2026 Election Guide and Voter Guide

Tuesday, November 3rd is Election Day across the country. As a future or current family physician in Colorado, you can be an advocate for your patients and community at the ballot box in addition to the clinic. We know that medical care only amounts for 10-20% of the contributors to healthy outcomes in our communities, while the other 80-90% are determined by non-medical factors, often referred to as the social determinants of health. These non-medical factors like access to affordable housing, transportation, cost of prescription drugs, and job opportunities are decisions that get made at local, state, and national levels.

The CAFP has surveyed and interviewed many of the state candidates on the 2026 November ballot resulting in 47 endorsed candidates through our small donor committee. These candidates have either previously demonstrated their commitment to family medicine by being a champion for our priorities or have the potential to lead on our priorities if elected.

Be sure to drop off your ballot or be in line at your polling location by 7pm on Tuesday, November 3rd. Find the closest ballot box or polling location by visiting your county clerk’s website.

2026 Candidate Endorsements

Find out your district here.

Proven Family Medicine Champions

Friends of Family Medicine

Emerging Friends of Family Medicine

Ballot Initiative Voter Guide

This year’s state wide blue book is 126 pages which can make it a challenge to understand the many complex ballot initiatives you are being asked to vote on this year. As family physicians we understand that your care of patients goes beyond the time you spend treating patients. This is why CAFP decided to engage in 4 ballot initiative this year. We have provided insight into the effects this initiatives will have on you and your patients and why we endorsed the initiative or its opposition.

Amendment 82: Constitutional Right to Sell and Purchase Gas – VOTE NO

CAFP opposes Amendment 82 because protecting the health of your patients and communities requires preserving Colorado’s ability to respond to pollution, emerging science, and changing health threats. Amendment 82 would establish a constitutional right to purchase and sell natural gas for homes and businesses. Natural gas is already legal and widely available in Colorado, but elevating it to a constitutional right could limit the ability of state and local governments to adopt or enforce protections related to its use. Fossil fuel pollution can worsen asthma and other respiratory illnesses, and increase cardiovascular risks. Climate change is also intensifying health threats our patients face, including extreme heat and wildfire smoke. Medical practice evolves as evidence changes, and public health protections should be able to do the same. CAFP joins Healthy Air & Water Colorado and other health and community organizations in opposing Amendment 82 and encourages Coloradans to vote no. Learn more at www.no82.org.

Amendment 87: Graduated Income Tax – VOTE YES

CAFP supports Amendment 87 which transitions Colorado’s tax structure from a flat 4.4% rate to a graduated income tax. The measure lowers income taxes for 98% of Coloradans—specifically those earning $250,000 or less—while maintaining current rates for incomes between $250,000 and $500,000, and increasing taxes only on income above $500,000. Projected to generate $2–$3 billion in TABOR-exempt state revenue, CAFP supports this measure to ensure primary care providers have a seat at the table to advocate for primary care investment, and support Medicaid services. CAFP’s decision was reached in large part thanks to member responses on a flash survey earlier this year. Learn more at https://bellpolicy.org/support-for-a-graduated-income-tax/ 

Proposition 132: Felony Mandated Drug Treatment – VOTE NO

CAFP opposes Proposition 132, a measure brought by Advance Colorado and opposed by the Colorado Criminal Justice Reform Coalition along with a broad coalition of health and advocacy organizations. The initiative reclassifies all possession or distribution of fentanyl—even if unintentional or shared without knowledge of fentanyl presence—as a felony subject to 8 to 32 years in prison. Although the measure mandates treatment, it provides no funding to support Colorado’s already overburdened behavioral health system. It is projected to result in 900 additional imprisonments annually at a cost of $423 million per year for the state. Research shows that prioritizing criminalization over health interventions increases overdose deaths by 41.3% over a five year period. Learn more at https://www.ccjrc.org/fentanylballotmeasure 

Proposition 135: Protect Children from Irreversible Sex Change Surgery Act – VOTE NO

CAFP opposes Proposition 135 and has joined the Families Not Politics coalition alongside health care organizations, medical providers, faith leaders, parents and educators across Colorado. Prop 135 takes medical decisions away from families and doctors and hands them to politicians. It is a broad, one-size-fits-all ban that goes far beyond what voters think they’re being asked to approve. It could block necessary care for kids who aren’t transgender, including teens facing testicular or cervical cancer, endometriosis, or intersex conditions. Providers would be prohibited from providing care, prescribing, or referring patients for any form of care that could alter sex characteristics. CAFP prioritizes defending the relationship between patients, families, and physicians so you can provide careful, evidence-based care that best fits your patients’ needs. Learn more at https://familiesnotpolitics.com/ 

Voting Resources

Colorado election dates:

• October: Ballot and Blue Books (information about each ballot measure) arrives in your mailbox
• November 3rd: General Election  – Polls open 7am to 7pm, ballot boxes close 7pm

Track your ballot:

• Most counties offer a ballot tracking service like BallotTrax. Check with your local county elections office for more information.

Help you patients and colleagues become active voters:

Interested in being a resource for your patients and colleagues for the upcoming election? Voting has direct connections to health outcomes – from who we elect to determine state funds and services for important health related programs to ballot initiatives that impact community health. Family physicians can lead their communities in being active voters this election. AAFP has partnered with Vot-ER to offer helpful resources for getting started.

Below are some helpful tools to get you started:

CAFP Board Chair, Dr. Cleveland Piggott with his Vot-ER badge during the 2022 election.

Have questions about the information in this voter guide? Reach out to Director of Policy and Government Relations, Isabel Hinshaw.