May 1 Update: US Senate Candidate Surveys

In 2016, we're finally experiencing the happy result that almost every credible candidate for higher office in Colorado wants to be seen as strongly pro-life (enough so that many are willing to lie to make it sound like they're something they're not).

Colorado Right to Life regularly sends out very specific surveys to get candidates on the record as to where they really stand on important pro-life issues like Personhood. The candidates who are really pro-life generally respond favorably, and are willing to go on the record.

The many candidates who are wanting to hedge, or who try to cover up their willingness to accept abortion, usually don't respond. Colorado Right to Life reports this too, so you can judge for yourself.

Colorado's US Senate race, this year, has had a couple of surprising results:

1. The candidate most experts figured as the conservative front-runner, pro-life Sen. Tim Neville, didn't make the ballot after voting at the Colorado State Convention. Instead, El Paso County Commissioner and retired Air Force Lt. Col. Darryl Glenn, who is also strictly pro-life, received 70% of the votes from delegates.


2. The crowd of candidates who attempted to petition onto the ballot, rather than using the grass-roots caucus/assembly process, are having a shocking degree of difficulty getting on the ballot.

As a result, as of today, we have the following candidates confirmed on the ballot for the June 28 primary election:

• Darryl Glenn, who has responded to the CRTL survey and has pledged to be 100% pro-life.


• Jack Graham, who has not responded to the CRTL survey. Graham has said he is "personally pro-life" but "didn't think it was the government's role to decide if a woman can or cannot get an abortion" (Fort Collins Coloradoan, Feb 16, 2016). I.e. if he's not willing to intervene on behalf of the children, he is essentially pro-abortion. He has linked from his website to a Pueblo Chieftain article calling him a "pro-choice Republican" (Apr 8, 2016) which is a guaranteed sign that he accepts that characterization. Graham was also a Democrat until the past year or so.


• Jon Keyser, who claims to be pro-life but has not responded to the CRTL survey. Keyser told radio host Craig Silverman that he supports abortion in cases of rape or incest, so CRTL considers him pro-abortion (because he FAVORS the killing of an innocent unborn child in some cases).

Ryan Frazier and Robert Blaha are also trying to get on the primary ballot, but they've fallen short of the required number of signatures. A judge has forced the Secretary of State to not make any firm decisions about allowing or not allowing them, which means that in the next few days they may still be allowed to be on the ballot.

As Colorado Right to Life has noted in the past, Frazier is another candidate who has been willing to let people believe he is "pro-life" while in reality Frazier believes it's "not government's role" to protect unborn children. He may have changed his opinion, but we have no reason to believe that, and we're not sure how far we could trust his opinion. It would help if he were willing to go on the record by answering the CRTL survey.

Robert Blaha also says he's pro-life, but he's more quiet about whether he will or won't support "abortion exceptions" in cases of rape or incest. He has not responded to the CRTL survey.

As you probably know, Colorado Right to Life has led the charge nationally to reject "abortion exceptions" and to promote a 100% pro-life Personhood standard (a right to life for unborn children, from conception on, no exceptions). Pro-lifers nationwide have increasingly adopted this position. Even though some may still hold a "pro-life except in cases of rape or incest" position (which was considered a standard Republican position a decade ago), a majority of pro-lifers now understand the inherent hyporcitical contradiction (is abortion murder, or isn't it?) and reject exceptions today.

This, of course, still allows a doctor to save the life of a woman in a life-threatening pregnancy by treating two patients - mother and baby - and not trying to kill either of them. If the baby dies anyway, as may happen, that's a natural death. If the doctor intentionally kills the baby (which is NEVER medically necessary) it's an abortion.

Colorado Right to Life is surveying legislative candidates, and will continue trying to reach Congressional candidates and US Senate candidates. Updates will be posted in coming weeks, in preparation for making decisions for the primary election in June.

Some quick notes on important legislative primaries:

• In Senate District 12 (Colorado Springs) 100% pro-life Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt is opposed by Fmr. Rep. Bob Gardner. Though Gardner claims to be pro-life, he has not responded to the CRTL survey and CRTL has reason to categorize him as pro-abortion based on his past statements and legislative record.
• In House District 16 (Colorado Springs) Colorado Right to Life believes Rep. Janak Joshi to be pro-life, whereas we believe Fmr. Rep. Larry Liston is not.

Note: One more candidate will NOT appear on the June 28 ballot for US Senate, but Jerry Eller is eligible as a write-in candidate, which means you must write his name in the write-in line of the US Senate ballot section exactly as he is registered, which we believe is "Jerry Eller". Eller has responded to the CRTL survey and has pledged to be 100% pro-life.

2014 Pre-Primary Candidate Info

UPDATED 10/1/14
(also added new information on US Senate race)

Notes to readers:

1) The 2014 Colorado Right to Life survey asked 7 position questions of candidates, establishing their positions on key pro-life issues. This list will be continuously updated. This list only includes Colorado legislative, congressional and gubernatorial candidates.

2) Many candidates say they’re “pro-life” but mean something very different than what true pro-lifers mean. Please keep this in mind before supporting candidates who do not respond to the CRTL Questionnaire.

3) No candidate who supports abortion for any reason is "pro-life.” Regardless of what they may say, any truly pro-life citizen/candidate believes that government has an obligation to protect all human life from conception forward, and therefore pledge to oppose all abortion (with the understanding that a doctor may take action to save a woman’s life while also trying to save the baby’s life, even if the baby’s survival is doubtful due to other factors) – every innocent human being has an inalienable Right to Life at every age or stage of development.

4) Candidates from any party are invited to respond to the survey. However, CRTL has never been made aware of a candidate from either the Democrat Party or Libertarian Party who is truly pro-life.

5) CRTL does not endorse candidates, but rather issues a “white list” – people who we believe take their responsibility to unborn children under the law seriously. Candidates who are pro-life are listed in bold.

Candidates for Governor

Fmr. Sen. Mike Kopp (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life. He has been a supporter of Personhood throughout his legislative career and has attended CRTL legislative briefings.

Fmr. Cong. Tom Tancredo (R) has not yet responded to the survey. He has supported Personhood in the past.
Sec. State Scott Gessler (R) has not yet responded to the survey. He does not support Personhood and does not seem to be interested in serious changes in the status quo with regard to abortion.
Fmr. Cong. Bob Beauprez (R) has not yet responded to the survey. He is not believed to support Personhood.
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) is pro-abortion.

Candidates for US Senate

*Updated 10/1

(New Info Post on US Senate Race)

Raul Acosta (Ind.) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.  Raul Acosta has also been a longtime CRTL donor and ran as a pro-life candidate for US Senate in 2004.

Cong. Cory Gardner (R) (see new info here) supported Personhood for many years but recently rejected a pro-life position in order to become more palatable to moderate voters. Since entering Congress he has steadily “marched left,” turning his back on solidly conservative positions he held on many issues. He says he is “still pro-life” but rejects protections for all innocent human beings at all stages of development and won’t oppose abortifacient birth control.


Sen. Mark Udall (D) is pro-abortion.

1st Congressional District

Still evaluating Republican candidates – if there’s a pro-life candidate please ask them to contact CRTL.

2nd Congressional District

George Leing (R) is pro-abortion.
Cong. Jared Polis (D) is pro-abortion.

