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Craig Sullivan Republican
Residence: Thornton
Profession: Retired air traffic controller
Education: Some college (Metropolitan State College)
Experience: No elected government experience. In the tower at DIA, I performed a lot of administrative and training tasks in addition to effectively working live traffic.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
Affordability, crime and justice, and protecting the Taxpayer’s Bill Of Rights.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
The cost of government in Colorado has grown substantially under one-party control, while the one limiting factor, the Taxpayer’s Bill Of Rights, is under constant attack by the majority party. Fee-based enterprises add significantly to the tax burden ordinary Coloradans face. I would like to see more efficiency and honesty in the state budget so that funds are going more to roads, schools, and core government functions, like the public wants. Work toward Medicaid solvency by providing benefits to its intended recipients, such as kids in poverty, disabled, and seniors in LTC, not non-citizens or healthy working-age adults.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
Affordability issues including making home building less expensive, reducing excessive regulations, boosting Colorado’s business climate, combatting and punishing serious crime.
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 can unwind government growth without new taxes. Protect TABOR: freeze new fee enterprises and put large fees on the ballot. Cap Medicaid growth to the TABOR formula, tighten eligibility, and implement work rules for able-bodied adults. Cut housing costs by streamlining permits, reforming construction-defect law, and rolling back energy-code mandates that inflate builds. Restore energy choice—gas and oil—so utility bills stop subsidizing unsustainable, unreachable mandates. Redirect spending to roads, schools, and public safety. Veto bills that unnecessarily add to Colorado’s regulatory burdens; we must create a friendlier and more regionally competitive business environment.
Jenny Willford (i) Democrat
Residence: Northglenn
Profession: Small Business Owner
Education: M.A. in Human Rights & Political Science; B.A. International Studies, B.A. Women & Gender Studies
Experience: Mom of two, wife, small-business owner, former union member, two-term state representative, five-year Northglenn council member and Mayor Pro Tem who takes on corporations and doesn’t back down.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
My top priorities are holding corporations accountable when they pollute our air, land and water, especially as Colorado faces increasingly extreme heat and dangerous ozone pollution; tackling the affordability crisis by lowering the costs of housing, childcare and other essentials families need to thrive; and protecting Colorado’s secure, accessible elections so every eligible voter can cast their ballot and have it counted, without partisan or federal interference.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
I’ve focused on lowering the everyday costs families actually feel. I helped pass the Family Affordability Tax Credit, which, combined with Colorado’s Child Tax Credit and EITC, reduced child poverty by 37% in its first year. I supported legislation creating free statewide recycling for households, shifting costs from families to packaging producers, and I’ve strengthened energy assistance for low-income Coloradans while working to reduce utility costs. I’ll keep fighting for affordable housing and childcare, lower household expenses, and a tax code that puts working families first instead of giving the biggest breaks to wealthy corporations.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
I’ve always been willing to work across the aisle when we can deliver real results for Coloradans. I see potential for common ground around strengthening our workforce, supporting older adults, protecting consumers and making government work better. I’ve previously worked with my Republican colleagues on legislation ranging from expanding opportunities for older workers to improving access to health care. We may disagree on plenty, but I’ll work with anyone who comes to the table in good faith, focuses on solving problems and is willing to put Coloradans first.
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 creates an opportunity to make progress on issues that have stalled despite legislative support, including stronger protections for workers—from ensuring firefighters with job-related cancers are covered by workers’ compensation to giving workers a fairer path to organize. It also creates an opportunity to tackle emerging challenges, including comprehensive data center policy that protects our communities and water resources while prioritizing clean energy, stronger data privacy protections, and meaningful action to improve our air quality. I’m ready to work with an administration that collaborates with the legislature and is willing to act on the challenges Coloradans cannot afford to keep waiting on.
