Diana DeGette
Bio | DeGette was raised in Colorado. She attended Colorado College as well as New York University studying Political Science. Her political career involves having served as a representative and Minority Leader in the Colorado State House of Representatives. She eventually went on to become the Democratic Floor Whip in the US House of Representatives. DeGette has served as the Democratic Chief Deputy Whip since 2005. |
Status and Position | Current US House of Representatives of Colorado |
Political Party and Jurisdiction | Democrat, Colorado |
Elections | Election Jurisdiction | Started Campaign | Campaign Status | Poll Rankings (of the vote) |
| 2020 House of Representatives Election CO-01 | CO-01 | Yes | Running | N/A |
Campaign Financing | DeGette is a supporter of campaign finance reform. She believes that it's one of the biggest issues that American demcoracy faces. She has stated that she believes Congress has the moral responsibity to step up and regulate how campaigns are financed. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/fighting-for-voting-rights) |
Voting Rights | DeGette is a supporter of voting rights and sponsored an election reforms bill in 2019 that made it easier for people to vote. Among other things, the bill required states to automatically register all eligible citizens to vote. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/newsletters/fighting-for-voting-rights) |
Opinions on Issues
Issues | Stance | Summary |
| Universal Healthcare | For | DeGette supports universal healthcare. In 2009, DeGette delivered a speech in which she explained the urgent need for reform to the American healthcare system. In the speech, she stated that any plan Congress passed needed to make sure healthcsre covered every American. (Source:https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-delivers-health-care-speech) |
| Socialized Healthcare | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on socialized healthcare. |
| Private Healthcare | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on private healthcare. |
| LGBT Rights | For | DeGette has presented herself as an avid supporter of LGBT rights during her career. DeGette has made herself an avid supporter of LGBT rights during her political career. For example, she voted in favor of the Equality Act. The bill extends civil rigths to protect LGBT people by prohbiting discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. DeGette stated that the passing of the bill was a significant moment and will finally provide the LGBTQ+ communtiy with the protections they deserve. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/us-house-approves-sweeping-bill-to-expand-gay-rights) |
| Taxes | For | DeGette supports taxes, especially for businesses and the wealthy. DeGette told an interviewer in 2020 that ensuring that the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share of taxes must be a cornerstone of America's tax system. (Source: https://centennialcitizen.net/stories/qampa-with-diana-degette-candidate-for-the-1st-congressional-district,314997) |
| Flat Tax Rate | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on a flat tax rate. DeGette told an interviewer in 2020 that ensuring that the wealthy and corporations pay their fair share of taxes must be a cornerstone of America's tax system. (Source: https://centennialcitizen.net/stories/qampa-with-diana-degette-candidate-for-the-1st-congressional-district,314997) |
| Abortion | For | DeGette has expressed that one of her main priorities is fighting for women's abilities to make their own health care choices. DeGette is the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. As the co-chair, she has fought for reproductive rights and sets a pro-choice agenda. (Source: https://degette.com/priorities/choice/) |
| Gun Control | For | DeGette is an avid supporter of gun control. DeGette's congressional district includes Columbine High School. For this and more reasons, she has been an outspoken advocate for more gun safety laws. She wishes ot ban high-capacity gun magazines, enhance background checks, and get assault weapons off the streets. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/issues/preventing-gun-violence) |
| Assisted Suicide | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on assisted suicide. DeGette's congressional district includes Columbine High School. For this and more reasons, she has been an outspoken advocate for more gun safety laws. She wishes ot ban high-capacity gun magazines, enhance background checks, and get assault weapons off the streets. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/issues/preventing-gun-violence) |
| Government Interference | For | DeGette has stated that the federal government can raise the minimum wage and ensure that men and women are paid equally in order to boost Colorado's economy. (Source: https://www.cpr.org/2014/10/15/colorado-congressional-district-1-race-martin-walsh-diana-degette-on-the-issues/) |
| Planned Parenthood | For | As the co-chair of the Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, DeGette has helped spearhead efforts to protect Planned Parenthood funding. (Source: https://degette.com/priorities/choice/) |
| Welfare | For | DeGette has been a supporter of welfare during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, DeGette voted in favor fo a bill that would add an additional $8 billion to the EBT program run by the federal government. The program provided money to low-income families with school-aged children. DeGette also stated that Congress needed to do more to help all of the families struggling during the pandemic. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-short-term-spending-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown) |
| Welfare | For | DeGette has explicitly stated that embryonic stem cells are extremely important and that she will continue to fight for legistlation that allows for such research. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-statement-on-stem-cell-ruling-0) |
| Death Penalty | Against | DeGette is a co-sponsor of the Federal Death Penalty Prohibition Act. The Federal Death Penalty Prohibtion Act is a proposed bill that will prohibit the imposition of the death penalty for violation of federal laws. (Source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/262) |
| Mandatory Prison Sentence | Against | Degette has stated that mandatory sentencing doesn't allow for the judicial system to address each crime on an individual basis. (Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-1998-02-25/pdf/CREC-1998-02-25-pt1-PgE228.pdf) |