3rd Congressional District

Cong. Scott Tipton (R) claims to be pro-life but has never responded to a CRTL survey and cannot be pinned down on specific positions. CRTL considers him unengaged and effectively pro-abortion.
David Cox (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey – please ask him to, or contact us if you have information. Fmr. Sen. Abel Tapia (D) is pro-abortion.

4th Congressional District

Sen. Scott Renfroe (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life. He has been a supporter of Personhood throughout his legislative career and has attended CRTL legislative briefings.
Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) has also responded to the CRTL survey and has rigorously affirmed that she is pro-life.

(Update 6/23) Steve Laffey (R) has not responded to the survey, but apparently opposes Personhood and is not pro-life (supports abortion for rape & incest).
Ken Buck (R) says he supports Personhood again, after publicly rejecting the position in 2010. He has made statements to this effect, but has not responded to the CRTL survey and CRTL still has doubts about his position on key pro-life issues where he created much confusion and disruption in 2010. Please encourage him to answer the survey.
Vic Meyers (D) and Dan Chapin (D) are presumed to be pro-abortion.

5th Congressional District

Cong. Doug Lamborn (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey this year, but has in the past and has consistently maintained a pro-Personhood record in public statements and in his career in Congress, even co-sponsoring federal Personhood legislation.

Gen. Bentley Rayburn (R) has supported Personhood in the past, but recent statements make it seem like he’s criticizing Lamborn’s focus on pro-life and other social issues. Please encourage him to respond to the CRTL survey to establish his position this year.
Irv Halter (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

6th Congressional District

Cong. Mike Coffman (R) is no longer considered pro-life. Like Gardner, he has steadily “marched left” since entering Congress and made his rejection of the Personhood standard public this year.
Andrew Romanoff (D) is pro-abortion.

7th Congressional District

Doug “Dayhorse” Campbell (ACP) has not yet responded to this year’s CRTL survey, but has done so in the past and his personal and party platforms are strictly pro-Personhood – we have confidence that Campbell is pro-life.

Don Ytterberg (R) calls himself pro-life but has refused to take solid positions, focusing on other issues and leaving doubt as to his real beliefs on the Right to Life. CRTL has seen this from other candidates who turned out not to be pro-life to any substantial degree. Please encourage him to respond to the CRTL survey.
Cong. Ed Perlmutter (D) is pro-abortion.

State Senate Candidates

State Senate District 1

*Update 10/1
Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.
Doug Aden (ACP) is presumed to support Personhood, as it is the official position of his party.

State Senate District 2

Sen. Kevin Grantham (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life. He is the only candidate so far for this office.

State Senate District 3

Sen. George Rivera (R) is a newly elected legislator who won one of the two recall elections in 2013. He has not yet responded to the survey.
Leroy Garcia (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 5

Don Suppes (R) has not yet responded to the survey.
Kerry Donovan (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 6

Sen. Ellen Roberts (R) is regarded as the most pro-abortion Republican in the legislature. She is currently unopposed by either party.

State Senate District 7

Rep. Ray Scott (R) has not responded to the survey yet, but he has supported Personhood in the past.
Claudette Konola (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 9

Sen. Kent Lambert (R) has not responded to the survey yet, but he has been a steadfast supporter of Personhood in the past. He is unopposed so far.

State Senate District 11

Sen. Bernie Herpin (R) is a newly elected legislator who won one of the two recall elections in 2013. He has not responded to the survey yet.
Rep. Mike Merrifield (D) is pro-abortion.

State Senate District 13

John Cooke (R) has not responded to the survey yet.
Joe Perez (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 15

Sen. Kevin Lundberg (R) has not responded to the survey yet, but he has been a steadfast supporter of Personhood in the past. He is unopposed, so far.

State Senate District 16

Fmr. Sen. Tim Neville (R) has not responded to the survey yet, but has supported Personhood in the past.
Sen. Jeanne Nicholson (D) is pro-abortion.

State Senate District 19

Laura Woods (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed she is pro-life.

Lang Sias (R) claims to be pro-life, but has never responded to a CRTL survey (this is his 3rd election cycle) and his statements indicate he is only opposed to late term abortions (meaning he may support all the rest). He is NOT pro-life. Many Republicans claim to be pro-life but don’t want to explain that they define that term loosely.
Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (D) was appointed to this seat after a recall effort forced the resignation of the previous senator. Zenzinger is believed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 20

Larry Queen (R) has indicated that he is strongly pro-life and has said he will respond to the survey.
Sen. Cheri Jahn (D) is pro-abortion.

State Senate District 22

Tony Sanchez (R) has responded to the CRTL survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.

Mario Nicolais (R) has not responded to the survey yet.
Sen. Andy Kerr (D) is pro-abortion.

State Senate District 24

Beth Humenik (R) has not responded to the survey this year, and did not in previous years either. Please ask her to contact CRTL.
Judy Solano (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 30

Rep. Chris Holbert (R) has responded to the survey, and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.

Bette Davis (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State Senate District 32

Dawne Murray (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Sen. Irene Aguilar (D) is pro-abortion.

State Senate District 34

Stuart Siffring (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Sen. Lucia Guzman (D) is pro-abortion.

State House Candidates

State House Districts 1 - 13

The first 13 Statehouse districts are situated in Denver and Boulder counties – most of the announced candidates thus far are Democrats, and the few Republicans who have announced generally will not indicate pro-life beliefs even if they are pro-life so we have not surveyed these races yet. If you’re aware of a pro-life candidate in the mix, please let us know.

The one exception here is District 4:

State House District 4

David Dobson (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life. He ran a campaign in 2012 based primarily on Personhood, and is expected to run a similar campaign in 2014.

Rep. Dan Pabon (D) is pro-abortion.


State House District 14

Daniel Nordberg (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey, but is believed to be pro-life. If you know him please ask him to return his CRTL survey.
Glenn Carlson (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 15

Pastor Gordon Klingenschmitt (R) has returned his survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.
Dave Williams (R) has returned his survey and rigorously affirmed that he is pro-life.
(NOTE: Surveys by other groups -- Christian Coalition and/or Christian Family Alliance -- have discounted Klingenscmitt's support for Personhood and have instead "knocked points off" because he will not support anti-abortion regulations which undermine Personhood and deny the Right to Life of the unborn child. They are falsely claiming he is not completely pro-life. Beware! Keep in mind that many pro-life and Christian groups do not have the same understanding of Personhood as CRTL does.)

Lois Fornander (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 16

Rep. Janak Joshi (R) has not returned his survey yet. He says he is pro-life on his site, and is believed to support Personhood but this is not confirmed. He has worked closely with CRTL for several years in drafting a non-objectionable, non-compromised, Fetal Homicide measure for consideration by the legislature. He is associated with the pro-Personhood Republican Study Committee, and also attended the CRTL Banquet in 2012. We would like to have him on record with regard to his commitments, so please encourage him to return his survey.
Ryan Macoubrie (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 17

Both Catherine “Kit” Roupe (R) and Rep. Tony Exum (D) are pro-abortion, which is unusual for such a conservative district.

State House District 18

Michael Schlierf (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please encourage him to do so.
Rep. Pete Lee (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 19

Paul Lundeen (R) has not returned his survey yet -- please encourage him to do so. He is currently running unopposed.

State House District 20

Kristen Selzer (R) has responded to the survey, and has rigorously affirmed that she is pro-life.

Terri Carver (R) has not yet responded to the survey.
Miles Dewhirst (R) has not yet responded to the survey.
Daniel Stanforth (R) has not yet responded to the survey.

