2018 Colorado Governor Voters Guide
Jared Polis (D) vs Walker Stapleton (R)
The Candidates
Yes. Co-sponsored DISCLOSE Act requiring full disclosure of independent expenditures.
Unknown.
No. Has consistently sought to get campaign finance reform bills through Congress.
Unknown.
Yes to limiting greenhouse gases. Supports participation in Alliance. Introduced “100 by ‘50 Act” to transition to 100% clean and renewable energy by 2050.
No to limiting greenhouse gases. Says a major reason he is running is to “offer a full-throated defense of the state’s oil-and-gas industry against [those] that want it regulated more tightly.“
No.
Unknown.
Unknown.
No. Is concerned about escalating trade war hurting Colorado industries.
Yes. Advocates for increased across-the-board funding and preschool for all. Has also supported related levies and bonds and will continue to do so.
Yes. But “it is critical to ensure that these dollars actually make it into the classroom.”
Yes. Stop underpaying teachers, “instead of criminalizing [their] right to…demand fair compensation.”
Unknown.
Yes. Advocates “school choice“ and believes “each student that gets … $10,000 in funding should take that money …& …do whatever they want.”
Yes. Strongly supports.
Unknown.
Yes. Supports same-sex marriage & would be 1st openly gay governor in US.
Unknown.
Supports gun rights for defense & sport, but would ban bump stocks, end black market gun sales, temporarily suspend dangerous people’s access to firearms, & increase gun safety.
No. Wants to repeal 2013 gun control laws & will oppose all efforts to limit guns. Supports letting law enforcement seize weapons from people deemed a threat.
Keep ACA and improve it. Work toward universal single-payer system. Believes Medicaid expansion in Colorado has been an enormous success.
Repeal ACA & end Colorado’s Obamacare exchange. Shrinking Medicaid expansion would be among main changes he’d champion.
Yes.
Unknown.
Yes. “Outraged” …by Trump’s “callous & short-sighted decision” to end DACA & “cast nearly 1 million aspiring Americans back into the shadows.” Supports earned path to citizenship for other illegal immigrants, combined with increased border protections.
Has said supports Trump proposals, which gave DACA recipients legal status but not path to citizenship in return for building the wall and tightening legal immigration. Has also supported deporting anyone in the country illegally.
No. “Protect & expand collective bargaining rights while actively opposing attacks on organized labor.”
Unknown.
Yes. Only candidate who supported legalization in 2012. Treat it like alcohol. Opposes Justice Department’s war against states with legalization.
Unknown. But is concerned about unintended consequences of legalization, including mental health issues.
Yes. Also let municipalities raise minimum wage in their area.
Unknown. But generally opposes regulation of business.
Yes. “To compete in the global economy, we need an internet that allows for free exchange of ideas.”
Unknown.
14.6% as of July 20, 2018. “With Trump moving us backward on so many issues, we really need bold leadership at the state level.”
Voting not applicable. Supports Trump “on virtually every issue” except tariffs.
No. “I proudly wrote the bill to repeal @RealDonaldTrump’s tax giveaways [to the wealthy].”
Yes. “I was the only treasurer in the country with the courage to support Donald Trump’s tax cuts.”
No. Voted to restore voting rights protections. Signed letter to Trump condemning stricter voter rules & asking to investigate voter suppression.
Unknown.
Other candidates for governor include George Allen Cantrell (Constitution Party), Scott Helker (Libertarian Party), Bill Hammons (Independent), Matthew Wood (Independent), Kathleen Cunningham (Unaffiliated), Paul Willmon (Unaffiliated). Due to limited space, we can’t include their responses, but encourage you to check out their websites.
We have space to include only candidates polling 15% or more. But check out others including Steven B. Grant (I), Dennis Misigoy (L), and Tuan Nguyen (I). guides.vote is a nonpartisan effort to show where candidates stand, with links to credible sources. We do not support or oppose any political party or candidate for office. Vote411.org offers guides to local races.