Heidi Pitchforth's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)
Key
Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.
Heidi Pitchforth has provided voters with clear stances on key issues by responding to the 2024 Political Courage Test.
Colorado State Legislative Election 2024 Political Courage Test
| Pro-life | a) Do you generally support pro-choice or pro-life legislation? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support legalizing abortion when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the prohibition of public funds (e.g. Medicaid) for organizations that perform abortions? | ||
| I am fundamentally opposed to abortion and believe that every pregnancy should be carried to full term. However, in cases of rape or when a woman has not consented to conception, she should have the right to choose her own path. It's important that she receives informed consent and support in making that decision. | |||
| Yes | a) In order to balance the budget, do you support limiting state government spending on social programs (e.g. SNAP, TANF)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support a decrease in income taxes in order to promote economic growth? | ||
| No | c) Do you support a wealth tax in order to pay for public programs in your state? | ||
| No | d) Would you support a constitutional amendment to repeal or limit the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (known as TABOR)? | ||
| TABOR has safeguarded Colorado taxpayers and will continue to do so, as long as we can keep legislators from interfering. | |||
| Yes | a) Do you support capital punishment for violent crimes? | ||
| Yes | b) Should an individual under 18 accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police? | ||
| Yes | d) Do you support the use of private prisons? | ||
| No | e) Do you support mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenders? | ||
| I don't support mandatory minimum sentencing for first time non-violent drug offenders. Addiction recovery and treatment programs are a better fit for first time offenders. After the first offense, mandatory sentencing can be implemented for non-violent drug offenders. | |||
| No | a) Do you support state government spending as a means of promoting economic growth (e.g. grants, tax incentives)? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support reducing state government regulations on the private sector (e.g. for business or the environment)? | ||
| No | c) Do you support an increase of the minimum wage of Colorado? | ||
| No | d) Do you support government spending on affordable housing projects in Colorado? | ||
| Increased government involvement in the private sector, particularly in housing and economic growth, often leads to more regulations and red tape for businesses. This can result in higher operational costs, which may be passed on to consumers. Less governmental interference, can foster a more dynamic economy, encouraging investment and entrepreneurship while keeping costs manageable for consumers. | |||
| No | a) Do you support adopting federal education standards (e.g. Common Core) in Colorado? | ||
| b) Do you support state funding for charter schools? | |||
| c) Do you support increasing teacher salaries AND/OR benefits in Colorado? | |||
| Yes | d) Should immigrants in the United States who graduate from Colorado high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities, regardless of immigration status? | ||
| I support equal funding for Charter schools and district managed schools. Teacher salaries and benefits are managed through individual school districts. | |||
| a) Do you support state funding for the development of renewable energy (e.g. solar, wind, geo-thermal)? | |||
| b) Do you support state governments allowing permits for drilling on public lands? | |||
| Yes | c) Do you support increasing state funding for clean drinking water initiatives? | ||
| I support equal development for all energy resources. Colorado has 36.2% of its land owned by the Federal government. We are listed as 9th in the nation for most land owned by the government. This is a huge percentage of land that should be available for conscientious energy production. | |||
| Yes | a)Do you support limiting campaign contributions from corporations, unions, and individuals? | ||
| Yes | b) Do you support the use of an independent or bipartisan commission for redistricting? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support requiring a government-issued photo identification in order to vote at the polls? | ||
| No | d) Do you support automatic voter registration? | ||
| No | e) Do you support the implementation of ranked choice voting in Colorado? | ||
| Campaign contributions from corporations and unions should be strictly limited, and it shouldn't be that the wealthiest candidate can contribute millions to his/her own campaign while a less affluent candidate can only contribute a few hundred. If I need a photo ID to open a bank account, get on a plane, or enter the DNC/RNC, it should be expected anyone who wants to vote can provide a photo ID. Ranked choice voting is a misnomer. Anytime the candidate who received the most votes in the first round is not elected, voters are disenfranchised. Voters don't want their second or third choice elected. They want their first choice, but that is not what happens with ranked choice voting. | |||