State House District 21

Rep. Lois Landgraf (R) has not returned her survey yet, but has supported Personhood in the past. She is running unopposed, so far.

State House District 22

Justin Everett (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.

Loren Bauman (R) is running as a “pro-choice” alternative candidate against Everett, (i.e. is NOT pro-life).
Mary Parker (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 23

Jane Barnes (R) has not yet responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. Max Tyler (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 24

Joseph Demott (R) has not yet responded to the survey – please help us get in touch with him or ask him to respond.
Jessie Danielson (D) was formerly a director for the local branch of pro-abortion NARAL (i.e. is avidly pro-abortion).
Kristian Teegardin (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 25

Jonathan Keyser (R) has not yet responded to the survey – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Janet Doyle (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 26

Chuck McConnell (R) is running again, but he still has not contacted CRTL. Please ask him to contact us.
David Moloney (R) has not returned his survey. Please ask him, also, to answer his survey.
Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 27

Rep. Libby Szabo (R) has not returned surveys since 2008, but we believe she probably supports Personhood. Her silence is disconcerting.
Wade Michael Norris (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 28

Stacia Kuhn (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. Brittany Petterson (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 29

Fmr. Rep. Robert Ramirez (R) has supported Personhood in the past, but has not responded to this year’s survey.
Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 30

JoAnn Windholz (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. Jenise May (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 31

Carol “Jody” Beckler (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. Joe Salazar (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 32

Edgar Antillon (R) has not responded to the survey yet. He says he is pro-life. Please ask him to contact CRTL.
Rep. Dominick Moreno (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 33

Marijo Tinlin (R) defeated a likely pro-abortion Republican in the primary, and Tinlin appears to be pro-life and may support Personhood. Please ask her to contact CRTL or respond to the survey to establish this for certain.
Rep. Dianne Primavera (D) is pro-abortion, and opposed justice for unborn victims of crimes (a fetal homicide measure that would protect the unborn children of pregnant women who die in vehicular homicides or other crimes).

State House District 34

Alexander Winkler (R) has not responded to the survey yet. If you know him, please have him contact us.
Rep. Steve Lebsock (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 35

Mike Melvin (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Faith Winter (D) has not been surveyed, but is probably pro-abortion.

State House District 36

Richard Bowman (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Rep. Su Ryden (D) is pro-abortion and opposed justice for unborn victims of crimes (a fetal homicide measure that would protect the unborn children of pregnant women who die in vehicular homicides or other crimes).

State House District 37

Michael Fields (R) has responded to our survey, and rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.

John Tate (R) has not responded to the survey yet.
Nancy Cronk (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 38

Kathleen Conti (R) responded favorably to CRTL’s survey in 2010, however general opinion now seems to be that she lied about her beliefs on our survey and a number of others (she campaigned as a pro-life, fiscal conservative, and she appears to be neither). She is regarded as an unreliable vote on pro-life issues.
Robert Bowen (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 39

Rep. Polly Lawrence (R) has not yet responded to the survey, but has supported Personhood in the past.
James Huff (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 40

JulieMarie Shepherd (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. John Buckner (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 41

Rep. Jovan Melton (D) is pro-abortion.

Update 10/15:
Molly Barrett (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed that she is pro-life.

State House District 42

*Update 10/1
Mike Donald (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed that he is pro-life.
Rep. Rhonda Fields (D) has been very shrill in opposing pro-life efforts and opposed justice for unborn victims of crimes (a fetal homicide measure that would protect the unborn children of pregnant women who die in vehicular homicides or other crimes). She is pro-abortion.

State House District 43

Kevin Van Winkle (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed that he is pro-life.

Henry Barlow (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 44

Jack Hilbert (R) has responded to the survey and has rigorously affirmed that he is pro-life.

Karen Jae Smith (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 45

Patrick Neville (R) has responded to the CRTL survey and rigorously affirmed he is pro-life.

Brandon Wicks (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 46

Alexander Mugatu (R) has supported Personhood in the past but has not responded to this year’s survey – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Brian Mater (R) has not responded to the survey – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Daneya Esgar (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 47

Rep. Clarice Navarro-Ratzlaff (R) claims to be pro-life, but needs to contact CRTL to establish her positions.
Terrance Hestand (D) and Lucretia “Robbie” Robinson (D) are both presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 48

Rep. Stephen Humphrey (R) responded to the CRTL survey and rigorously affirmed that he is pro-life. There was some controversy about the conduct of the 2012 primary election regarding the abortion issue. Since being elected, Humphrey seems to have done his best to earn a reputation for pro-life legislation and positions. Please ask him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 49

Perry Buck (R) has not returned her survey yet. She is currently running unopposed.

State House District 50

Isaia Aricayos (R) has not responded to the survey yet.
Rep. Dave Young (D) is believed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 51

Rep. Brian DelGrosso (R) has not yet responded to the survey but has supported Personhood in the past. He is currently running unopposed.

State House District 52

Donna Walter (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. Joann Ginal (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 53

Tim Bessler (R) has not yet responded to the survey – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Jennifer James Arndt (D) is assumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 54

Yeulin Willett (R) has not yet responded to our survey. Please encourage him to respond back with us.
Brad Webb (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 55

Steven Acquafresca (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Dan Thurlow (R) also has not responded to the survey yet – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Christopher Kennedy (D) is assumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 56

Rep. Kevin Priola (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please ask him to contact CRTL.
Vicki Snider (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 57

Rep. Bob Rankin (R) did not reply to the CRTL survey in 2010, nor in 2012, even after multiple contacts. It is believed he is not pro-life. He is currently running unopposed.

State House District 58

Rep. Don Coram (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey this year or in the past. CRTL is always skeptical of candidates who don’t return their surveys or self-identify as pro-life on their websites. Coram is currently running unopposed.

State House District 59

Fmr. Rep. J. Paul Brown (R) has not yet responded to the survey, but has supported Personhood in the past.
Rep. Mike McLachlan (D) is pro-abortion.

State House District 60

James Wilson (R) has expressed a pro-life testimony on his webpage, so is believed to be sincerely pro-life, but has not responded to this year’s survey (he did not respond in 2012). He is running unopposed at present.

State House District 61

Rep. Millie Hamner (D) is pro-abortion.
Debra-Lynn Irvine (R) has not responded to the survey yet – please ask her to contact CRTL.

State House District 62

Marcy Freeburg (R) has not yet responded to the survey – please ask her to contact CRTL.
Rep. Ed Vigil (D) is pro-abortion, and opposed justice for unborn victims of crimes (a fetal homicide measure that would protect the unborn children of pregnant women who die in vehicular homicides or other crimes).

State House District 63

Rep. Lori Saine (R) has not yet returned our survey. She refused to answer the survey in 2012, and has expressed reservations about Personhood, though otherwise claims to be pro-life. Please encourage her to return her survey this year.
Bruce Sparrow (R) is running against her in the primary. It’s unclear where he stands, and we do not have a contact e-mail for him yet – if you know him, please ask him to contact CRTL.
Dustin Urban (D) is presumed to be pro-abortion.

State House District 64

Rep. Tim Dore (R) has not responded to the survey yet. He has expressed support for Personhood in the past. He is currently running unopposed.

State House District 65

Fmr. Rep. Jon Becker (R) has not responded to the survey yet. He is currently running unopposed.




