House District 21

Vice President Kamala Harris is the Democratic nominee to serve as the 47th President of the United States. The daughter of Indian and Jamaican immigrants, Harris' election would represent a historic achievement for women and underrepresented communities across the nation.

Born on October 20, 1964, in Oakland, California, Harris attended the historically Black Howard University, then graduating from University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. Harris was elected in 2003 as District Attorney of San Francisco, working to reduce recidivism and combat injustice against vulnerable populations. In 2010, Harris was elected California's Attorney General, winning re-election in 2014 before successfully running for the U.S. Senate in 2016. In 2020, Harris was chosen by now-President Joe Biden to serve as the first woman Vice President of the United States.

During Harris' term in the U.S. Senate, she played a central role in fighting back against Donald Trump's Supreme Court Justice appointments, defending the Affordable Care Act that millions of Americans rely on, and working across the aisle on immigration and criminal justice issues. As Vice President, Harris broke a record number of tie votes to pass critical legislation. Harris has promised to sign in to law legislation restoring the abortion rights protections eliminated by the repeal of Roe v. Wade.

Harris' running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, is one of the nation's strongest and most effective progressive chief executives. From humble beginnings as a school teacher and 24 years of enlisted military service, Walz has channeled that experience into tireless advocacy for progressive solutions to the problems faced his state and the nation. As Governor of Minnesota, Walz signed free school meals, abortion rights, and universal background checks for gun purchases into law.

Harris' opponent in the 2024 President race, former President Donald Trump, was ruled ineligible by the Colorado Supreme Court for the presidential ballot on the basis of the 14th Amendment prohibition on candidates for office who have engaged in insurrection. This ruling removing Trump from the ballot was invalidated by the U.S. Supreme Court, but the finding that Trump had engaged in insurrection was not addressed in their decision. Trump continues to assert that he won the 2020 presidential election despite no evidence to support that claim ever emerging. As President, Trump appointed three far-right Justices to the U.S. Supreme Court, skewing the court's bias for a generation and directly resulting in the repeal of the historic Roe v. Wade decision guaranteeing abortion rights. Massive tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans signed into law by Trump helped result in historic deficits under his administration and his successor. After losing the 2020 Presidential election, Trump's refusal to admit defeat resulted in the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021, an event Trump hoped would disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.

The 2024 Presidential election represents both the clearest and most important choice for American voters in generations. For the sake of the rule of law and American democracy, Kamala Harris is the progressive choice to be the next President of the United States.
 

River Gassen is the Democratic candidate running for Congress in Colorado's 5th Congressional District. Gassen is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, currently teaching in the astronomy department. Gassen is a researcher working with the CU BioFrontiers Institute, "a unique interdisciplinary community of scientists driven by the mission of improving global health and welfare through collaborative, boundary-pushing bioscience."

Gassen is running for Congress to protect reproductive rights, essential programs like food assistance and Medicaid, and remediating the effects of human-caused climate change. Gassen offers leadership from a STEM educational background and making the American dream of affordable housing and access to health care a reality for everyone in Colorado's 5th District.

Gassen's opponent, right-wing talk radio host and longtime operative for the billionaire-funded conservative group Americans For Prosperity, Jeff Crank, was recently endorsed by ex-President Donald Trump after defeating the previously Trump-endorsed candidate Dave Williams in the Republican primary. Before that endorsement, Crank was fiercely opposed by MAGA Colorado Republicans over his support for Nikki Haley in the Republican presidential race. Crank's employer Americans for Prosperity said that Trump will "do irreparable damage to the country" if elected President again.

River Gassen is the clear champion for progressive values in the 5th Congressional District.

Axel Brown is the Democratic candidate running for the University of Colorado Board of Regents to represent the 5th Congressional District. Brown is an Army veteran and graduate of the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. A social worker, Brown is running to help non-traditional students and provide support for active-duty and military personnel seeking higher education.

Brown's Republican opponent Ken Montera is the incumbent member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents representing the 5th Congressional District. Montera is a graduate of the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business and a retired retail executive.

We recommend Axel Brown to bring a renewed focus on service members, veterans and non-traditional students to the CU Board of Regents.

Elliott Hood the Democratic candidate running for an at-large (statewide) seat on the University of Colorado Board of Regents. Hood is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder. Hood currently serves on the Boulder Parks and Recreation Advisory Board. Hood is a former fifth-grade teacher who became an attorney for school districts, involved in litigation to defend COVID-19 safety measures and protections against discrimination. Hood served as vice chairman of the Colorado Disability Funding Committee. Hood is running to keep the CU system affordable and fight for the rights of campus workers.

Hood's Republican opponent Eric Rinard is an engineer and graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder, and serves as a board member at the Aspen Ridge Preparatory School charter school in Erie.

Elliott Hood is the recommended progressive choice to serve statewide on the University of Colorado Board of Regents.

Running for House District 21 is challenger Liz Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum has lived in the Fountain Valley for over 20 years after being brought to the area through her husband's enlistment in the US Army. Rosenbaum has a long history of fighting for clean water and founded the Fountain Valley Clean Water Coalition in 2016 to ensure transparency about water safety and contamination.

