Colorado governor candidate, Heidi Ganahl is an outspoken opponent of the state’s Reproductive Health Equity Act which secures the right to use or refuse contraceptives. The law also explicitly states that fertilized eggs, embryos, and fetuses do not have independent or derivative rights under the laws of the state.
In April of this year, Ganahl responded to the act which was passed by Democrats saying, “I will protect the unborn. What’s happening in the legislature in Colorado right now is important. It has to stop.” She then added, should the Reproductive Health Equity Act reach her desk as governor, she will do “one thing with it,” and proceeded to tear in half a piece of paper to the cheers and applause of those watching.
Though, according to Kyle Clark with 9News, Ganahl would not have the absolute power to rip up proposed bills that reach her desk, even as governor. In order to strip away the rights guaranteed in the act, Ganahl would need a republican majority legislature. Currently, both the state House and Senate are controlled by the democratic party. As governor, Ganahl could send the issue to voters as a ballot measure, which is what she has proposed most recently.
While Ganahl boasts a pro-life stance taken on by most republican party members, her track record on the issue is muddy at best. Since 2017, Ganahl has held a position as a CU regent. The university has been conducting research involving stem cells or human fetal tissue since 2016; however, not once has Ganahl spoken out in opposition of this. Instead, she focuses on the reproductive rights of Coloradans and those traveling to the state seeking reproductive health care.
According to Ganahl, Colorado is a state in decline: “Homelessness is out of control; crime is skyrocketing; our kids aren’t learning what they need to, and it’s too darn expensive to live here.” During a gubernatorial debate held by the Colorado Sun and CBS4, Ganahl promised to eliminate the state income tax and halve the state’s 22-cent-per-gallon gas tax. She didn’t, however, explain how she would maintain funding, or accomplish policy objectives, should these budget slashes be made.
During the debate, Ganahl also criticized Polis for his climate change policies, calling them “too far, too fast.” “The right approach is to put our oil and gas workers back to work,” Ganahl says. “We have the second largest natural gas reserves in the country right here in Colorado.”
Governor Polis asked Ganahl how Colorado voters could trust her when she has made appearances on far-right conspiracy theory podcasts and chose a running mate who claimed the 2020 presidential election was stolen (her running mate has since backpedaled on these claims). Ganahl responded pointedly by calling Governor Polis a “spoiled brat.”
“You know, I’m a mom,” she replied. “I know what a spoiled brat acts like, and you are a spoiled brat.”
Colorado has not elected a republican governor in over 20 years, and with Ganahl toeing the line between moderate conservative and all-out far-right MAGA candidate, the likelihood that will change in the upcoming election seems relatively small.
Photo courtesy of social media