| Military Spending | Nuance | In 2017, DeGette claimed that everyone supports a strong national defense. However, she expressed her reservations of Donald Trump's first budget request because it would increase military spending at the cost of ensuring the health and safety for everyone via peaceful means. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-president-s-short-sighted-budget-request-is-dangerous) |
| War on Terrorism | Nuance | In 2015, Degette said that the groups that are a threat to civilized society need to be defeated. She made it clear that she wants such efforts to be targeted and effective. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/degette-on-marijuana-health-care-and-student-loans) |
| Foreign Policy International Interaction | For | DeGette supports cooperation between the United States and other foreign countries. In February 2019, DeGette took part in a congressional exchange trip to Japan. She said it's an important trip to take each year to see how international relationships change and the impact they have. (Source: https://www.spf.org/en/publications/spfnow/0059.html) |
| United Nations power | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on the United Nations. |
| Nationalism | Against | Degette has denounced white nationalism on Twitter, stating that anyone with ties to it should not be allowed to work in the White House. (Source: https://twitter.com/RepDianaDeGette/status/798965658675511303)) |
| Free Markets | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on free markets. |
| Brexit | Nuance | DeGette has not taken a stance on Brexit but endorsed and defended Hillary Clinton's opinions on the matter. (Source: https://video.foxnews.com/v/5007948155001#sp=show-clips) |
| Affirmative Action | For | DeGette voted against the Higher Education Amendments Act of 1997 which would prohibit any post-secondary insitution participating in any Higher Education Act program from granting any preferential treatment in admission based on race, sex, ethnicity, color, or national origin. (Source: https://clerk.house.gov/evs/1998/roll133.xml) |
| Government Spending | For | DeGette has presented herself to be in support of government spending when it comes to helping those in need. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/house-passes-short-term-spending-bill-to-avert-government-shutdown) |
| Charter Schools | Nuance | DeGette has stated that she is an avid supporter of public education. In 2014, she expressed that she supports the implementation of charter schools best practices to other public schools. However, she stated that there is still some issues surrounding charter schools that need to be addressed. (Source: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/CREC-2014-05-13/pdf/CREC-2014-05-13-pt1-PgE746-2.pdf) |
| Common Core | Nuance | When asked if she supported Common Core standards, DeGette didn't provide a clear cut response. When asked by an interviewer if she supported Common Core standards, DeGette said that she supported holding schools and their students to high educational standards while assuring they have the resources to do so. While she believes every kid deserves all the resources and chances to help them succeed, her opinion on Common Core is unclear. (Source: https://www.cpr.org/2014/10/15/colorado-congressional-district-1-race-martin-walsh-diana-degette-on-the-issues/) |
| Clean Energy | For | One of DeGette's primary goals is combatting climate crisis. As a senior member of the House Energy and Commerce Committe, DeGette has written legistlation that aims to create a federal clean-energy standard. This standard would be the first of its kind and require American power companies to eliminate their carbon emissions. DeGette also believes the current climate crisis is the single greatest threat our planet faces. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/issues/climate-crisis) |
| Religious Freedom | For | Degette believes in religious freedom. DeGette posted on her social media stating that America was based on the principles of religious freedom. She said that should never change. She also made it clear that she was a supporter of the No Ban Act. (Souce: https://www.facebook.com/DianaDeGette/posts/10159278146373489 ) |
| Separation of Church and State | For | In 2009, DeGette made a remark stating that America had separation church and state. (Source: https://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/68115-degette-says-stupak-will-lack-votes-to-keep-his-amendment) |
| Slavery Reparations | For | DeGette is a co-sponsor of the Commission to Study and Develop Reparation Proposals for African Americans Act. The act would establish a commission to - among other things - study the effects of slavery and offer remedies accordingly, including reparations. (Sources: https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/BILLS-117hr40ih and https://www.cbo.gov/publication/57224) |
| Border Control | Nuance | DeGette has not taken a stance on border control but supports immigration. While she has not taken a direct stance on border control, DeGette voted against the Secure Fence Act of 2006 which funded fencing along the U.S. and Mexican Border. She has made herself an avid suppoerter of immigration and immigrants. A prime example of this is when she voted in favor of 2019 legistlation that protected 2.5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation. (Sources: https://clerk.house.gov/Votes/2006446 and https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/us-house-votes-to-protect-25-million-undocumented-immigrants-from) |
| Passenger Profiling | Unknown | DeGette has not taken a stance on passenger profiling. |
| DACA | For | DeGette stated in 2017 that Donald Trump's decision to end DACA was crushing and DACA was far from done. (Source: https://degette.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/degette-daca-s-promise-is-far-from-done-congress-needs-to-act-now) |
| Sanctuary Cities | Nuance | While DeGette hasn't taken an explicit stance on sanctuary cities, she criticized the Trump administrations actions towards sanctuary cities and the juristdicitons that have them. (Source: https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/denver-defiant-toward-trump-after-threat-on-immigration-policy/article_85549f3a-6a33-5137-b1ce-cc66dbc00230.html) |
| Legalizing Marijuana | Nuance | DeGette has stated that it is up each state to decide if they want to legalize marijuana. (Source: https://www.cpr.org/2014/10/15/colorado-congressional-district-1-race-martin-walsh-diana-degette-on-the-issues/) |