2016 Colorado Amendment 69
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Creation of ColoradoCare System | |||||||||||||
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 County results[1]
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2016 Colorado Amendment 69 was an initiated constitutional amendment that appeared on the November 8, 2016, ballot. The measure aimed to create universal healthcare for state residents by introducing ColoradoCare, which would be paid for through the introduction of a 10% payroll tax.[2]
Background
[edit]ColoradoCare would have been primarily funded through the introduction of a 10% payroll tax, with two-thirds paid by employers and one-third paid by employees. Provisions in the Affordable Care Act mean that Colorado also could've received federal funding towards the universal healthcare system.[3][2]
Endorsements
[edit]Yes
- U.S. senators
- Bernie Sanders, Vermont (2007–present) (Independent)[4]
- State legislators
- Jeanne Nicholson, former state senator from the 16th district (2011–2015) (Democratic)[5]
- Irene Aguilar, state senator from the 32nd district (2011–2019) (Democratic)[5]
- Individuals
- Noam Chomsky, linguist and political activist[6]
- Gloria Steinem, journalist (Democratic)[7]
- T. R. Reid, journalist[8]
- Arn Menconi, environmental activist (Green)[9][a]
- Paul Noel Fiorino, perennial candidate (Republican)[10][b]
- Organizations
- League of Women Voters of Colorado[11]
- Our Revolution[4]
- Progressive Democrats of America[12]
- American Friends Service Committee[12]
- Healthcare Now[12]
- Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington[12]
- Public Citizen[12]
- Newspapers
No
- U.S. senators
- Michael Bennet, Colorado (2009–present) (Democratic)[14]
- U.S. representatives
- Ken Buck, CO-04 (2015–2024) (Republican)[13]
- Mike Coffman, CO-06 (2009–2019) (Republican)[13]
- Doug Lamborn, CO-05 (2007–2025) (Republican)[13]
- Scott Tipton, CO-03 (2011–2021) (Republican)[13]
- Statewide officials
- John Hickenlooper, governor of Colorado (2011–2019) (Democratic)[15][c]
- Bill Ritter, former governor of Colorado (2007–2011) (Democratic)[15]
- Bill Owens, former governor of Colorado (1999–2007) (Republican)[16]
- Walker Stapleton, treasurer of Colorado (2011–2019) (Republican)[17]
- Wayne Williams, secretary of state of Colorado (2015–2019) (Republican)[16]
- Cynthia Coffman, attorney general of Colorado (2015–2019) (Republican)[13]
- State legislators
- Morgan Carroll, President of the Colorado Senate (2013–2015) from the 29th district (2009–2017) (Democratic)[13]
- Bob Gardner, former state representative from the 20th district (2011–2015) and 21st district (2007–2011) (Republican)[18][d]
- Crisanta Duran, House Majority Leader (2015–2017) from the 5th district (2011–2019) (Democratic)[19]
- Individuals
- John Elway, former NFL quarterback and manager of the Denver Broncos (Republican)[20]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Americans for Prosperity[21]
- NARAL Pro-Choice Colorado[22]
- ProgressNow[19]
- Yampa Valley Medical Center[23]
- Colorado Medical Society[24]
- San Luis Valley Health[25]
- Newspapers
Declined to endorse
- Individuals
- Jill Stein, Green Party nominee for President in 2012 and 2016 (Green)[9][e]
- Labor unions
Polling
[edit]| Poll source | Date(s) administered |
Sample size[f] |
Margin of error |
Yes | No | Undecided |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin & Marshall-Colorado Mesa University[27] | September 14–18, 2016 | 540 (RV) | ± 5.10% | 30% | 56% | 14% |
| Magellan Strategies[28] | August 29–31, 2016 | 500 (RV) | ± 4.38% | 27% | 65% | 8% |
| Magellan Strategies[29] | January 27–31, 2016 | 751 (LV) | ± 3.58% | 43% | 50% | 7% |
Results
[edit]| Choice | Votes | % |
|---|---|---|
 No
|
2,109,868 | 78.77 |
| Yes | 568,683 | 21.23 |
| Total votes | 2,678,551 | 100.00 |
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State | ||
By county
[edit]| County | For | Against | Total votes cast | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| # | % | # | % | ||
