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Colorado State House District 37 candidate Q&A

The race features Republican Jill Thompson and incumbent Democrat Chad Clifford

PUBLISHED: | UPDATED:
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Jill Thompson  Republican

Residence: Englewood
Profession: Industrial Contractor
Education: 12th grade
Experience: I am a dutiful citizen and worker who knows the drudgery that needs to be completed to make it better for my fellow citizens; I want to do the work for you. Colorado and Coloradoans are worth it!


What are your top three priorities, if elected?
The Proper Role of Government

What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
1) We need to look at all the regulations that are causing a new house to start with a $132,000.00 cost before a blueprint is initiated.

2) The Colorado legislature needs to be subject to a 24/7/365 balance budget verses only on the day the Governor signs the long bill.

3) Health insurance is a state issue, and my goal is to fix in my first term which should simultaneously result in reduced auto insurance rates.

Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
The common ground is the quality of life the taxpayers deserve.

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?
Victor Marx may not be world class on the debate floor but he is world class at delegating. He will place people in the Governor appointed positions that help the common Colorado taxpayer: not UN Agenda 2030 or any other off-putting movement.

 

 

 

Chad Clifford (i)  Democrat

Residence: Centennial
Profession: Business Owner / Police Officer
Education: BS Electrical Engineering
Experience: Colorado State Representative since 2024; Police officer; 25+ years with American Red Cross Government Operations; business owner; former lobbyist


What are your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Expand housing inventory and improve affordability so that working families, and seniors can live and stay in our community and that everyone can thrive.

2)Strengthen public safety through balanced reforms, increase accountability and transparency, and invest in mental health and community trust.

3)Deliver practical, bipartisan results on the issues that matter most to HD37 residents: housing, public safety, education funding, and good government (while remaining accessible and responsive to every constituent).

What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
I will continue working to increase housing supply by reforming construction defect laws and encourage new development, supporting incentives for mixed-income and denser housing, and expanding tools that help people buy and own their homes. I support expanding the Homestead Exemption and targeted property-tax relief for long-time homeowners and seniors so they are not forced out by rising valuations. I will also look for practical ways to reduce other cost drivers like insurance, utilities and we must start to tackle healthcare where the priority is care and not administrative costs and barriers.

Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
Public safety, housing supply, and first-responder support are areas where Republicans and Democrats already share substantial common ground. I routinely find partners across the aisle who want safer communities, more housing inventory, and practical tools for officers and firefighters. Construction-defect reform, earned-time and competency reforms that improve system efficiency, and targeted housing incentives for public-safety personnel are concrete places we can deliver results, but we also have a responsibility to push forward with policy that advances the financial security of our weakest and stop pretending that rapidly expanding wealth inequality is ok.

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?
I’m genuinely excited about this next chapter for Colorado. A new governor who respects the legislature as a true partner creates real room to finally confront the hard problems that too often got kicked down the road—starting with a criminal justice system that still recycles too many people instead of giving them a real path forward. Expanding proven reentry, education, and treatment programs, while strengthening the tools that keep communities safe, is long overdue. I look forward to working across the aisle and with the new administration to deliver practical results that make Colorado safer, more affordable, and more hopeful for the people we serve.


How candidate order was determined: A lot drawing was held at the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office on July 28, 2026 to determine the general election ballot order for major and minor party candidates for US Senate, US House of Representatives, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, Attorney General, State Board of Education, University of Colorado Board of Regents, State Senate, and State House of Representatives. Colorado law (1-5-404, C.R.S.) requires that candidates are ordered on the ballot in three tiers: major party candidates followed by minor party candidates followed by unaffiliated candidates. Within each tier, the candidates are ordered by a lot drawing with the exception of the office of Governor and Lt. Governor, which are ordered by the last name of the gubernatorial candidate. The lot drawing was conducted by Secretary of State Elections Division staff and was witnessed by representatives of the Colorado Democratic, Colorado Republican, and Colorado Forward Parties. Questionnaires were not sent to write-in candidates.

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