**Please note: Republicans predominate this list because they are considered the most likely to be pro-life. Members of other parties, especially the American Constitution Party, may be pro-life. However, we have yet to hear from a single candidate from the Democrat or Libertarian parties who is pro-life. Candidates from other parties, including 3rd parties, will be contacted before the November election.

Any candidate wishing to respond to the survey may contact office@coloradorighttolife.org.

State House Candidates - April 2012 Update

NOTE: This entire blog has been superseded by a more current June Pre-Primary Candidate Positions blog.

The color of the text has been subdued to indicate it is obsolete.

The 2012 Colorado Right to Life survey asked 9 position questions of candidates, ranging from funding for Planned Parenthood to abortion to euthanasia.  The survey and the comments here are based on one, simple definition: No candidate is considered "pro-life" unless they have pledged to oppose all abortion (with the understanding that a doctor may take action to save a woman’s life while also trying to save the baby’s life, even if the baby’s survival is doubtful due to other factors). This is the only position consistent with the inalienable Right to Life of every innocent human being at every age or stage of development. Candidates who support "rape or incest exceptions" are NOT pro-life because there is never an excuse to kill an innocent child.


Additionally, we expect that they will support Colorado's Personhood Amendment. The 9^th question has to do with opposing regulations which undermine the concept of an inalienable Right to Life.  We understand that some sincere pro-life candidates do not agree that the compromise and contradictions inherent in “pro-life regulations” are unacceptable.

This blog covers only state legislative races, not Congressional contenders.  Due to the late redrafting of district borders and the possibility that candidates may still petition onto the ballot, many of these races are still not settled.  There have been two-dozen new Republican candidates declared in the past month or so, and several American Constitution Party and other candidates have also declared in recent weeks.  Many of them have not had time to respond to surveys.  If you know any candidate not mentioned here, please ask them to return their survey or contact CRTL for a copy.

(UPDATE 5/1) These records refer to those who responded to our survey answering correctly to 9 of 9 questions as "100% pro-life", because they understand (on paper, at least) the full meaning of Personhood and the Right to Life (which are essentially the same).  If there is a Right to Life for innocent people, there can be no exceptions, nor can such a Right be frittered away through compromise legislation.


By contrast, those who respond to 8 of 9 questions correctly are labeled as "pro-life" if their reservation was on question 9, regarding compromised anti-abortion regulations which are intended to "save some babies" but which imply there is no such thing in law as a Right to Life.  The "pro-life" label indicates they are sincerely pro-life, and have indicated they oppose all abortions.  However, they fundamentally misunderstand the concept of a Right to Life, or else they would not be willing to support legislation that suggests it is the government's role to determine which innocent lives can be taken away, and which cannot.

State House District 1


There is a primary between James Wildt (R) and John Kidd (R).  Please ask them to return their candidate surveys.


State House District 2


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know TJ Tyrrell (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 3


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Brian Watson (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 4


Two candidates who may be pro-life have recently entered the race.  If you know Stuart Siffring or David Dobson please encourage them to contact CRTL.

State House District 5


Two candidates who may be pro-life have recently entered the race.  If you know Ronnie Nelson (R) or Matthew Zielinski (R), please encourage them to contact CRTL.


State House District 6


No pro-life candidates we're aware of.


State House District 7


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Travis French (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 8


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Alan Johnson (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 9


If you know Robert Lane (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 10

No candidates that appear to be pro-life.


State House District 11

We have not heard from Ellyn Hilliard (R) – if you know her please ask her to contact CRTL.


State House District 12

A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Russ Lyman (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 13

A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Adam Ochs (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.

State House District 14


Daniel Nordberg (R) has no opposition.  He has been an aide to pro-Personhood Congressman Doug Lamborn, and has also been associated with the pro-life Republican Study Committee, so we assume he is inclined to be pro-life.  If you know him please ask him to return his CRTL survey.

State House District 15


American Constitution Party candidate Michael Edstrom is presumably pro-life, but please encourage him to contact us.  Rep. Mark Waller (R) claims to be pro-life, but has not supported Personhood, and is generally considered a fence-sitter on pro-life issues.


State House District 16


Rep. Janak Joshi (R) says he is pro-life on his site, but his support of Personhood is unknown.  He was very cooperative with CRTL in pushing a non-objectionable, non-compromised, Fetal Homicide measure through the legislature this year – the first time one passed either chamber of the Colorado legislature (it failed in the Senate a couple of weeks ago).  We would like to have him on record with regard to his commitments, so please encourage him to return his survey.

State House District 17


Mark Barker (R) responded favorably to CRTL’s survey in 2010, but we have not heard from him this year.  Barry Forest Pace (ACP) is also presumably pro-life.  Please encourage both to return their 2012 survey – we need to confirm both candidates’ commitments. 

State House District 18


Jennifer George (R) may or may not be pro-life.  The American Constitution Party has a candidate, Amy Fedde, who is presumably pro-life.  Please encourage both to return their surveys. 


State House District 19


This is one of the most fascinating races in the legislature this year.  Rep. Amy Stephens (R – House Majority Leader) is being challenged by Rep. Marsha Looper (R) who were redistricted into the same district together.  Looper is framing this as a conservative vs. moderate fight, and so far as CRTL can tell she’s entirely correct.  Stephens used to work for Focus on the Family, but she also used to work in the abortion industry.  With rare exceptions, she has remained silent and disinterested in pro-life issues in the past, and even sponsored a bill to silence pro-life protestors.  Rep. Marsha Looper (R) is 100% pro-life, returned the CRTL survey with 9 of 9 questions answered correctly, and helped lead a fight to de-fund Planned Parenthood in the State budget.  Rep. Amy Stephens has never returned a CRTL survey, and there is no reason to believe she is pro-life.  She also enabled Obamacare, and its taxpayer-paid abortion provisions, by sponsoring HB-200.  Tim Biolchini (ACP) is also presumably pro-life.  Please encourage Stephens and Biolchini to return their CRTL surveys.

State House District 20

Rep. Bob Gardner (R) has never responded to a CRTL survey, and also supported the conscience-violating “emergency contraceptive” legislation which forces pro-life doctors and pharmacists to provide the abortion-causing “morning after pill.”  He is not pro-life.  Donna Burdick (ACP) is presumably pro-life.  Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State House District 21


A rare “can’t lose” situation.  Al Sweet (R) is 100% pro-life, responding correctly to 9 of 9 questions.  Lois Landgraf (R) is 100% pro-life, responding correctly to 9 of 9 questions. 


State House District 22


Justin Everett (R) is 100% pro-life, responding correctly to 9 of 9 questions.  Loren Bauman (R) is apparently not pro-life.


State House District 23


Rick Enstrom (R) may be pro-life, but the degree of his commitment has not been established.  Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 24


E.V. Leyendecker (R) may or may not be pro-life.  Please ask him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 25


Cheri Gerou (R) is not regarded as pro-life.  She has never responded to a CRTL survey and is considered an unreliable vote on even the least of pro-life votes.


State House District 26


Chuck McConnell (R) may or may not be pro-life.  Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 27


Libby Szabo (R) has not returned surveys, but we believe she probably supports Personhood.  Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State House District 28

Amy Attwood (R) is probably pro-life, but we need to establish this.  Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State House District 29


Robert Ramirez (R) has responded favorably to CRTL’s survey in the past.  Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey to make sure he’s still with us.


