Background

Question: Can you briefly tell us a story that impacted the way you feel about animals?

Answer: My wife and I have had two dogs at a time for the past 25 years, and they’ve always been rescues, often with unknown histories. Watching them settle into our home and become part of our family has been incredibly meaningful. They are part of our daily routine, we walk them every day, and they’re part of our kids’ lives too. Our two current rescues each sleep with our teenage kids at night. Seeing the bond between our dogs and our family has reinforced for me that animals deserve care, respect, and protection.

Prohibit Force-Feeding Birds Act

Question: Certain products made from animals are created using especially cruel practices. Bans of specific products have ample precedent, notably with statewide bans of fur and foie gras in California. The “Prohibit Force-Feeding Birds Act” has now been confirmed for the ballot in Denver. Will you endorse it? In addition, would you support a statewide force-feeding ban?

Answer: Yes, I would be happy to endorse this ballot measure to prevent the force-feeding of birds. And yes, I would support a statewide force-feeding ban.

Intensive Confinement

Question: Since the start of 2025, all eggs sold in Colorado have been required to be from cage-free hens. Are you willing to protect this legislation and similar legislation, like Colorado’s ban on the use of gestation crates for pigs?

Answer: Yes. Colorado’s cage-free egg requirement and the ban on gestation crates for pigs represent exactly the kind of legislation that I will fight to protect. You have my commitment to protect these laws and to be a voice for stronger animal welfare standards going forward.

Climate-Friendly Food & Fair Competition

Question: Federal subsidies overwhelmingly favor animal-based foods, regardless of how they’re produced. Would you support state-level policies to create a more level playing field — for example, directing state procurement toward food produced to higher welfare and environmental standards, creating tax incentives for plant-based protein production in Colorado, requiring state-run facilities to offer a plant-based meal option, or supporting grant programs for farmers transitioning away from factory farming?

Answer: Yes, I will support directing state procurement toward food produced to higher animal welfare and environmental standards.

Yes, I will support offering tax incentives and requiring state-run facilities to offer a plant-based meal option.

Yes, I will support grant programs for farmers transitioning away from factory farming.

Pain Relief

Question: The American Veterinary Medical Association recommends pain relief for common agricultural practices like castration, dehorning, teeth clipping, and tail docking; polling consistently shows that the vast majority of Americans support the same. Several countries, including the UK and members of the EU already require or incentivize pain relief for these procedures. Would you support requiring pain relief during painful procedures performed on farmed animals in Colorado?

Answer: Yes, I will support requiring pain relief during painful procedures performed on farmed animals, so we are in line with the UK and EU.

Other

Question: What else would you like to share? Please add anything else that might be helpful regarding your past or current support for pro-animal policies.

Answer: I was a proponent of Denver Ordinances 308 and 309 for the ban of slaughterhouses and the sale of fur in November 2024. I was disappointed that the Denver Democratic Party took a position against the ordinances. To see the results was disheartening, especially for the Globeville Elyria-Swansea neighborhood, which was directly impacted by the slaughterhouses, and they were the only precinct to vote a majority yes in the entire city. I thank you for your efforts on that and continue to be confused on why that did not pass.