| No | a) Do you generally support gun-control legislation (e.g. red flag laws, closing the boyfriend loophole)? | ||
| No | b) Should background checks be required on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows? | ||
| Yes | c) Do you support the right to concealed carry in Colorado? | ||
| No | d) Do you support levying a 6.5% excise tax on the manufacture and sale of firearms and ammunition to be imposed on firearms dealers, manufacturers, and ammunition vendors? | ||
| Criminals will always find a way to get a gun. Law abiding citizens have the legal and constitutional right to own a gun. There should not be an excise tax relating to guns. | |||
| a) Should the state government increase funding for treatment facilities to combat opioid abuse? | |||
| No | b) Do you support a government-run (e.g. single-payer) healthcare program such as Medicare-for-All? | ||
| Yes | c) Should an individual have the right to choose to die (e.g. those with a terminal illness) through euthanasia? | ||
| No | d) Do you support mandating vaccinations (e.g. for school or employment)? | ||
| e) Do you support expanding paid family AND/OR medical leave benefits (e.g. maternity leave)? | |||
| f) Should the government be able to regulate the cost of prescription drugs? | |||
| Colorado has paid family and medical leaves benefits. Generally, I don't want government involved in businesses, but with Big Pharma and the cost of prescriptions, government needs to work with- not regulate- costs of prescriptions. Publicize the discussion. | |||
| No | a) Do you support inclusion of sexual orientation in Colorado's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | b) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Colorado's anti-discrimination laws? | ||
| No | c) Do you support greater efforts by Colorado's state government in closing gender, racial, and other wage gaps? | ||
| d) Do you support removing the provision in the Colorado state Constitution banning same-sex marriage? | |||
| The provision to remove same-sex marriage from the Colorado Constitution is something the voters will decide. | |||
| My top priorities are reducing the cost of living, tackling rising crime, and ensuring access to quality education with a strong emphasis on parental rights and choice. Excessive regulations are stifling our economy. Despite city approval, many housing projects remain stalled due to government red tape. Adams County, the industrial backbone of Colorado, is being hamstrung by these regulations. What we need is collaboration between city, county, and state governments, rather than one-size-fits-all state mandates. Colorado is facing its highest crime wave in 25 years, ranking as the 3rd most dangerous state in the nation. Repeat offenders are being released on $1 bail or PR bonds, and those who are convicted are serving less than 40% of their sentences. Retail theft alone costs over $1 billion annually, driving up the price of goods. I�ve witnessed thieves brazenly walk out of stores like Home Depot and TJ Maxx with full carts of merchandise, and grocery stores are even locking up basic items like detergent. When consequences fail to deter criminal behavior, the consequences themselves must change. We cannot continue down the path to a lawless society by allowing open, unpunished theft. Government�s primary duty is to ensure the safety and well-being of its citizens. We must support law enforcement, prosecute and incarcerate repeat offenders, enforce the law, and allow ICE to perform its duties. Quality education is a fundamental expectation in our state, and parental rights and choice are key to addressing the diverse needs of students. Schools must also be safe environments for both students and teachers. Many teachers are leaving the profession, citing student misconduct as the top reason. When teachers feel they have no choice but to leave, it�s clear that something is seriously wrong. I believe restrooms, locker rooms, and sports should be based on the science of XX/XY chromosomes to ensure fairness and safety, particularly in athletic competition. For those who prefer not to use biological XX/XY facilities, designated transgender restrooms and locker rooms can be made available. With only 40% of third-graders proficient in reading, the state board of education should adopt strong curricula modeled after top-performing schools. The influx of non-English speaking immigrant children further complicates this challenge, as schools must meet the diverse needs of all students. This will continue to be a pressing issue as we strive to improve literacy and educational outcomes for all. |
Vote Smart does not permit the use of its name or programs in any campaign activity, including advertising, debates, and speeches.