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Justine Sandoval Democrat
Residence: Denver
Profession: Community Organizer/ Campaign Consultant
Education: Metropolitan State University of Denver, Denver North High School
Experience: I have 20+ years of experience as an organizer, advocate, and community leader, including nearly a decade fighting for reproductive rights and leading Democratic organizations across Colorado.
What are your top three priorities, if elected?
My top three priorities are health, environmental, and economic justice because they shape our everyday lives. Everyone should be able to see a doctor, get mental health care, make their own reproductive health decisions, and receive care that respects people with disabilities. We all deserve clean air, clean water, and healthy neighborhoods, and polluters should be held accountable. And everyone who calls Colorado home should be able to afford to live here. That means more affordable housing, fair wages, reliable transportation, strong worker protections, and thriving small businesses.
What specific actions would you support to improve affordability for Coloradans, whether aimed at housing costs, tax burdens or other impacts?
I would support building more housing that working people can actually afford, expanding down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers, and protecting renters and longtime residents from being priced out. I’d also support targeted tax relief for working families and small businesses and work to lower everyday costs like healthcare, childcare, utilities, and transportation. That means investing in affordable childcare and reliable public transit, holding utilities accountable for unfair rate increases, and fighting for fair wages and strong worker protections. I want a Colorado where everyone can afford to stay in the communities they call home and build a secure future.
Whether your party is in the majority or minority next year, where do you see actionable common ground with the opposing party?
There’s more bipartisan work happening at the Capitol than people realize. Democrats and Republicans have come together to pass meaningful legislation, and often the bigger obstacle has been the governor’s veto pen. I believe in finding common ground, but not at the expense of my values. On fundamental rights like abortion access, LGBTQ+ rights, and protecting our most vulnerable neighbors, I’ll stand firm. But on affordability, small businesses, behavioral health, public safety, and government accountability, I’ll work with anyone who genuinely wants to solve the problem. A majority doesn’t guarantee progress. It takes relationships, backbone, and knowing when to compromise and when to stand firm.
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 gives us a chance to revisit good legislation that made it through the General Assembly only to be vetoed at the governor’s desk. I want to strengthen workers’ rights and collective bargaining, challenge corporate practices that drive up costs, and give communities more tools to address affordability. I also hope a new administration brings a better relationship with the legislature. The governor shouldn’t be a roadblock when lawmakers, sometimes from both parties, have done the work to find common ground. I am sure I won’t agree with the next governor on everything, even if we share a party. I want a governor who respects the legislature, listens to our communities, and understands that governing is a partnership.
Johnnie W. Johnson did not return the questionnaire.
