Past and present Governor candidates from Colorado: on Health Care
Donna Lynne:
Health care a right, not a privilege
The ACA has been a success in Colorado where we have cut in half the number of people who didn't have health coverage with more than half a million more Coloradans getting coverage they didn't have before.
But more must be done. I've worked on legislation to expand access, increase transparency, and make health care more affordable. I think health care is a right, not a privilege, and I support universal coverage and will fight to make it a reality. .
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial website LynneForColorado.com
Sep 15, 2017
Doug Robinson:
Wants congress and Trump to repeal ObamaCare
Robinson said he voted for Donald Trump and applauded his cabinet appointments, even as he said he thinks the president "can do a better job."
He expressed disappointment that the Republican-led Congress failed to pass a bill to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 25, 2017
George Brauchler:
Repeal Obamacare; local control of Medicaid
Coloradans deserve access to patient-centered healthcare and affordable premiums. ObamaCare must be repealed to make this happen.
Since becoming the law of the land, ObamaCare has driven more and more Coloradans onto our Medicaid rolls.
At the same time, it has stifled the state's ability to be innovative and has driven costs up at the expense of other state funding priorities, like education and transportation.
We need greater flexibility that gets Washington out of the way and allows our state leaders to craft a Colorado-specific Medicaid plan that is best for Colorado's unique needs.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website george2018.com
Jul 12, 2017
George Brauchler:
Increase Medicaid co-pays to change behavior
A $2 copay that gets billed out as a $54 office visit is too little to impact behavior. People who have a runny nose are running off to the doctor, because the cost to them is nothing. Should we have the ability to go to them and say, "We want you to
have the ability to have more skin in the game. We want to increase your copay as a means of not only helping us save dollars for those who truly need it, but also to change behavior, so you don't treat this in a way that's more gratuitously used."
Source: Westword.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 7, 2017
George Brauchler:
Medicaid block grants instead of ObamaCare expansion
Brauchler supports the Trump administration's call to change the federal Medicaid insurance program to a block grant -- setting limits on the annual expenditure.
He said Colorado's decision to expand Medicaid coverage under the Obama administration's Affordable Care Act has committed the state to open-ended expense. "Those costs are ultimately unsustainable," he said.
Source: Pueblo Chieftain on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Apr 11, 2017
George Brauchler:
Charge co-pays to low-income residents on Medicaid
When it comes to finding money to invest in schools, Brauchler suggested rising health care costs are crowding out other priorities.
He expressed interest to charging co-pays to low-income residents on Medicaid, as well as looking at reducing eligibility limits, which could leave some uninsured.
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Apr 5, 2017
Greg Lopez:
I believe in free-market health care
I believe in school choice, less regulation, protecting the 2nd Amendment, free-market health care, constitutionalist judges, less spending and smaller government through
Tax Payers Bill of Rights--TABOR, enforcing our laws and protecting our boarders, "legal" immigration not "illegal immigration."
Source: 2022 Colorado governor race website LopezForGovernor2022.com
Feb 15, 2021
Greg Lopez:
No face mask; responds "Do you wear a diaper?"
Lopez said he does not wear a face mask in Denver or anywhere else
and if someone says something to him about it, he says, "Do you wear a diaper?"
Source: Akron News-Reporter on 2022 Colorado gubernatorial race
Feb 10, 2021
Greg Lopez:
Would take a hands-off approach to health care
He would take a hands-off approach to health care. Less government and more competition would lower prices faster than regulations that drove them up. Ultimately, society has to lower health risks to reduce costs on health care, not government squeezing
the market, Lopez said. "Any time the government has gotten its hands on a program, I'm yet to see it do what they said it was going to do," he said.
Source: ColoradoPolitics.com blog on 2022 Colorado governor race
Mar 23, 2020
Greg Lopez:
VA is proof against government health-care system
Government has never been able to, and never will be able to, provide any type of true health-care system that will achieve what everyone wants to achieve, and we have a perfect example of that. The Veterans Administration is
supposed to provide medical services and treatment at no cost to our veterans, and yet we see the challenges and the struggles the VA has. And they have full access to federal dollars to provide that service. It's just not working.