State House District 30


If this is the same person who ran for Congress (CD7) in 2010, Mike Sheely (R) has responded favorably to CRTL’s survey in the past.  Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 31


Beth Humenik (R) may or may not be pro-life.  Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State House District 32


Paul Reimer (R) may or may not be pro-life.  Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 33


David Pigott (R) may or may not be pro-life. Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 34

Jodina Widhalm (R) may or may not be pro-life.  Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State House District 35


Brian Vande Krol (R) is pro-abortion.


State House District 36


Neither Robert Martinez (R) nor Jim Parker (R) have responded to the CRTL survey (and in fact we can’t find either candidate’s contact info).  Please encourage them to contact CRTL.


State House District 37


Rep. Spencer Swalm (R) claims to be pro-life, but has never responded to a CRTL survey, is very resistant to CRTL, and supported the conscience-violating "emergency contraception" mandate in the legislature.  His commitment is very much in doubt.


State House District 38


Kathleen Conti (R) responded favorably to CRTL’s survey in 2010, however general opinion now seems to be that she lied about her beliefs on our survey and a number of others (she campaigned as a pro-life, fiscal conservative, and she appears to be neither).  We do not consider her pro-life. She is regarded as an unreliable vote on pro-life issues.

State House District 39


This is a somewhat weird Republican primary.  Polly Lawrence did not respond to CRTL’s survey when she ran in 2010, and was at that time regarded as not pro-life (CRTL cannot read candidates’ minds – if they evade answering tough questions, it is easy to assume they don’t agree with you).  However, Polly Lawrence (R) has in 2012 responded to the CRTL survey with 9 of 9 questions answered correctly, and is apparently 100% pro-life.
(UPDATE 5/1) Lu Ann Busse (R) is pro-life, answering correctly to 8 of the 9 questions on the CRTL survey. 

This race effectively illustrates the danger of not responding to the CRTL survey – if you are pro-life, don’t keep it a secret from us!  


State House District 40


Cynthia Acree (R) is believed to be pro-life, but she has not responded to the CRTL survey. Please encourage her to do so.


State House District 41


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Adrienne Webb-Markopolous (R) please encourage her to contact CRTL.  There is also Independent Maria Fay, who we know nothing about.

State House District 42


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Michael Donald (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.  Democrat Rep. Rhonda Fields (D) has become very shrill in opposing pro-life efforts.


State House District 43


Speaker Frank McNulty (R) has said in the past he supports Personhood, but he has taken action as leader of the House Republicans which cast doubt upon his commitment to taking pro-life action.


State House District 44


Rep. Chris Holbert (R) is 100% pro-life, and responded to the CRTL survey with 9 of 9 questions answered correctly.  He has also become a stand-out leader of the pro-life legislators in the House.


State House District 45


Rep. Carole Murray (R) is believed to be pro-life, but has not responded to the CRTL survey.  Please encourage her to return her survey.


State House District 46


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Jerry Denney (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL. 

State House District 47


Ray Watts (R) is 100% pro-life, and responded to the CRTL survey with 9 of 9 questions answered correctly.  However, it is unclear whether he will make it on the primary ballot after a loss at the district assembly.  Clarice Navarro-Ratzlaff has not responded to the CRTL survey.  Please encourage her to contact us.

State House District 48

Jeffrey Hare (R) is 100% pro-life, and responded to the CRTL survey with 9 of 9 questions answered correctly.   
(UPDATE 5/1): Stephen Humphrey (R) is pro-life, and responded to the CRTL survey with 8 of 9 questions answered correctly, and having a reservation on question 9, regarding compromise regulations which may "save some lives" but which also undermine the concept of a Right to Life in law.  If he is the nominee, we will continue to work with him on this issue.


State House District 49

Perry Buck (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey.  Please encourage her to do so.


State House District 50


Arthur “Skip” Carlson (R) may be pro-life, but has not returned his CRTL survey.  Please encourage him to do so.


State House District 51


Rep. Brian DelGrosso (R) is believed to support Personhood, but we have not heard from him.  Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State House District 52


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Bob Morain (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL. 


State House District 53


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Jonathan Fye (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL. 


State House District 54

Two candidates who may be pro-life have recently entered the race.  If you know John Price (R) or Jared Wright (R) please encourage them to contact CRTL. 


State House District 55


Rep. Ray Scott (R) responded favorably to CRTL’s survey in 2010, but we have not yet heard from him this year.  There is also Virgil Fenn (Libertarian) who may or may not be pro-life (most Libertarians are not).  Please encourage both to respond to the CRTL survey. 

State House District 56


Rep. Kevin Priola (R) says he is pro-life, but has not responded to the CRTL survey.  Please encourage him to do so.


State House District 57

Bob Rankin (R) did not reply to the CRTL survey in 2010, and has not in 2012.  It is believed he is not pro-life (his defeated opponent in the primary was not either).  Please encourage him to respond to the CRTL survey.


State House District 58


Don Coram (R) may or may not be pro-life.  He has never responded to the CRTL survey.  Please encourage him to contact us.


State House District 59


J. Paul Brown (R) spoke out in favor of Personhood in 2010, and he has indicated he will respond to the CRTL survey this year.


State House District 60


Steve Collins (R) is pro-life, responding correctly to 8 of the 9 questions, and answering favorably to the 9^th (opposing anti-abortion regulations) with a minor reservation.  It sounds like he will work with CRTL to avoid compromised legislation.  James Wilson (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey.  Please encourage him to contact us.


State House District 61


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know David Justice (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL.  Robert Petrowsky (ACP) is presumably pro-life but we need to hear from him. 


State House District 62


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race.  If you know Tim Walters (R) please encourage him to contact CRTL. 


State House District 63


Lori Saine (R) claims to be pro-life, but responded to CRTL merely that she believes “life begins at conception,” which is entirely inadequate (John McCain claimed the same, but believed in taxpayer-funded murder of unborn embryos for research purposes).  If you know Lori, please encourage her to establish her bona fides in detail to set herself apart from other Republicans who try to be vague, with evasive responses that commit to nothing.  It is unclear whether Gene Stille (R) or Bruce Sparrow (R) are still in the race.  There is also a write-in candidate, Michael Mazzocco.  If these people are still running, please encourage them to contact CRTL.


State House District 64


Tim Dore (R) is pro-life, having responded to the CRTL survey with 8 out of 9 correct answers, providing a contradictory answer to #9.  We will continue to work with him on his support for compromised anti-abortion regulations (which some pro-life legal scholars believe legitimizes abortion and doesn’t treat the unborn child as a Person). 

State House District 65

Rep. Jerry Sonnenberg (R) has responded favorably to previous CRTL surveys.  Please ask him to contact us so we can establish for sure that he’s still with us.

**Please note: Republicans predominate this list because they are considered the most likely to be pro-life.  Members of other parties, especially the American Constitution Party, may be pro-life.  However, we have yet to hear from a single candidate from the Democrat or Libertarian parties who is pro-life.  Most Democrats who entered early in the race were sent a copy of the survey in February.  Though more recent entrants have not, they are welcome to contact CRTL to answer the survey.

State Senate Candidates - April 2012 Update

NOTE: The information in this blog has been superseded by a more current June Pre-Primary Candidate Positions blog.

The color of the text has been subdued to indicate it is obsolete.

