale)	No trade war in history ever had a winner: Strongly Favors topic 13 Fair & open trade makes us safer and more prosperous: Favors topic 13 No tariffs on goods from China and Europe: Strongly Favors topic 13 Supports USMCA trade agreement to replace NAFTA: Favors topic 13 Reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank: Favors topic 13 Support long-term reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank: Strongly Favors topic 13
Strongly Opposes topic 14: Support American Exceptionalism (-5 points on Economic scale)	Supports a strong NATO, strengthening ties with allies: Strongly Opposes topic 14 Stringent verification process for Syrian refugees: Opposes topic 14
Strongly Favors topic 15: Expand the military (-5 points on Social scale)	Boost the defense budget: Strongly Favors topic 15 Make hiring veterans a priority: Favors topic 15
No opinion on topic 16: Make voter registration easier (0 points on Social scale)	Electoral College should not be eliminated: Opposes topic 16 Implement same-day voter registration and mail-in voting: Favors topic 16
Favors topic 17: Avoid foreign entanglements (+2 points on Social scale)	Don't turn our backs on Afghanistan by withdrawing US troops: Opposes topic 17 Bring the troops home from post-9-11 wars: Strongly Favors topic 17
Opposes topic 18: Prioritize green energy (+2 points on Economic scale)	Institute wind & solar, as well as methane reductions: Strongly Favors topic 18 Public-private partnerships for next-gen energy technology: Favors topic 18 Zero score on "350 Action's 2020 Climate Test": Strongly Opposes topic 18 Denounced Green New Deal, supports fighting climate change: Favors topic 18 Work with environmentalists & industry to get to solutions: Favors topic 18 Pro-environment but there's room for fossil fuels: Opposes topic 18 Close coal plants: cleaner air AND lower utility bills: Favors topic 18 Reduce greenhouse gas by 26% by 2025 and 35% by 2030: Strongly Favors topic 18 Drank fracking fluid to partner industry & environmentalists: Opposes topic 18 Pursuing renewables; solar and wind: Favors topic 18 Innovative drilling technology for abundant natural gas: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Develop unconventional technology for extracting shale oil: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Fracking opens new era of energy; but disclose ingredients: Strongly Opposes topic 18 Develop markets for vehicles that run on natural gas: Opposes topic 18 As exploration geologist: focus on wind, solar, gas, coal: Opposes topic 18 Letter to Congress supporting renewable energy tax credit: Strongly Favors topic 18
Opposes topic 19: Marijuana is a gateway drug (+2 points on Social scale)	Decriminalize marijuana at state level, but not federally: Opposes topic 19 As teen, grew his own marijuana before it was legal: Opposes topic 19 Marijuana legalization works, but leave it to states: Opposes topic 19 Supports states permitting marijuana, not federal reform: Opposes topic 19 National model for marijuana legalization: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Voters passed legal pot, and I will uphold the voter's will: Strongly Favors topic 19 Use marijuana tax revenue to address chronic homelessness: Opposes topic 19 First state to regulate legal sale of marijuana: Strongly Opposes topic 19 Regulatory regime to marijuana needs to be strengthened: Favors topic 19 Failed War on Drugs paved way for pot legalization: Favors topic 19 Now it's legal, but keep marijuana out of the reach of kids: Favors topic 19 Rated B- by NORML, indicating a pro-drug-reform stance: Strongly Opposes topic 19
Favors topic 20: Stimulus better than market-led recovery (-3 points on Economic scale)	Pro-business: cut regulations, launched retraining website: Opposes topic 20 Fund $10M program to support rural business: Strongly Favors topic 20 5-year initiative to support startup businesses: Favors topic 20 Reinvent bipartisan apprenticeships & workforce training: Favors topic 20 Government can help in economic transition: Favors topic 20 q/20/2: Favors topic 20 Increase budget reserves; extend job-creation tax credit: Opposes topic 20 Rebuild reserve fund after Great Recession: Strongly Favors topic 20 State budgeting process must reflect revenue availability: Opposes topic 20