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Vote No on 79

Type:

Coalition of Pro-Life Groups in Colorado
Structure:

Ballot Measure Committee

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Vote No on 79 was the campaign opposing a 2024 ballot measure called Colorado Amendment 79, which proposed to make abortion a right under the Colorado state constitution, allow taxpayer funding for abortion, and scrap a law requiring parental notification for minors to have an abortion. 1 Scott Shamblin was the leader of the Vote No 79 campaign. 2

Supporters of the amendment raised $9.7 million and spent $9.5 million. Opponents raised $566,895.29 and spent $487,335.45. 3 Colorado voters approved the abortion amendment with 62 percent in favor and 38 percent opposed. 4

Background

Vote No on 79 was the campaign opposing Colorado Amendment 79, a 2024 ballot measure that proposed to make abortion a right under the Colorado state constitution. The initiative would ban state or local governments from impeding an abortion. 1

Vote No on 79 consisted of a coalition of groups that included Coloradans for the Protection of Women and Children, the Pro-Life Colorado Fund, the Colorado Life Initiative, and Right To Know CO. 5  1  6

Amendment 79 lifted a 40-year-old ban on using taxpayer dollars for abortions in Colorado. 7 The taxpayer funding of abortion could include both Medicaid funding of abortions and abortions for state employees. 5 The measure also banned any requirements for parental notice before a minor gets an abortion. 8

Colorado voters approved Amendment 79 with 62 percent in favor and 38 percent opposed. 4

Financing

Supporters of Amendment 79 raised $9.7 million and spent $9.5 million. Opponents raised $566,895.29 and spent $487,335.45. 3

The biggest donors opposing Amendment 79 were the Archdiocese of Denver, which donated $225,000; Andrew Wommack Ministries, which contributed $30,000; the Truth and Liberty Coalition, which contributed $20,000; Colorado for Life, which contributed $12,000; Tactical Data Solutions, which gave $10,000; Catherine Wheeler, who gave $5,000; and the Colorado Right to Life Committee, which contributed $3,993.61.  3  1

Campaign Strategy

Scott Shamblin, the leader of the Vote No on 79 campaign, explained, “We’re getting to churches. We have volunteers all throughout the state that are going to be going door to door. […] We are coordinating with another group who plans on doing more mass marketed ads, like TV and radio ads, that kind of thing.” Shamblin said the campaign had “a more targeted campaign to the middle and middle left that are more swayable.” 2

The Vote No campaign also focused on asking taxpayers to foot the bill for a procedure that many people oppose for moral reasons. 5 Shamblin said: “I’ve talked to pro-choice people, I’ve talked to Libertarians, and these are the people that say, fine, get an abortion. I don’t care. Just don’t make me pay for it.” 2

Vote No on 79 also opposed overriding a state law requiring parents to be notified if their minor child has an abortion. 9

Vote No on 79 warned that putting such broad language in the state constitution would make it almost impossible to enact even limited restrictions on abortion, such as restricting late-term abortions.  5  4

Vote No on 79 also argued that the measure goes far beyond Roe v. Wade and would ban reasonable regulations on abortion. 10

References

  1. Fisher, Nicole. “Right-to-abortion ballot measure campaigns reported 10 times more in contributions than opposition campaigns in 2024 so far.” Ballotpedia. September 27, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://news.ballotpedia.org/2024/09/27/right-to-abortion-ballot-measure-campaigns-reported-10-times-more-in-contributions-than-opposition-campaigns-in-2024-so-far/ 
  2. Cooke, Cassy. “Colorado citizens ‘shocked’ to learn what Amendment 79 would do to their state, say opponents.” Live Action. September 20, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.liveaction.org/news/colorado-citizens-shocked-amendment-79-state-opponents 
  3. “Colorado Amendment 79, Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative.” Ballotpedia. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Amendment_79,_Right_to_Abortion_and_Health_Insurance_Coverage_Initiative_(2024) 
  4. Whitley, Morgan. “Abortion amendment approved by voters: Colorado election results 2024.” KDVR. November 5, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://kdvr.com/election-results/2024-colorado-amendment-79/ 
  5. Birkland, Bete. “Amendment 79: Constitutional right to an abortion, explained.” Colorado Public Radio. October 6, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/06/vg-2024-amendment-79-right-to-an-abortion-explainer/ 
  6. Ulu-Lani Boyan, Megan. “How your vote could affect abortion policy.” Denver Post. October 16, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.cpr.org/2024/10/16/vg-2024-how-your-vote-could-affect-abortion-policy/ 
  7. Jaijogkit, Por. “Would Amendment 79 allow Colorado taxpayer funds to be used to pay for abortions?” Colorado Sun. October 18, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://coloradosun.com/2024/10/18/would-amendment-79-allow-colorado-taxpayer-funds-to-be-used-to-pay-for-abortions/ 
  8. Hunt, Nicole. “Colorado: Vote NO on Amendment 79.” Daily Citizen. October 23, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://dailycitizen.focusonthefamily.com/colorado-vote-no-on-amendment-79-it-goes-too-far/ 
  9. Editorial Board. “No on 79 – an unneeded overreach on abortion.” Colorado Gazette. October 6, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://gazette.com/opinion/editorials/editorial-no-on-79-an-unneeded-overreach-on-abortion/article_9c09c84e-82a7-11ef-b963-7360f32b3a50.html 
  10. Metzger, Hannah. “Colorado Amendment 79: Abortion Rights Ballot Measure Explained.” West Word. October 18, 2024. Accessed September 20, 2025. https://www.westword.com/news/colorado-amendment-79-abortion-rights-ballot-measure-22256603/ 
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