The 2012 Colorado Right to Life survey asked 9 position questions of candidates, ranging from funding for Planned Parenthood to abortion to euthanasia. The survey and the comments here are based on one, simple definition: No candidate is considered "pro-life" unless they have pledged to oppose all abortion (with the understanding that a doctor may take action to save a woman’s life while also trying to save the baby’s life, even if the baby’s survival is doubtful due to other factors). This is the only position consistent with the inalienable Right to Life of every innocent human being at every age or stage of development. Candidates who support "rape or incest exceptions" are NOT pro-life because there is never an excuse to kill an innocent child.


Additionally, we expect that they will support Colorado's Personhood Amendment. The 9th question has to do with opposing regulations which undermine the concept of an inalienable Right to Life. We understand that some sincere pro-life candidates do not agree that the compromise and contradictions inherent in “pro-life regulations” are unacceptable.


This blog covers only state legislative races, not Congressional contenders. Due to the late redrafting of district borders and the possibility that candidates may still petition onto the ballot, many of these races are still not settled. There have been two-dozen new Republican candidates declared in the past month or so, and several American Constitution Party and other candidates have also declared in recent weeks. Many of them have not had time to respond to surveys. If you know any candidate not mentioned here, please ask them to return their survey or contact CRTL for a copy.


(UPDATE 5/1) These records refer to those who responded to our survey answering correctly to 9 of 9 questions as "100% pro-life", because they understand (on paper, at least) the full meaning of Personhood and the Right to Life (which are essentially the same).  If there is a Right to Life for innocent people, there can be no exceptions, nor can such a Right be frittered away through compromise legislation.




By contrast, those who respond to 8 of 9 questions correctly are labeled as "pro-life" if their reservation was on question 9, regarding compromised anti-abortion regulations which are intended to "save some babies" but which imply there is no such thing in law as a Right to Life.  The "pro-life" label indicates they are sincerely pro-life, and have indicated they oppose all abortions.  However, they fundamentally misunderstand the concept of a Right to Life, or else they would not be willing to support legislation that suggests it is the government's role to determine which innocent lives can be taken away, and which cannot.




State Senate District 4


Mark Scheffel (R) has not responded to the CRTL survey, but is believed to support Personhood. Please ask him to return his survey.


State Senate District 8


No candidates have returned the CRTL survey, but Rep. Randy Baumgardner (R) is facing Sen. Jean White (R) in a primary. Baumgardner responded pro-Personhood in 2010, and White is known to be pro-choice.


State Senate District 10


(**updated 4/24) Owen Hill (R) is pro-life, supports Personhood, and responded to the CRTL survey with 8 of 9 questions answered correctly (he is willing to dialogue about the 9th question, regarding non-support of anti-abortion regulations). He is in a primary with Rep. Larry Liston (R) who has never returned a CRTL survey, and is thought to be indifferent to pro-life issues.  Liston also voted for a conscience-violating measure requiring pro-life doctors and pharmacists to provide “emergency contraception” (i.e. the abortifacient “morning after” pill).


State Senate District 12


Sen. Bill Cadman (R) is 100% Pro-Life, supports Personhood, and responded to the CRTL survey with 9 out of 9 questions answered correctly.


State Senate District 14


Syndi Anderson (R) is probably pro-life but we cannot confirm this, or whether she opposes all abortion. Please encourage her to return her CRTL survey.


State Senate District 17


A new candidate who may be pro-life has entered the race. If you know Charlie Plagainos, please ask him to contact CRTL.


State Senate District 18


A new candidate who may be pro-life has entered the race. If you know Barry Thoma, please ask him to contact CRTL.


State Senate District 19


Lang Sias (R) has called himself pro-life, but has never answered a CRTL survey, and his credentials and commitments are suspect. Please ask him to return his survey.


State Senate District 21


Two new candidates may be pro-life. If you know Francine Bigelow or Matthew Plichta, please ask them to contact CRTL.


State Senate District 22


Ken Summers (R), despite being a former pastor, is NOT pro-life. He has voted for a conscience-violating measure requiring pro-life doctors and pharmacists to provide “emergency contraception” (i.e. the abortifacient “morning after” pill), and has responded angrily when asked about pro-life measures.


State Senate District 23


(**updated 4/26) Vicki Marble (R) is 100% Pro-Life, supports Personhood, and answered the CRTL survey with 9 out of 9 questions answered correctly.  She is in a primary contest against Rep. Glenn Vaad (R). Vaad signed the Personhood petition in 2010, but may have done so without conviction, as he has shown little other sign that he is pro-life and has never returned a CRTL survey. Vaad also voted for the conscience-violating “emergency contraception” measure.


State Senate District 25


John Sampson (R) claims to be pro-life, but his level of commitment and support for Personhood is unclear. He has not returned the CRTL survey, and seems to have doubts about the Personhood strategy. Please encourage him to support Personhood and to return the CRTL survey.


State Senate District 26


David Kerber (R) shows no sign of being pro-life. Please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State Senate District 27


Rep. Dave Balmer (R) has expressed strong pro-life commitments and is pro-Personhood, but has not returned his CRTL survey. Please encourage him to do so.


State Senate District 28


Art Carlson (R) and John Lyons (R) are in a primary against each other. Both claim to be pro-life, but neither has responded to the CRTL survey, and the depth of their commitment is in question. Either or both may be 100% pro-life, but from conversations this has remained unclear.


State Senate District 29


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race. If you know Bill Ross (R) please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State Senate District 31


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race. If you know Brandon Kelley (R) please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.


State Senate District 35


A candidate who may be pro-life has recently entered the race. If you know Larry Crowder (R) please encourage him to return his CRTL survey.






*** Please note: The fact that the candidates listed above are mostly Republicans is not meant to convey the idea that Republicans are necessarily all pro-life or that the only pro-life candidates are Republicans.  In many cases (some noted) this is not at all true.  However, we are unaware of any Democrats who are legitimately pro-life.  Many Democrats were sent the survey, but only a couple responded with unfavorable comments.  The candidates of the American Constitution Party are presumably all pro-life, as it's part of the party platform and screening process, but most are newly declared and have not had time to return surveys. They will be noted in future updates.

Colorado Governor & U.S. Senate Candidate Positions & Survey Responses (July 2010)

This blog post is obsolete, and has been superseded by updated information accurate as of mid-October 2010, which can be accessed by clicking here.

All of the candidates discussed here have been approached on the subject of Personhood and Amendment 62, which will be on the Nov 2010 ballot. Candidate positions for major statewide or federal offices have been mostly established.

Personhood means support for the God-given Right to Life from the beginning of a human's biological development until natural death -- NO exceptions! It is CRTL's only real standard for judging a candidate's qualifications, though we do challenge candidates on several questions which relate closely to Personhood but which may be considered separate issues. Support for Colorado's Amendment 62 is an easy way to check if a candidate supports Personhood.

See the CRTL 2010 Candidate Questionnaire, which is used to judge the candidates' pro-life credentials.

CRTL will not and cannot support anyone who supports abortion for any reason. They are NOT "pro-life", they are "pro-death with exceptions". Many candidates say they are pro-life, but they are holding back critical "exceptions" where they are willing to see unborn children killed. Beware of these common tactics & lies.

The following is a comprehensive update of what CRTL knows about the major Colorado candidates for U.S. Senate and for Governor. This information supersedes any previous versions.



