(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 - 13The 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.