Source: Westword.com blog on 2018 Colorado governor race
May 23, 2018
Heidi Ganahl:
Opposed legislation creating public health insurance option
Ganahl opposed a measure aimed at lowering health care costs by creating a public health insurance option in Colorado. Ganahl penned an op-ed citing her recent experience having a brain tumor removed. "The proposed Colorado Affordable Health Care
Option is not the broad solution politicians claim," wrote Ganahl in her column. "With unintended consequences to quality and access, it may force hospitals to eliminate some critical care functions. It may even endanger miracles like mine."
Source: Colorado Times Recorder on 2022 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Sep 10, 2021
Jared Polis:
AdWatch: Supports Medicare for All
CLAIM: "And radical ideas like single-payer health care. That's why they call it RadiCalifornia. Jared Polis wants the same thing."VERDICT: This is TRUE. Polis is supportive of single-payer health care. Calling it radical is opinion.
The ad refers
to a bill introduced in January 2017, H.R. 676, "Medicare for All." It essentially creates a free health care system for all U.S. citizens. Polis signed on as a cosponsor of the bill in April 2017. No Republicans have put their name on this legislation.
Source: 9News.com KUSA AdWatch on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
Aug 13, 2018
Jared Polis:
Improve ObamaCare; work toward universal single-payer system
Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare? Accept ACA's Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants? Jared Polis (D): Keep ACA and improve it. Work toward universal single-payer system. Believes Medicaid expansion in
Colorado has been an enormous success.
Walker Stapleton (R): Repeal ACA & end Colorado's ObamaCare exchange. Shrinking Medicaid expansion would be among main changes he'd champion.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Colorado Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Mike Johnston:
Preserve Medicaid expansion
Will fight to preserve the expansion of Medicaid in Colorado which has helped cut the number of uninsured in our state by 50 percent. In 2014 Mike co-sponsored the creation the Colorado Commission on
Affordable Health Care in order to improve access and quality of care. Mike put forth legislation that required that health insurers cover maternity care and contraception and prohibited health insurers from considering gender in setting rates
Source: 2018 Colorado Governor website MikeJohnstonForColorado.com
Sep 1, 2017
Victor Mitchell:
Promote patient-centered health care
His top issues include lowering the cost of college, promoting patient-centered health care and helping "people earn more money."
A former House GOP colleague called Mitchell "an independent thinker" who "didn't let party get in the way of getting some things done."
Source: Denver Post on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Feb 13, 2017
Victor Mitchell:
Insurance is not necessary for primary care
We can get Medicaid spending under control Medicaid has increased by more than 40% since the passage of the unaffordable care act. We're not doing anything to bend the cost of access to affordable care.
We should come up with ideas and solutions that are different, that don't always involve insurance. Why do we even need insurance for primary care? I plan to repeal the exchange here in Colorado and replace it with a patient centered health care plan.
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com
Jul 2, 2017
Victor Mitchell:
ObamaCare doesn't work for 50% of people today
We hear about the handful of people that are going to lose their insurance under the "Un-Affordable Care Act," but don't talk about the more than 50% of people today, that have insurance, that can't access it like Mark who works for me.
He has diabetes. It costs him more than $15,000 a year today to access any service provider between what he has to pay for his co payments his deductibles and his premiums."
Source: 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial campaign website vic4gov.com
Jul 2, 2017
Victor Mitchell:
ObamaCare is not a solution; we need patient-centered care
Mitchell called the Medicaid expansion under Obamacare, which provided insurance to thousands of Coloradans, a boondoggle. He would favor block grants to start nurse-practitioner staffed clinics for primary care. "That begs the question of why
do you even need insurance for primary care?" he said. "You should be able to go and get high-quality, patient-centered care without insurance, but we're not even thinking about these types of things."
Source: ColoradoPolitics.com on 2018 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Jun 13, 2017
Walker Stapleton:
Medicaid block grants for community health care centers
Q: If the feds switched to Medicaid block grants, here's how he'd spend them:A: "A managed Medicaid model means the following: It means a proliferation of community health care centers. I've got a little clinic across the street. When my kids get
sick I take my kids across the street to an RN, and I pay $10 to $15 for a copay. The pharmacy is right there. If I took them to their pediatrician, I'd be paying 4 times as much and the insurance company would be billing me 6 or 7 times as much.