U.S. Senate

Republican Ken Buck opened communication with Colorado Right to Life early in the election season, and has replied to the CRTL candidate questionnaire with solid responses. He supports Amendment 62, the Personhood concept in general, and understands what's at stake. CRTL considers him 100% pro-life. It's not completely clear that he agrees with CRTL's position on abortion regulations, but he seems willing to dialogue on these issues and we look forward to discussing this with him again in the future.


Republican Jane Norton has declared her support for Amendment 62 also, and has a history as a pro-life leader. However, to the best of our knowledge she still supports abortions in cases of rape or incest. She has not publicly repudiated that stance, even though it conflicts with the Personhood of the unborn child. She expressed a willingness to have someone on her staff meet with CRTL on these issues, and if she is the nominee we would be glad to do so.

Democrats Michael Bennet and Andrew Romanoff both support abortion. In the absence of information to the contrary, we expect Libertarian candidates Maclyn Stringer and John Finger do also, as do most Libertarian candidates.



Colorado Governor

Republican Dan Maes has run as a pro-life, family values candidate, and has endorsed Personhood (Amendment 62) and signed the petition. He answered CRTL's Candidate Survey with strong pro-life answers, and when challenged on his early support for embryonic stem cell research he was willing to discuss the issue with us, and changed his mind. Subsequent mis-statements by him in the press caused us to question, but after meeting with him we are convinced his mistakes are more due to his unfamiliarity with some of the issues. We believe Dan Maes is sincere in his pro-life views, and believe he will support Personhood if it comes to his desk to sign. CRTL considers Dan Maes to be 100% pro-life.

Republican Scott McInnis, despite his claims during his campaign, did not have a solid pro-life record when he was in Congress, at one time voted for taxpayer funding for abortion, and even served as a prominent member of Republicans for Choice (Republicans for Abortion). He more-or-less acknowledges his past on the issue, and has said he has changed his mind after reflection as he has aged and learned more about life and family.

McInnis has not returned his candidate survey, but has agreed to meet with CRTL if he is the nominee. In a private phone conversation he repeated his public support for Amendment 62, the Personhood Amendment, and privately agreed to support a Personhood measure if it came across his desk. If he is the nominee, we look forward to meeting with him, and to seeing more public emphasis on his new pro-life views. CRTL remains skeptical of his conversion, not just because of his past record, but also because of more recent issues that throw question on his forthrightness.

American Constitution Party candidate Ben Goss has resigned from the campaign in order to make room for new candidate Tom Tancredo.

Formerly Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo has joined the American Constitution Party and is expected to become their new nominee for Governor -- a situation that follows developments with the McInnis campaign. As candidate Goss has noted, the Constitution Party carries the Personhood of the unborn child as part of its platform, and Tancredo would not have been allowed to put forth his candidacy without assurances of his support for Amendment 62, which we are assured have been made.

Tancredo's support for Personhood comes as no surprise to CRTL, as his record on pro-life issues has long been very strong. We look forward to a public announcement on Amendment 62, and to talking with him about other issues such as abortion regulations. CRTL considers Tom Tancredo to be 100% pro-life.

Democrat John Hickenlooper is known to be pro-abortion.



If you have any questions about either race, or any candidate, please feel free to contact Colorado Right to Life at 303-753-9394 or at office@coloradorighttolife.org.

Updates to CRTL surveys and information on candidates for the Colorado House and Senate will be forthcoming by this weekend. For the most part, the candidate information provided in May still holds true.

State House and Senate Primaries (GOP) of Note

There are some important House and Senate races where clearly pro-Personhood Republicans are facing Republican primary opponents who are known to be pro-abortion or whose positions are unknown (which likely means they are pro-choice) are these:

SD 2 (Canon City, south Pueblo, Walsenburg, Las Animas)
Kevin Grantham is considered 100% pro-life. His opponent (Matt Heimerich) is known to be pro-abortion.

SD 5 (Delta, Aspen, Gunnison, Buena Vista, Salida, Alamosa)
Wayne Wolf is considered 100% pro-life. His Republican opponent's views are unknown to us (Bob Rankin) but has been identified by some as a socially-moderate libertarian.

SD 6 (southwestern Colorado, including Montrose, Durango & Pagosa Springs)
Dean Boehler is considered 100% pro-life. We consider his Republican opponent (Ellen Roberts) the most pro-abortion Republican legislator.

HD 44 (Parker, Roxborough Park)
Chris Holbert is considered 100% pro-life. We have significant doubts about one of his primary opponents (David Casiano) and the other (Polly Lawrence) is on record opposing Amendment 62 to establish Personhood for the unborn.

HD 54 (Grand Junction, Delta)
Ray Scott is considered 100% pro-life. His opponent (Bob Hislop) has not responded to our survey, his site mentions "family values" while remaining very vague, but he is believed by local pro-lifers to be insincere in his stand, only saying he's pro-life in order to get pro-life votes. Hislop was personally given a survey and asked to support Personhood, and he refused.


Also please see CRTL's recent post about similar clear distinctions between candidates for U.S. Congress in the 7th, 3rd and 2nd Congressional Districts.

Colorado Congressional Races in 7th, 3rd, 2nd: Three Critical Primaries Between Contrasting Republicans

URGENT information about Congressional candidates follows, some of whom insist on calling themselves "pro-life" when they're not by any reasonable definition.

Scott Tipton and Ryan Frazier called out as falsely trying to get pro-life votes.

Personhood means support for the God-given Right to Life from the beginning of a human's natural biological development until natural death -- NO exceptions! It is CRTL's only real standard for judging a candidate's qualifications, though we do challenge candidates on several questions which relate closely to Personhood but which may be considered separate issues. Support for Colorado's Amendment 62, on the November ballot, is an easy way to check if a candidate supports Personhood.

Every major candidate running for State or Federal office here in Colorado has been approached at least once, often two or three times, by e-mail, in person, and/or by certified mail. If they haven't responded to our survey we must assume they are trying to hide views which do not agree with ours. If they wish to change their mind and respond, they are welcome to do so, and we will post their responses quickly.

Three critical Congressional races with primaries between candidates who disagree on abortion are identified first (2nd, 3rd & 7th):

7th Congressional District

Republican Ryan Frazier claims to be "100% pro-life" BUT HE IS NOT! Frazier has been telling pro-life voters that he is "100% pro-life" but these words conceal the fact that he is on record as a "social moderate" whose own words tell us he isn't interested in using legislative power to stop abortions. He does not support Amendment 62, to the best of our knowledge. He supports certain limits on abortion, such as de-funding Planned Parenthood, but is willing to go no further.

Frazier has not responded to CRTL's repeated attempts to reach him (including by certified letter), and we expect he would score badly on CRTL's candidate questionnaire even if he did respond.

Frazier told Westword, "I am not a fan of abortion, but I struggle with whether it is the appropriate role of the government to place itself there." That's like struggling with the role of government to ban slavery. The Aurora Sentinel said, "Frazier's shown a more liberal bent in his approach on social issues, however, voicing support for same-sex couples and expressing a measured stance on government regulation of abortion."

The statements on his website and in person are cleverly worded to sound like he's on our side, but many of these same things were said by John Kerry and other pro-abortion Republicans and Democrats. You may also find this pro-life blogger's information helpful: Philokalia Republic.

Republican Lang Sias has said he is pro-life, and we have come to believe this is substantially true, even though we have not received his candidate survey or been able to reach him to confirm the extent of his stands. Because of this, we cannot refer to him as a "pro-life" candidate because we cannot confirm this. But we also have no evidence to the contrary, unlike with his opponent. Please encourage Sias to return his survey, or at least to contact CRTL. If you know whether he has taken a stand on Personhood Amendment 62, we would appreciate knowing.