| Adams | 32,199 | 26.67% | 136,235 | 73.33% | 185,793 |
| Alamosa | 1,304 | 22.58% | 5,489 | 77.42% | 7,090 |
| Arapahoe | 59,879 | 20.51% | 232,136 | 79.49% | 292,015 |
| Archuleta | 1,154 | 16.29% | 5,928 | 83.71% | 7,082 |
| Baca | 160 | 7.68% | 1,922 | 92.32% | 2,082 |
| Bent | 249 | 13.21% | 1,636 | 86.79% | 1,885 |
| Boulder | 68,312 | 38.20% | 110,509 | 61.80% | 178,821 |
| Broomfield | 7,675 | 21.90% | 29,029 | 79.10% | 36,704 |
| Chaffee | 2,661 | 24.02% | 8,416 | 75.98% | 11,077 |
| Cheyenne | 73 | 6.70% | 1,016 | 93.30% | 1,089 |
| Clear Creek | 1,269 | 12.12% | 4,467 | 77.88% | 5,736 |
| Conejos | 571 | 14.60% | 3,338 | 85.40% | 3,909 |
| Costilla | 467 | 27.52% | 1,230 | 72.48% | 1,697 |
| Crowley | 167 | 11.17% | 1,328 | 88.83% | 1,495 |
| Custer | 387 | 12.77% | 2,643 | 87.23% | 3,030 |
| Delta | 2,528 | 15.33% | 13,962 | 84.67% | 16,490 |
| Denver | 102,543 | 32.95% | 208,676 | 67.05% | 311,219 |
| Dolores | 170 | 14.29% | 1,020 | 85.71% | 1,190 |
| Douglas | 22,815 | 12.43% | 160,782 | 87.57% | 183,597 |
| Eagle | 6,045 | 25.02% | 18,116 | 74.98% | 24,162 |
| El Paso | 47,591 | 15.01% | 259,320 | 84.49% | 306,911 |
| Elbert | 1,303 | 8.17% | 14,461 | 91.73% | 15,764 |
| Fremont | 2,987 | 13.76% | 18,724 | 86.24% | 21,711 |
| Garfield | 5,721 | 22.14% | 20,123 | 77.86% | 25,845 |
| Gilpin | 948 | 26.86% | 2,581 | 73.14% | 3,529 |
| Grand | 1,881 | 22.22% | 6,585 | 77.78% | 8,466 |
| Gunnison | 2,924 | 31.92% | 6,235 | 68.08% | 9,159 |
| Hinsdale | 102 | 17.35% | 486 | 82.65% | 588 |
| Huerfano | 750 | 20.48% | 2,913 | 79.52% | 3,663 |
| Jackson | 96 | 11.85% | 714 | 88.15% | 810 |
| Jefferson | 60,670 | 18.90% | 260,336 | 81.10% | 321,006 |
| Kiowa | 54 | 6.51% | 775 | 93.49% | 829 |
| Kit Carson | 275 | 7.64% | 3,323 | 92.36% | 3,598 |
| La Plata | 7,831 | 26.18% | 21,965 | 73.72% | 29,796 |
| Lake | 872 | 18.16% | 2,225 | 71.84% | 3,097 |
| Larimer | 43,007 | 22.90% | 144,792 | 77.10% | 187,799 |
| Las Animas | 1,174 | 18.11% | 5,307 | 81.89% | 6,481 |
| Lincoln | 207 | 8.66% | 2,183 | 91.34% | 2,390 |
| Logan | 844 | 8.90% | 8,643 | 91.10% | 9,487 |
| Mesa | 11,439 | 15.33% | 63,683 | 84.77% | 75,122 |
| Mineral | 135 | 21.33% | 498 | 78.67% | 633 |
| Moffat | 667 | 10.52% | 5,676 | 89.48% | 6,343 |
| Montezuma | 2,643 | 21.16% | 9,848 | 78.84% | 12,491 |
| Montrose | 2,867 | 23.79% | 17,924 | 86.21% | 20,791 |
| Morgan | 1,433 | 12.28% | 10,235 | 87.72% | 11,668 |
| Otero | 1,122 | 13.43% | 7,234 | 86.57% | 8,356 |
| Ouray | 1,033 | 32.02% | 2,193 | 67.98% | 3,226 |
| Park | 1,808 | 17.73% | 8,387 | 82.27% | 10,195 |
| Phillips | 203 | 9.01% | 2,050 | 90.99% | 2,253 |
| Pitkin | 3,556 | 35.75% | 6,391 | 64.25% | 9,947 |
| Prowers | 519 | 11.57% | 4,391 | 89.43% | 4,910 |
| Pueblo | 12,272 | 16.11% | 63,900 | 83.89% | 76,172 |
| Rio Blanco | 266 | 7.98% | 3,068 | 92.02% | 3,334 |
| Rio Grande | 860 | 15.88% | 4,555 | 84.12% | 5,415 |
| Routt | 3,496 | 25.43% | 10,192 | 74.57% | 13,668 |
| Saguache | 911 | 32.27% | 1,827 | 66.73% | 2,738 |
| San Juan | 163 | 34.98% | 303 | 65.02% | 466 |
| San Miguel | 1,829 | 44.93% | 2,242 | 55.07% | 4,071 |
| Sedgwick | 153 | 11.52% | 1,175 | 88.48% | 1,328 |
| Summit | 4,610 | 29.52% | 11,009 | 70.48% | 15,619 |
| Teller | 1,803 | 12.79% | 12,297 | 87.21% | 14,100 |
| Washington | 170 | 6.34% | 2,512 | 93.66% | 2,682 |
| Weld | 20,037 | 15.24% | 111,477 | 84.76% | 131,514 |
| Yuma | 394 | 8.39% | 4,300 | 91.61% | 4,694 |
| Total | 568,683 | 21.23% | 2,109,868 | 78.77% | 2,678,551 |
See also
[edit]Notes
[edit]- ^ Menconi has since distanced himself from the Green Party and registered as a Democrat
- ^ Fiorino ran for U.S. Senate that same year as an 'unaffiliated candidate', but remained a registered Republican. He served as Business Chair of the Colorado Republican Party from 2002 until 2004
- ^ Since 2021, Hickenlooper has represented Colorado in the U.S. Senate
- ^ Gardner was later elected to the Colorado State Senate representing the 12th district, serving from 2017 to 2025