Source: CPR.org on 2018 Colorado gubernatorial race
May 21, 2018
Walker Stapleton:
End Colorado's ObamaCare exchange; undo Medicaid expansion
Q: Support or Repeal ACA, aka ObamaCare? Accept ACA's Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants? Jared Polis (D): Keep ACA and improve it. Work toward universal single-payer system. Believes Medicaid expansion in
Colorado has been an enormous success.
Walker Stapleton (R): Repeal ACA & end Colorado's ObamaCare exchange. Shrinking Medicaid expansion would be among main changes he'd champion.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Colorado Governor race
Oct 9, 2018
Jared Polis:
Focus on danger of processed foods, but support vaccinations
Q: You have broken with others in your party when you posted about RFK Jr. being tapped to lead the Health and Human Services Department. And since he's taken over that job, he replaced the entire CDC vaccine advisory committee.
Do you feel the same way now?POLIS: I have always said I don't agree with him talking about vaccinations in ways that are not true and in many ways could be dangerous, discouraging people from getting vaccinations.
Of course, if he's talking about the dangers of processed foods and sugar, trying to ban Red No. 5 dye, reduce consumption of soda, candy, I'm all for that. I mean, anybody should. It's fact-based. The American people have higher obesity rates
than almost any nation. We need to reduce chronic disease. If they do something right -- even a stopped clock is right twice a day -- by all means, let's jump on it, support it, and make it happen.
Source: CNN SOTU 2025 interview on 2026 Colorado Gubernatorial race
Aug 3, 2025
Michael Bennet:
He will fight to protect Colorado's Medicaid funding
Michael believes that all Coloradans have a right to universal access to health care and mental health care. As Colorado's Governor, he will fight to protect Colorado's Medicaid funding and seek bold solutions to expand access to health care and mental
health care. He will also continue to be an unwavering champion for reproductive rights, and stand up against any Trump Administration action that infringes on Colorado's constitutional right to choose.
Source: 2026 Colorado Governor campaign website MichaelBennet.com
Jun 1, 2025
Phil Weiser:
Defended the Affordable Care Act from Trump Administration
Phil successfully defended the Affordable Care Act from the Trump Administration, sued the federal government for illegally withholding funds from
Colorado police and sheriffs, and stopped the federal government from undermining laws that protect our air and water.
Source: 2026 Colorado Governor campaign website PhilForColorado.com
Jun 3, 2025
-
The above quotations are from Winners and Losers
Gubernatorial candidates from Colorado.
- Click here
for definitions & background information on Health Care.
- Click here for other issues (main summary page).
|
|
Gubernatorial candidates on Health Care: |
|
Gubernatorial races in 2026:
AK: Mike Dunleavy(R,term-limited)
AL: Kay Ivey(R,term-limited)
AR: Sarah Huckabee Sanders(R,for re-election)
AZ: Katie Hobbs(D,for re-election)
CA: Gavin Newsom(D,term-limited)
CO: Jared Polis(D,term-limited)
CT: Ned Lamont(D,for re-election)
FL: Ron DeSantis(R,term-limited)
GA: Brian Kemp(R,term-limited)
HI: Josh Green(D,for re-election)
IA: Kim Reynolds(R,retiring)
ID: Brad Little(R,for re-election)
IL: J.B. Pritzker(D,for re-election)
KS: Laura Kelly(D,term-limited)
MA: Maura Healey(D,for re-election)
MD: Wes Moore(D,for re-election)
ME: Janet Mills(D,term-limited)
|
2026 gubernatorial races continued...
MI: Gretchen Whitmer(D,term-limited)
MN: Tim Walz(D,retiring)
NE: Jim Pillen(R,for re-election)
NH: Kelly Ayotte(R,for re-election)
NM: Michelle Lujan-Grisham(D,term-limited)
NV: Joe Lombardo(R)
NY: Kathy Hochul(D,for re-election)
OH: Mike DeWine(R,term-limited)
OK: Kevin Stitt(R,term-limited)
OR: Tina Kotek(D,for re-election)
PA: Josh Shapiro(D,for re-election)
RI: Dan McKee(D,for re-election)
SC: Henry McMaster(R,term-limited)
SD: Larry Rhoden(R,for re-election)
TN: Bill Lee(R,term-limited)
TX: Greg Abbott(R,for re-election)
VT: Phil Scott(R,for re-election)
WI: Tony Evers(D,retiring)
WY: Mark Gordon(R,term-limited)
|
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)
|
Page last updated: Mar 29, 2026