Democrat Ed Perlmutter is pro-abortion.


3rd Congressional District

Republican Scott Tipton has not responded to our CRTL candidate survey, and has avoided or ignored multiple requests for details on what he claims are pro-life beliefs. He's been approached in person, made promises to respond to the survey, and been approached by e-mail twice. He also did not respond to inquiries from CRTL in 2008.

For three years now, Scott Tipton has avoided going on the record with any pro-life views, either through us or via the news media (that we can find) other than his mere word. Scott Tipton's website confirms he supports abortion in cases of rape & incest, expecting the innocent child to pay for the crimes of another. Scott Tipton does not meet the standard of being legitimately pro-life.

Republican Bob McConnell has responded to CRTL's survey, and he answered 6 out of 7 questions correctly (enough that we trust his heart is sincerely in sympathy with CRTL's positions). His only reservation was on the matter of supporting "regulatory" laws (which CRTL believes actually undermine the concept of Personhood, even though many pro-lifers believe regulations "save some babies"). Bob McConnell supports Amendment 62, the Personhood Amendment.

This is a long-term discussion, and CRTL will continue to discuss this issue with McConnell. On this particular matter, we believe strongly in a candidate's good intentions.

Democrat John Salazar supports abortion.


2nd Congressional District

Republican candidate Stephen Bailey is pro-abortion. He does not support a God-given Right to Life, and believes abortion should not be restricted in any form, except to ban public funding and partial birth abortion.

Republican candidate Bob Brancato responded to our survey, and supports Personhood (signed the petition). His responses are essentially 5 out of 7 correct. He still supports exceptions for rape and incest, and supports regulations. The rape and incest exceptions greatly concern us, for the same reasons noted above for Scott Tipton. But these responses are promising for a candidate we've not had time to dialogue with, and Brancato has been willing to talk with CRTL -- we have hopes that he will come around on this vital issue. We'll keep working on him -- we believe his heart is in the right place.

Democrat Jared Polis is known to strongly support abortion.

More information later today on other races.

Early April Update - Candidate Surveys

CRTL continues to get new responses to our candidate surveys. We've tried to get responses earlier this year, so that you can use this information in your county, congressional district, and state assemblies in order to support candidates who you know are pro-life!

Please help us with this process by asking the candidates to respond to our survey so that you know where they stand. Don't accept simple claims like "I'm 100% pro-life" -- see if they have the guts to put their commitment on paper (and on the Internet).

In mid-March we posted a large amount of information on many races and candidates. This pre-caucus information can be found here (you're likely to find your candidates listed there -- add this posts's information to the info in that older post, and you'll be up to date).

Here's the new information:

Governor of Colorado

CRTL has no additional reason to believe Scott McInnis' claim that he is "100% pro-life". He still has not responded to the survey, and refuses to make concrete commitments. We are distrustful, because he will not go on record with specific promises, most particularly with regard to Amendment 62, the Personhood Amendment.

On the other hand, we retain one major reservation for candidate Dan Maes too, and that is that he believes embryonic stem cell research (ESCR) can be allowed within limited circumstances. Despite his promise to support Personhood, this position is incompatible with the Personhood position, because it means he supports "limited" killing of unborn children. We will continue to dialogue with him on this, and we're hopeful that he will come around to our point of view once he has more time to examine the issue. Please encourage him to do so.

Constitution Party candidate Benjamin Goss has responded to our survey with 7 of 7 questions answered correctly!

U.S. Senate

Not much information to add, here.

Candidate Tom Wiens has promised to respond to the survey, and sounds like he intends to answer properly, but we still have not received his survey (he is petitioning on, and won't be a candidate at the assembly).

We are still concerned about Jane Norton's stated support for abortion exceptions, and she has not yet supported Personhood or responded to the survey. Please encourage her to take a stand on these issues, but for now we do not believe her positions qualify her as pro-life.

Candidates Ken Buck, Cleve Tidwell and Steve Barton are considered pro-life (only Tidwell has returned his candidate survey -- please encourage the others to do so!).


Treasurer Race

We still have not heard from JJ Ament one way or another on Personhood, or on the candidate survey. He claims to be pro-life, but so far this is only a claim. Please encourage him to return the survey.

Candidate Ali Hasan holds positions which support the killing of some unborn children, which means we do not consider him pro-life. At one point he seemed to be trying to run as a pro-life candidate. He remains open to dialogue, though, and we intend to follow through with him.

(Note added May 16: Ali Hasan's recent mailer implies that CRTL supports him, but we do not support any candidate who is not 100% pro-life, which means answering at least 6 out of 7 questions of our survey correctly - Hasan answered only 3 correctly. More info can be found in our earlier candidate survey post here: http://coloradorighttolife.blogspot.com/2010/03/pre-caucus-update-candidate-positions.html - CRTL still has not heard from JJ Ament as to whether he supports Personhood, and have not received his survey, nor have we heard from Stapleton)

We have not heard anything from Walker Stapleton, and have no reason to believe he is pro-life.

Congressional District 2

Candidate Bob Brancato has indicated he intends to respond to our survey, but we have not received his survey yet.


Congressional District 4

Diggs Brown states on his website that he is pro-life, but we believe he has suspended his candidacy.

Cory Gardner and Tom Lucero both responded 7 of 7 to our survey.



Congressional District 7

We have not yet heard from either Ryan Frazier or Lang Sias in this important race. Please encourage them to return their surveys, or at least to take a public stand on the Personhood Amendment, Amendment 62.

Republican candidate Mike Sheely did return his survey, and answered correctly on 7 of 7 questions!

State Senate District 2

Republican candidate Kevin Grantham has responded to our survey, answering 7 of 7 questions correctly!

Grantham faces primary opponents, but we have not heard from them.


State Senate District 3

Republican candidate Alexander Lucero-Mugatu has responded to our survey, responding correctly to 6 of 7 questions. His response to question #2, on rape & incest exceptions, makes us think he does not necessarily support prohibiting abortion for rape or incest (which undermines the Personhood of the unborn child), but we will work with him on these apparent exceptions. For now, it remains a red flag, and we hope that a supporter will be able to speak with him about this.

Mugatu faces a Republican primary, but we have not heard from his opponents.

State Senate District 5

Republican candidate Wayne Wolf has responded to our survey with 7 of 7 questions answered correctly! He did indicate a possible exception for certain regulations, but it sounds like he is very close to our position, and we can work with him on defining specifics.

Wolf faces a Republican primary, but we have not heard from his opponent.

State House District 35

Candidate Edgar Antillon indicated he would be responding to our survey, but we have not received it yet. He says he is pro-life.

State House District 57

Republican candidate Randy Baumgardner responded to our survey, answering 6 of 7 questions correctly (he may have missed question #2 -- we'll follow up with him on this question, regarding exceptions to allow abortion for rape & incest).

As we said earlier, we have heard from dozens more candidates than those listed here -- click the link at the top of the page to see a more comprehensive list (though some information on this list may supersede that information).

From elsewhere....

In addition to these candidates, it might be important to note that Congressional candidate Jeffrey Locke, running for Kansas' 2nd District, has also responded 7 of 7 to our survey (which would normally be covered by American Right to Life, though they have not been able to send surveys yet). Thank you, Jeff Locke!