House District 56

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.
 

Trisha Calvarese is running for Congress to represent Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Calvarese grew up in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, before graduating from Johns Hopkins University. Calvarese has worked for the AFL-CIO and the National Science Foundation. Calvarese is running on a platform of protecting Medicare and Social Security and championing rural communities in need of support for aging infrastructure and environmental risks like wildfires.

Calvarese's opponent, Rep. Lauren Boebert is one of the most polarizing and least effective members of Congress ever elected by Colorado voters. Rep. Boebert's first two terms in office were virtually devoid of accomplishments for the Third District, with Boebert repeatedly claiming credit for funding she voted against. Dissatisfaction with Boebert's representation and growing personal scandals forced Boebert to switch to run in the 4th Congressional District. After winning the CD-4 primary without majority support, Rep. Boebert has campaigned with controversial and discredited far-right members of Congress like Reps. Matt Gaetz of Florida over her own constituents. Rep. Boebert has also been repeatedly cited by campaign finance regulators for use of campaign funds for personal interests.

Trisha Calvarase is the clear moral and ethical choice to represent the 4th Congressional District.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, a lawyer and former Army Ranger who completed three tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, is running for reelection in Colorado's 6th Congressional District. In 2018, he defeated longtime Republican incumbent Mike Coffman to become the first Democrat ever to represent this district.

Before serving in Congress, Crow spent years helping veterans like himself who struggled to receive benefits, focusing his work on veteran homelessness and substance abuse issues. Then, during his first term, Crow stepped into the national spotlight as one of the seven impeachment managers who argued for Donald Trump’s removal from office during the Senate trial. Crow made the case that Trump put both Ukraine’s safety and the U.S.’s national security at risk by withholding military aid in exchange for political favors. Today, Rep. Crow is the co-chair of the investigative committee into the assassination attempt against former President Donald Trump.

Crow’s district is the most diverse in Colorado, with 1 in 5 residents being born outside the United States; Crow has said this is what makes his community such a special place to live. He supports protecting DREAMers and passing comprehensive immigration reform and has called for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end its contracts with private prison companies.

Crow has worked on instituting campaign finance reform. The first bill he sponsored, the End Dark Money Act, would prevent mega-donors from being able to hide their political contributions. His other priorities include preventing gun violence, combatting the effects of climate change, ensuring small businesses are able to thrive, and fighting for a bold investment in America’s infrastructure. Crow has been a key vote in favor of major infrastructure, LGBTQ+ rights, and voting rights legislation passed during the Biden administration.

Rep. Crow's Republican opponent John Fabbricatore is a former Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent running on an almost exclusively anti-immigrant platform. Fabbricatore has been a principal source of misinformation about the presence of foreign gangs in Aurora, which has been amplified by former President Donald Trump and condemned by fellow Republicans in Aurora city government. Fabbricatore hosted a campaign event with Rep. Lauren Boebert and national Republicans in Aurora to further spread false information about crime in the city.

Rep. Crow has served the residents of the 6th Congressional District with distinction and is the clear progressive choice in this race.

Krista Holtzmann is the Democratic candidate running for the Colorado State Board of Education to represent Colorado's 4th Congressional District. Holtzmann served an assistant state's attorney in Iowa and Illinois, including the position of Director of Operations for the Iowa Child Protective Training Academy, before moving to Colorado to serve as a volunteer attorney at the Rocky Mountain Children's Law Center. Holtzmann also served on the Douglas County School District Board of Directors. Holtzmann is running to expand opportunity and meet the educational needs of public school students across Colorado.

Holtzmann's opponent, longtime far-right political activist Kristi Burton Brown, is best known as the spokesperson for the failed "Personhood" abortion ban ballot measures that have appears on Colorado's statewide ballot several times since 2008. A former chairperson of the Colorado Republican Party, Burton Brown tried unsuccessfully to organize a recall election against now-Sen. Tom Sullivan, a leading gun safety advocate whose son was killed in the 2012 Aurora theater shooting. Kristi Burton Brown is one of the state's leading advocates for irresponsible ballot measures to slash revenue to public schools and institute disastrous "voucher" programs to fund religious schools at the expense of public schools.

Krista Holtzmann is the obvious progressive choice to represent the 4th Congressional District on the Colorado State Board of Education over one of the state's foremost threats to public education.

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.

Sen. Chris Kolker is seeking reelection to Senate District 16. He lives in Arapahoe County with his family and has served in the State Senate since 2021.

Sen. Kolker will continue to fight for funding for Colorado schools, gun safety, improving Colorado's transportation, and taking action on climate change. He has fought for criminal justice reform and is endorsed by the Human Rights Campaign, Planned Parenthood, the Sierra Club, and several unions. Sen. Kolker joined picket lines in support of healthcare workers and the Service Employees International Union.

Donald Trump enthusiast Robyn Carnes is the Republican running on a platform of election denial and conspiracy theories. Bennett Rutledge is running also as the Libertarian candidate.

Sen. Chris Kolker is the progressive choice for Senate District 16.

Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet is seeking reelection to Colorado Senate District 21. Michaelson Jenet, an award-winning author, previously served in the Colorado State House representing Commerce City.

Michaelson Jenet has been a leading advocate for behavioral health legislation, school nutrition, and protecting children from discrimination and conversion therapy. In 2021, Sen. Michaelson Jenet was the prime sponsor of legislation requiring health insurance policies to cover mental health wellness examinations.

Republican, Frederick Alfred Jr, is running to bolster oil and gas drilling as well as uranium mining.

Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet has tirelessly served her constituents and is the progressive running for Senate District 21.

State Sen. Jeff Bridges is a legislator that District 26 — and progressives — can be proud of. In the legislature, Bridges has worked to champion hard-working Colorado families, achieve health care for all, addressing climate change, and supporting abortion rights and reproductive freedom.

Since taking office, Sen. Bridges has supported full-day kindergarten, lowering the cost of health care, ensuring that working Coloradans can receive paid sick leave, and legislation to reinvest money in public transportation.

Additionally, Sen. Bridges has been a leader on many issues including expanding vocational programs, reproductive rights, bolstering small businesses, and a fully funded Colorado Water Plan.

Conservative Republican, Bob Lane, is running to "empower law enforcement" and repeal the state income tax which would cut off funding for the state government. An anti-immigration, anti climate resilience candidate, Lane is among Colorado's most extreme Republicans. Meredith A. Ryan of the Unity Party is also running

Sen. Jeff Bridges is the progressive running for Senate District 26.

Representative Mike Weissman is running for Senate District 28. Rep. Weissman has served House District 36 since 2016. Weissman serves as chair of the Colorado House Judiciary Committee and the Committee on Legal Services.

Weissman is a proven, dedicated legislator who has tirelessly led the way on economic and housing justice, fighting climate change, protecting public education, and reforms to the criminal justice system. He has worked to fight human trafficking to rent price gouging.

Republican, Pedro Espinoza, a conservative law enforcement professional, who opposes gender affirming care and other reproductive freedoms, is also running. Espinoza espouses the extreme anti-immigrant rhetoric of the Colorado Republican party.

Representative Mike Weismann is the clear progressive running for Senate District 28.

Sen. Janet Buckner is running for re-election to Colorado’s Senate District 29. Janet Buckner has long served the people of Aurora and the surrounding communities. Buckner serves as Senate Majority Caucus Chair and serves as Chair of the Education Committee. Prior to serving in the State Senate, she served as Speaker Pro Tempore of the Colorado State House.

Buckner has been a champion for working families - sponsoring bills to ensure that women get paid what they are owed and have their bodily autonomy and reproductive freedoms ensured. She has kept insurance companies honest and, as a retired teacher, is an advocate for better pay for teachers and setting students up for success. Sen. Buckner is a dedicated legislator and clear progressive.

Sen. Buckner is unopposed on this ballot for Senate District 29.

Alessandra Navetta is running for Colorado House District 56. Navetta is a retired nurse and attorney, dedicated to public service. She has served as a Trustee for Pines and Plains Library District. Nevetta is dedicated to speaking out for the rural voices of District 56 by advocating for increased healthcare access, high speed internet infrastructure development, and post-secondary education. She supports adding limitations to the Second Amendment and policies against corporate greed.

Republican candidate Chris Richardson also running. Richardson is a pro-gun, anti-government, TABOR (Taxpayers Bill of Rights)-supporter and believes that the Colorado state government should not pass new laws or policies. Richardson has stated that “We should be repealing what we can, amending what we can’t repeal, and only rarely considering any new law.”

Alessandra Navetta is the progressive choice for House District 56.

Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully is the Democrat running for reelection as County Commissioner of Arapahoe County District 1. Warren-Gully has served in this role since 2020. She has a rich history in public service, having advocated for issues from public land use in the Highline Canal to Chair of the Colorado Association of School Boards Board of Directors. 

As Commissioner, Warren-Gully has shown her dedication to Arapahoe County. She served as Chair of the Metro Area County Commissioners board in 2022 to bring the county's interests and concerns to the forefront of statewide happenings. Warren-Gully supported the 2021 1A Ballot Issue which ensured that a portion of Colorado sales tax revenue would go towards maintaining public parks and trails. She also helped 140,000 Arapahoe county citizens get access to job training and search resources after the brutal impacts of the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Warren-Gully understands the importance of reform for areas like law enforcement, where she supported the Co-Responders Unit for mental health emergencies. She also revamped permitting processes and championed Arapahoe County's GOALS program which provides family support services for housing stability - addressing the housing and homelessness crises. 

Warren-Gully believes in the importance of celebrating diversity and aims to "develop the most diverse leadership in Arapahoe County’s history." 

Opposing Gully is Republican Tyler Linnebur. Linnebur is a member of the Emerging Leaders Council of the Steamboat Institute, a conservative organization that is well known for regularly providing platforms to climate change deniers, pro-Trump arguments, far-right ideologies, and anti-social welfare speakers. He does not support accountability or regulation for the oil and gas industry. 

Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully has shown herself to be a dedicated progressive to Arapahoe County District 1.

 

Scott Brown is running for Arapahoe County Commissioner in District 3. Brown has witnessed how Arapahoe County has changed since his parents bought their first home in Chambers Heights in 1963. Brown and his wife met at Smoky Hills High School where their two sons later attended as well. He is an aviation professional and mechanic who has been employed with United Airlines since 1985! He now serves as the Union Steward for more than 500 United Airline employees. 

Brown is committed to carefully managing the growth in Arapahoe County. For Brown this means addressing the issues caused by the budget shortfall and TABOR. He supports bolstering economic development, stability for essential social services, and infrastructure maintenance. Brown supports Measure 1A to limit TABOR refunds. He is also a strong supporter of saving the Aurora Reservoir from corporate polluting and oil and gas extraction. 

Brown is challenging the incumbent candidate, Republican Jeff Baker. Baker is a retired Chief Warrant Officer and oil and gas proponent. He is planning to introduce a new rule-making process in the county. 

Scott Brown is the progressive choice for Arapahoe County District 3. 
 

Rhonda Fields is running for Arapahoe County Commissioner District 5. Currently serving as a State Senator, Sen. Fields has an undeniable progressive track record - standing up for Arapahoe County and Coloradans across the state. She has lived in Aurora for 30 years and her children graduated from Aurora Public Schools. She has championed public safety, families both young and old, and behavioral health care. 

During her time in the legislture, Sen. Fields has championed improving the quality of life for Colorado families. She sponsored legislation to provide all-inclusive care for the elderly and Medicaid coverage for doula birthing services. As commissioner she will prioritize managing growth and its impacts, investing in youth enrichment programs, advocacy for the elderly, and providing good paying quality jobs. 

Libertarian Eliseo Gonzalez is running against Senator Fields. A staunch anti-government advocate, Gonzales seeks to increase funding for law enforcement and ensure "defensive rights." Extremely pro-gun, Gonzalez does not support limitations to the Second Amendment and parrots harmful "grooming" conspiracy theories regarding education. 

Rhonda Fields is a proven progressive candidate that understands and uplifts Coloradans and will help Arapahoe County District 5 in moving forward. 
 

Amy Padden is running for Colorado's 18th judicial district after an extremely narrow loss in 2020 to John Kellner, who is now term limited. She's worked in the Colorado Attorney General's Office, the U.S. Attorney's Office, and District Attorney's Offices in the 5th and 11th districts. In District 18, Padden has identified rehabilitation over incarceration and public safety as priorities. Her wealth of knowledge and experience at the state and federal level make her an excellent candidate.
Her opponent, Carol Chambers, was a nurse before becoming an attorney. She served as the district attorney from 2004-2012, and is coming out of retirement because “somebody needed to run." Chambers has faced disciplinary action in the past due to attempts to influence the outcome of cases or encourage convictions from prosecutors.
Padden's experience and human-first approach make her an easy choice for progressive voters.

Chris Gutschenritter is running for RTD District D. An "IT Leader" and member of multiple City of Englewood boards, Gutschenritter is running to rebuild trust in RTD. Gutschenritter is running to increase use of RTD and enhance rider safety. He will work to restore trust in the agency by increasing operational reliability and transparency. He is endorsed by ATU Local 1001.

Barbara McManus has spent over a decade as Executive Manager of the Board of Directors' Office at RTD. She is running to increase safety, work to make sure that RTD is accessible to all, foster transparency, and advocate for resources to maintain quality infrastructure.

Gutschenritter is running to bring changes to RTD and move forward.

Matt Larsen is running for Regional Transportation District E. With a background as an economic development consultant, Larsen lives in Southmoor Park and has three daughters. He is running to bring change to RTD - including prioritizing safety, increasing frequency of service and reliability, and expand ridership. Larsen will work to build budget transparency and coverage, while promoting safety on its buses and trains.

Scott Liva is a former RTD driver and seeks a simpler fare structure for riders and users. Liva opposes raising taxes and believes that RTD should advertise situational awareness and preparedness to make buses and trains safer.

Matt Larsen is the more progressive candidate for District E and will work to thoughtfully move RTD forward.

Bernard Celestin is running to represent RTD District F. Celestin is a long-time Aurora resident and community leader, Army veteran, and retired RTD bus operator. Celestin will work to make RTD buses and trains safe, reliable and frequent. He is endorsed by the ATU Local 1001 transit union and Greater Denver Transit.

Kathleen Chandler is a conservative and is also running for RTD District F. She is a Colorado Native and is focused on more bus routes (not rail lines) for RTD. She is endorsed by former conservative (known for attempting illegal gerrymandering) State Senator, John Andrews.

Celestin is the progressive choice who seeks to move RTD forward.

Julien Bouquet is running for re-election to RTD District G. He represents Parker, Lone Tree, and Centennial and is running unopposed.

Patrick O'Keefe is running unopposed for RTD District H. O'Keefe is running to bring about transparency and accountability for RTD.