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Poll: Polis Leads In Governor's Race; 52 Percent Support Proposition 112's Setbacks

Courtesy of Walker Stapleton for Governor, Polis for Colorado

A new poll from the University of Colorado reveals what voters think of new oil and gas setbacks, a tax increase for education and their choices for governor.

Democrat Jared Polis continues to hold a significant lead in the governor's race, according to the survey results. He's up 12 points over Republican Walker Stapleton. Polis continues to lead with unaffiliated voters. The poll was conducted after the candidates started facing off in televised debates.

Voters have one more chance to watch Polis and Stapleton debate. The candidates will face off Tuesday night at the University of Denver.

While the recent poll points to a big lead for Polis, the fight over proposed oil and gas restrictions is too close to call.

The survey found 52 percent of voters support new rules that would push oil and gas wells further from homes, schools and hospitals. If passed, Proposition 112 would increase the setbacks for the wells from the current 500-foot buffer for homes to 2,500 feet.

Supporters of 112 say it would protect the health of individuals who live close to oil and gas wells. Opponents say it would harm the state's energy industry and "set Colorado back" economically.

Amendment 74 is polling well despite facing strong opposition from some mayors and city officials who fear the proposal could hurt municipalities and their budgets. The survey found 63 percent of voters support the amendment, which could force governments to pay up if they take actions that harm someone's property values.

The CU Boulder poll surveyed 800 registered voters online through the market research company YouGov with a margin of error plus or minus 3 point 5 percent.

Other highlights from the University of Colorado poll:

  • Democrats lead Republicans in a generic congressional ballot by nine percentage points.
  • President Trump's approval rating in Colorado stands at 40 percent.

Capitol Coverage is a collaborative public policy reporting project, providing news and analysis to communities across Colorado for more than a decade. Fifteen public radio stations participate in Capitol Coverage from throughout Colorado.

Copyright 2018 KUNC

Scott Franz is a government watchdog reporter and photographer from Steamboat Springs. He spent the last seven years covering politics and government for the Steamboat Pilot & Today, a daily newspaper in northwest Colorado. His reporting in Steamboat stopped a police station from being built in a city park, saved a historic barn from being destroyed and helped a small town pastor quickly find a kidney donor. His favorite workday in Steamboat was Tuesday, when he could spend many of his mornings skiing untracked powder and his evenings covering city council meetings. Scott received his journalism degree from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He is an outdoorsman who spends at least 20 nights a year in a tent. He spoke his first word, 'outside', as a toddler in Edmonds, Washington. Scott visits the Great Sand Dunes, his favorite Colorado backpacking destination, twice a year. Scott's reporting is part of Capitol Coverage, a collaborative public policy reporting project, providing news and analysis to communities across Colorado for more than a decade. Fifteen public radio stations participate in Capitol Coverage from throughout Colorado.
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