Phil Weiser vs John Kellner
In Colorado, voters face a stark choice between Attorney General Phil Weiser—who aggressively defends the rights of all Coloradans, promotes public safety, and protects our land, water, and people—and challenger John Kellner, who would take us backwards on these issues.
On Reproductive Rights and Abortion
Supports the right to choose and reproductive health rights.
Fought for the constitutional right to abortion at the U.S. Supreme Court in Dobbs and in other cases.
Believes women should make reproductive health care decisions for themselves, not the government.
Defended the Affordable Care Act’s requirement of providing affordable contraceptives access all the way up to the Supreme Court.
Successfully fought the Gag Rule so that health service providers that deliver reproductive health care to millions of low-income or uninsured individuals continued to receive federal funding.
Strongly opposes and will fight against any federal abortion ban.
Won’t support a woman’s right to choose; supports the Dobbs decision ending the constitutional right to abortion; and would allow states to prevent women from making their own reproductive health care decisions.
Would not have defended affordable birth control access; and would not have opposed the Gag Rule during the Trump administration.
On Gun Safety Measures
Supported and will continue to defend Colorado’s red flag law to keep guns away from dangerous people.
Supports an assault weapon ban.
Supported and testified in favor of an improved protection order law that better protects victims of domestic violence and closed the boyfriend loophole.
Failed to support Colorado’s red flag and protection order laws.
Criticized the red flag law's use by family members and suggested it would be used by those “who had a one-night stand.”
Opposes an assault weapons ban.
Endorsed by the National Rifle Association (NRA).
On Water
Widely respected leader on water, earning praise from water experts from both political parties.
First statewide or federal official to oppose dangerous new scheme to take water from San Luis Valley and pipe it to Denver suburbs.
No experience or expertise in water law.
Refused to initially speak out against the plan to buy-and-dry water from the San Luis Valley to pipe to Douglas County--and held fundraisers with its financial backers--until after the Douglas County Commission did not support it.
On Civil Rights
Defended Coloradans’ rights by:
making it illegal under federal law to fire someone from their job because they are LGBTQ;
defending the DREAMers, prevailing at the Supreme Court to protect their right to stay in the United States; and
defending a fair census, ensuring all Coloradans would be counted in the census.
Has no relevant experience in civil rights law and has not articulated clear positions on defending Coloradans' civil rights.
Calls legal actions protecting the civil rights of Coloradans “political” and would not have brought these lawsuits to defend Coloradans’ rights.
On Health Care
Successfully protected the health care of 700,000 Coloradans with preexisting conditions and 400,000 Coloradans on Medicaid by defending the Affordable Care Act.
Pushed for capping the cost of insulin prices.
Brought antitrust lawsuits that addressed price fixing and mergers in the health care industry that harmed patients.
Secured $30 million from United HealthCare for healthcare programs on the Western Slope and youth mental health support services.
Has no relevant experience in or positions on health care.
Would not have defended the Affordable Care Act to protect Coloradans’ health care.
On Consumer Protection
Has over 25 years of experience protecting consumers and is a nationally recognized antitrust expert.
Prioritized consumer protection enforcement at the Attorney General's Office and brought back over $230M to Coloradans by taking on companies like CenturyLink that ripped off consumers.
Played a national role suing big drug companies for the role they played in the opioid crisis and secured over $520 million in settlement funds for local communities to invest in addiction treatment, recovery, and prevention programs.
Took on big companies and important fights, including suing JUUL, Facebook, Google, Wells Fargo, and other big companies that harmed consumers.
Has no positions on, expertise in, or plans for consumer protection.
Thinks Colorado should be “ashamed” of the settlements Phil procured to address the opioid crisis.
On Listening to Colorado Communities
Spent time in all 64 counties—both as a candidate and as Attorney General—and used what he heard to guide his actions as AG.
Has donations from individuals in all 64 counties.
Worked with all 64 counties and more than 300 municipalities to develop a widely-praised and national model plan to distribute opioid settlement dollars to local communities.
Has not traveled to (or committed to travel to) all 64 counties during his campaign.
He has donations from individuals of just a third of Colorado’s counties.
On Addressing Climate Change, Protecting Our Air
Fought to allow Colorado to have stronger tailpipe emissions standards than the federal government to fight air pollution and climate change.
Fought to defend the national Methane Rule that restricted harmful methane emissions.
Has no relevant experience in this field and has not articulated clear positions on combating climate change or protecting Colorado's air.
Would not have brought either of the lawsuits Phil brought to protect Colorado’s air.
On Supporting Law Enforcement
Secured millions for peace officer recruitment and retention, as well as $3 million for mental health.
Sued the federal government when it illegally withheld $2.7 million in public safety funds from Colorado police and sheriffs.
Secured funds to allow local law enforcement to go after drug trafficking and interdiction.
Failed to support or testify at the Capitol on efforts to secure new funds for peace officers; would not have brought the lawsuit against the federal government when it illegally withheld $2.7 million in public safety funds; and remained silent on the legislative initiative to secure fentanyl anti-trafficking funds.
On Bipartisan Collaboration
Led a bipartisan initiative with former Secretary of State Wayne Williams to encourage respectful engagement between Coloradans.
Endorsed by a distinguished list of current and former Republican and Independent Colorado public officials, including his predecessor, Republican Attorney General Cynthia Coffman, Republican State Senator Don Coram, Independent Sheriff Justin Perry, two Republican former District Attorneys, Steve ErkenBrack and David Wood, and three former Republican legislators.
Respected as a bipartisan leader among Attorneys General. For example, led on a 47-state AG letter condemning the attack on January 6th and multistate bipartisan coalitions on responding to the opioid crisis, airline consumer protection, federal support for broadband, and addressing robocalls.
No public endorsements from leaders in the other party (as of October 9, 2022).
On 2023 Plan to Promote Public Safety
Pass new law to address automobile theft, work to implement laws passed to address catalytic converter theft, online retail theft, and fentanyl trafficking;
Continue to pursue organized crime cases using state grand jury; and
Work to improve law enforcement training, recruitment, and retention as well as provide mental health support for all law enforcement officers.
Pass new law to address automobile theft and use statewide grand jury.