Rosenbaum will bring her fierce advocacy for clean and safe drinking water to the state capitol and help the voices of her rural community be heard. She understands the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, invest in solar and wind energy, and the need to address food and hospital deserts in Colorado. Rosenbaum worked as the Regional Organizer for Cobalt Advocates, securing signatures in support of the Colorado constitution recognizing the right to abortion (Prop 89).

Rosenbaum is running to unseat pro-gun Representative Mary Bradfield. Bradfield is an extreme conservative more concerned about fighting against gender neutral language, abortion rights, and assault weapons legislation than she is about safe drinking water for her district.

Liz Rosenbaum is the progressive choice for House District 21.

Bernard Byers is seeking election to the El Paso County Commission, District 2. Byers is a Colorado native who is passionate about community involvement and service. Be it as a youth basketball coach for the non-profit Colorado Storm, as a bank manager, or as a board member for The Resource Exchange helping support and advocate for children with disabilities, Byers is a strong progressive leader. He has served as a board member for the Colorado Springs Civic Engagement Committee, Colorado Springs Rising Professionals, and as Chair of the Public Art Commission, Pikes Peak region.

Byers is dedicated to supporting and improving education, public, safety, and infrastructure in El Paso County. Byers supports LGBTQ+ rights and is a proponent for increasing access and funding to mental health recourses and suicide prevention. He is endorsed by the Colorado Working Families Party and believes in authentic and transparent governance that serves its community accurately.

Byers is challenging incumbent candidate Carrie Geitner. Geitner is a constitutional conservative who supports harmful and hateful stereotypes about South American immigrants. She is president of a charter school and supports "parental rights" to school choice, which is often associated with anti-LGBTQ+ and anti-diversity sentiments. Geitner does not separate her faith from her approach to government stating "Our rights are given by our creator and not our government. Therefore, we are free to live out our lives as we see fit." She does not support reproductive freedoms, limits to the second amendment, or the repealing of TABOR.

Bernard Byers is the progressive choice for County Commissioner of El Paso County District 2.

Naomi Lopez is running for County Commissioner in El Paso County District 3. Lopez is an educator and speech pathologist dedicated to empowering change and community. She is an active member of her teacher's union and has served as President of Neighbors for Education as well as as a member of the Colorado Springs Education Association, Colorado Education Association Equity Council for Race and Culture, and was a founding member of the Latina Equity Foundation.

Lopez hopes to support smart, inclusive, and thoughtful development in El Paso County. She will balance environmental protections and urban expansion while supporting parks and open space and renewable energy solutions. Lopez aims to improve public transportation options, physical and mental health access and support, and affordable housing for all. She is committed to celebrating diversity and inclusion and promoting all El Paso County has to offer.

Opposing Lopez is Bill Wysong. Wysong supports increasing funding to law enforcement and reducing health care accessibility for incarcerated persons. He is a supporter of TABOR and upholds unfounded and harmful ideologies regarding unhoused people having stated "Homeless encampments bring human waste, drug paraphernalia and other ecological hazards."

Naomi Lopez is the progressive choice for County Commissioner of El Paso County District 3.

Dr. Detra Duncan is running for County Commissioner of El Paso County District 4. Duncan is an active community member who holds a PhD in Organizational Management. She currently serves as a member of the Fountain City Council At-Large. Dr. Duncan also serves the Pikes Peak Area Council of Governments Board of Directors, Fountain Creek Watershed District, and Colorado Municipal League.

As commissioner, Dr. Duncan will continue developing public safety measures, affordability, and environmental protections. She is also concerned with the state of healthcare access in El Paso County and is dedicated to providing affordable and readily available care for all. She will stand up for vocational school opportunities and infrastructure repair. Duncan is an advocate and will speak up for the needs of her community.

Applegate is the proud far-right conservative Republican opposing Dr. Duncan. Applegate is a an extreme gun enthusiast and personhood zealot. He also claims the "left is pushing woke social agendas upon children, in an attempt to tear down a nuclear family." Applegate supports TABOR, decreasing the presence of the state government, and doing away with mail-in ballots because of conspiracy theories about fraudulent elections. He does not have El Paso County's welfare in mind.

Dr. Detra Duncan is the progressive choice for County Commissioner of El Paso County District 4.

Jeremy Dowell is running in Colorado's 4th Judicial District against incumbent Republican Michael Allen, who won narrowly in 2020.

Dowell is currently a lawyer working to represent youth in the juvenile justice system in the Colorado Springs area. He was motivated to run for office due to concerns with the lack of voter choice and the "one-size-fits-all approach of the current office." He has also expressed a desire to remove political decision making from the prosecution process.

In his time as District Attorney, Allen has focused on prosecuting drug and violent crimes. He touts his record of convictions as the reason voters should choose him.

Dowell is the right choice for progressives due to his commitment to reducing political decision making in the courtroom and careful approach to individual cases.