42 candidates and 25 ballot measure positions earn endorsements.

DENVER (September 18, 2024) – The Colorado Working Families Party (COWFP) announced its main round of candidate endorsements and ballot measure positions for the 2024 General Election. Of the 14 statewide ballot measures, COWFP is supporting eight, opposing five, and remains neutral on one. 

“Across the Centennial State, bold candidates who will side with Colorado’s working families are running to win,” said Colorado Working Families Party State Director Wendy Howell. “From Alamosa to Fort Collins, and Glenwood Springs to Aurora, our endorsed candidates are running strong campaigns that center the needs of our communities instead of the whims of corporate lobbyists and MAGA extremists.” 

Among the new endorsees are Miles Lucero and Daneya Esgar, candidates for Pueblo County Commission, Districts 1 and 2. Commissioner Esgar is facing a challenge from Paula McPheeters, a right-wing extremist and co-founder of Forging Pueblo, who advocates for an end to the separation of church and state. Other endorsements in Pueblo include Kyle Aber for District Attorney (JD10), and the re-elections of Matthew Martinez and Tisha Mauro to the State House (HD62 & HD46). 

In El Paso County, COWFP has endorsed Steph Vigil for re-election to State House District 16. COWFP has also endorsed a slate of candidates for El Paso County Commissioner: Bernard Byers (D2), Naomi López (D3), and Dr. Detra Duncan (D4), as well as State House candidates Amy Paschal (HD18) and Liz Rosenbaum (HD21). Other endorsed candidates facing key competitive general elections across the state include Rhonda Solís for State Board of Education in Congressional District 8, Garfield County Commissioner candidates Caitlin Carey & Steven Arauza, Tammy Story for State House District 25, and Vivian Smotherman for State Senate District 6.

Finally, COWFP endorsed positions on key state and local ballot measures, including a YES on Amendment 79 (constitutional right to abortion), Amendment J (protecting the right to same sex marriage) & Denver Referred Question 2U (granting collective bargaining to all Denver city workers), and a NO on Amendment 80 (allowing public school funds to be redirected to private schools) & Proposition 131 (increasing big money in Colorado elections).

“There are definitely ballot measures to cheer for on our November ballot, like Amendments J & 79, which would protect all Colorandans’ rights to marry who they love and access reproductive healthcare, and Denver Question 2U, which expands the right to organize a union in Denver, and we will be working hard to make sure they all pass”, continued Howell. “But there are also ballot measures that we will be working hard to defeat, especially Proposition 131, a billionaire-sponsored measure that deceptively claims to be a ‘fix’ for our electoral woes, even though it would actually increase the role of big money in Colorado politics. Prop 131 is snake oil of the highest order, which aims to further expand the ability of the wealthiest few to buy our elections, and Colorado voters should reject it emphatically.”

2024 General Election Endorsements (New endorsements bolded)

Congress

• River Gassen, CD5

State Board of Education

• Kathy Gebhardt, CD2
• Rhonda Solís, CD8

District Attorney

• Kyle Aber, JD10
• Amy Padden, JD18
• Michael Dougherty, JD20

County Clerk & Recorder

• Wyatt Schwendeman-Curtis, Larimer

County Commissioner 

• Kathy Henson, Adams D2
• Marta Loachamin, Boulder D2
• Bernard Byers, El Paso D2
• Naomi López, El Paso D3
• Dr. Detra Duncan, El Paso D4
• Caitlin Carey, Garfield D2
• Steven Arauza, Garfield D3
• Sandy Hollingsworth, Gilpin D3
• Shanna Ganne, Grand D2
• Christian Luna-Leal, Lake D2
• Kristin Stephens, Larimer D2
• Jody Shadduck-McNally, Larimer D3
• Miles Lucero, Pueblo D1
• Daneya Esgar, Pueblo D2

State Senate

• Vivian Smotherman, SD6
• Ryan Lucas, SD10
• Mike Weissman, SD28

State House

• Javier Mabrey, HD01
• Emily Sirota, HD9
• Junie Joseph, HD10
• Steph Vigil, HD16
• Amy Paschal, HD18
• Liz Rosenbaum, HD21
• Tammy Story, HD25
• Manny Rutinel, HD32
• Jenny Willford, HD34
• Lorena Garcia, HD35
• Iman Jodeh, HD41
• Tisha Mauro, HD46
• Sarah McKeen, HD51
• Yara Zokaie, HD52
• Andrew Boesenecker, HD53
• Elizabeth Velasco, HD57
• Matthew Martinez, HD62
• Dr. Mark Matthews, HD64

Additionally, COWFP adopted the following positions on state and local ballot measures: 

• Vote YES – Amendment G (Modify Property Tax Exemption for Veterans with a Disability) 
• Vote YES – Amendment H (Judicial Discipline Procedures and Confidentiality)
• Vote NO – Amendment I (Constitutional Bail Exemption for First Degree Murder)
• Vote YES – Amendment J (Repealing the Constitutional Definition of Marriage)
• Vote YES – Amendment K (Modify Constitutional Election Deadlines)
• Vote YES – Amendment 79 (Right to Abortion)
• Vote NO – Amendment 80 (School Choice in K-12 Education)
• Vote YES  – Proposition JJ (Retain Additional Sports Betting Tax Revenue)
• Vote YES – Proposition KK (Firearms and Ammunition Excise Tax)
• Vote YES – Proposition 127 (Prohibit Trophy Hunting)
• Vote NO – Proposition 128 (Concerning Eligibility for Parole)
• Neutral – Proposition 129 (Establish Qualifications and Registration for Veterinary Professional Associate)
• Vote NO – Proposition 130 (Funding for Law Enforcement)
• Vote NO – Proposition 131 (Concerning the Conduct of Elections)
• Vote YES – Adams School District 12 5D
• Vote YES – Adams School District 12 5E
• Vote NO – City of Colorado Springs Ballot Issue 2D
• Vote YES – Denver Ballot Issue 2Q
• Vote YES – Denver Referred Question 2T
• Vote YES – Denver Referred Question 2U
• Vote YES – Denver Referred Question 2V
• Vote NO – Denver Initiated Ordinance 309 
• Vote YES – Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4A
• Vote YES – Jefferson County Amendment 1A
• Vote YES – Poudre School District R–1 Ballot Issue 4A
• Vote YES – Regional Transportation District Ballot Issue 7A

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