- ^ Stein later ran for President again in 2024
- ^ Key:
A – all adults
RV – registered voters
LV – likely voters
V – unclear
References
[edit]- ^ "2016 Results". Secretary of State Colorado.
- ^ a b "Colorado Creation of ColoradoCare System, Amendment 69 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Text of Initiative 20 (Amendment 69)" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b Daley, John (August 25, 2016). "Bernie Sanders Backs Universal Health Care Ballot Measure Colorado Care". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "State Senators Make Case for Universal Health Care Initiative". Public News Service. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ Evans, Angela K. (October 6, 2016). "Heath [sic] care: A right or a privilege?". Boulder Weekly. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Amendment 69 in Colorado: What you need to know about ColoradoCare". The Denver Post. September 24, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "ColoradoCare measure Amendment 69 defeated soundly". The Denver Post. November 8, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b Hutchins, Corey (August 27, 2016). "In Colorado, Green Party's Jill Stein won't endorse the ColoradoCare universal healthcare ballot measure". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Paul Noel Fiorino: U.S. Senate". Boulder Daily Camera. October 15, 2016. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ "Universal Health Care Ballot Initiative Wins Ally in Colorado". Public News Service. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e "Colorado Creation of ColoradoCare System, Amendment 69 (2016) - Supporters". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Miller, Blair (October 21, 2016). "7 things to know about Amendment 69". Denver 7 Colorado News (KMGH).
- ^ Hutchins, Corey (April 21, 2016). "Sen. Michael Bennet comes out against ColoradoCare". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "No on Amendment 69: ColoradoCare would be too costly". The Denver Post. April 1, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b "Colorado Creation of ColoradoCare System, Amendment 69 (2016) - Opponents". Ballotpedia. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Stapleton stops in Akron to advocate against Amendment 69". Akron News-Reporter. August 3, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "GUEST COLUMN: Amendment 69 is an unmitigated disaster for Coloradans". Colorado Springs Gazette. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ a b c "Progress Now comes out against Colorado Care ballot measure". FOX 31. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ McKibbin, Mike (October 25, 2016). "Elway ads promote amendment 71, oppose 69 & 70". Colorado Politics. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ Hutchins, Corey (April 21, 2016). "Colorado is in Americans for Prosperity's 'persuasion universe'". The Colorado Independent. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Would Amendment 69 limit access to abortion in Colorado?". The Denver Post. June 24, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "YVMC: Hospital opposes Amendment 69". Steamboat Pilot. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ McGraw, Scott (October 24, 2016). "Amendment 69 Opposition from the Left and Right". CCIG. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ "SLV Health Formally Opposes Amendment 69 | San Luis Valley Health". www.sanluisvalleyhealth.org. Retrieved October 30, 2025.
- ^ "Colorado AFL-CIO Releases Final List of 2016 Election Endorsements | Colorado AFL-CIO". CO AFL-CIO. September 14, 2016. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Summary of Poll Findings" (PDF). Colorado Mesa University. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "AMENDMENT 69 / COLORDOCARE SURVEY FINDINGS" (PDF). Magellan Strategies. Retrieved October 29, 2025.
- ^ "Polling, Amendment 69" (PDF). Magellan Strategies. Retrieved October 29, 2025.