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Meghan Lukens (i) Democrat
Residence: Steamboat Springs
Profession: Teacher
Education: University of Colorado Denver, Master’s; University of Colorado, Boulder, B.A.
Experience: Before serving as an elected official for the past four years, I spent a decade teaching Social Studies to students in Colorado.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
My top three priorities are building an economy where every Coloradan can afford to live, protecting Colorado’s environment, and investing in strong public schools. We need to tackle the costs that are putting the most pressure on families, from housing to childcare, while supporting small businesses, agriculture, and the outdoor recreation economy that is so important to communities across Colorado. I want to protect our water and public lands while helping communities prepare for wildfire and drought. Our schools should have the resources they need so teachers and students can succeed.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
I would continue my work focusing on the costs that put the most pressure on working families, particularly housing, childcare, and healthcare. In our mountain communities, that means making it easier to build and preserve affordable housing, while investing in the public infrastructure needed to support that growth. We also need to make childcare more affordable for families while investing in the workforce that provides it. Finally, I want to protect Coloradans from the impacts of federal Medicaid cuts, continue investing in our healthcare workforce, and expand access to primary and behavioral healthcare.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
Regardless of which party is in the majority, I believe there is significant common ground to continue building on. We can improve roads and infrastructure, support local businesses, expand affordable housing, invest in our schools and kids, and uplift our agricultural and ranching communities. I am a pragmatic candidate willing to put action over politics and work with anyone who comes to the table in good faith. My bipartisan record demonstrates that we can find practical solutions that make a real difference in communities across the state.
A new governor will take office next year. What opportunities are there for legislation or other changes that did not gain traction under Gov. Jared Polis?
A new governor and the subsequent change in leadership creates a natural opportunity to bring new ideas to the table and revisit good ideas that did not make it across the finish line in previous sessions. I intend to build on the progress we have made while pushing further on housing affordability, rural healthcare, public education, and support for our agricultural communities.
James Kellogg Republican
Residence: Gypsum
Profession: Engineering Consultant
Education: M.S. Civil Engineering – Virginia Tech and B.S. Biology – Virginia Tech
Experience: Client relations/business development. Mentoring young engineers and geologists. I established two new division offices. I am responsible for staff management and project execution and review.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Work to increase the supply of “affordable” workforce housing through regulatory reform and local flexibility. This would include streamlining permitting and reducing zoning and regulatory barriers. 2) Maintain and utilize our local energy resources as part of an “all-of-the-above” energy approach. Reliable, affordable energy, bolstered by our district’s coal, oil, and gas, is critical for lowering the cost of living and strengthening the broader economy. 3) Protect Western Slope water rights and expand practical water infrastructure. This would include efforts to improve storage, efficiency, measurement, and infrastructure rather than conservation mandates or buy-and-dry schemes that harm agriculture and rural economies.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
Increase housing supply through regulatory reform and local flexibility. This would include streamlining permitting, as well as reducing fees and regulatory barriers. I want to unleash the private sector to build more workforce housing without government mandate or taxpayer-funded subsidies. These steps must be paired with protecting our local energy sector because reliable, affordable energy is critical for lower housing costs and economic growth. I will protect TABOR, reject new taxes and spending that bypasses voter approval, cut wasteful government spending, reduce regulations that drive up fees, and return more surplus dollars directly to taxpayers.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
Massive demand from high-income outsiders is coupled with restrictive zoning, slow permitting, high construction costs, and burdensome regulations that hinder affordable housing. It is in the best interest of Republicans and Democrats to work together to solve that problem without state budget shortfalls or undermining TABOR.
A new governor will take office next year. What opportunities are there for legislation or other changes that did not gain traction under Gov. Jared Polis?
There could be opportunity to restore Colorado as a pro-business state. This includes protecting and utilizing on our hydrocarbon resources. We may also have the opportunity to reduces taxes and reinforce TABOR. State overreach on issues like the 2nd Amendment, sanctuary policies, and wolf reintroduction could possibly be rolled back.
