2020 Elections
In 2020, CPA ran the largest most robust field program in its history and won big! All CPA endorsed candidates won their respective races and we won paid family and medical leave for Coloradans. CPA endorsed candidates, Kerry Tipper (HD-28), Dominique Jackson (HD- 42), Iman Jodeh (HD-41), Janet Buckner (SD-28), Jennifer Bacon (HD-7), Mary Young (HD-50), Monica Duran (HD-24), Mike Weissman (HD-36) and Jason Crow (CD-6) embraced our bold People’s Platform that prioritizes people and the planet over corporate interests.
In 2020, CPA increased turnout in Colorado by 1,316 votes, of those who we contacted 1,812 were first-time voters! Our 2020 field program heavily centered deep canvassing, described as “candid conversations between canvassers and voters in which participants reflect on the experiences that shape what’s at stake for them”. We had 10,991 deep canvassing conversations to engage voters in CPA’s work for racial, climate, economic and immigrant justice and to ensure they voted. We reached voters via text, phone, digital and mail!
“It was ultimately my mom, who inspired me to do more this election. She’s always told me to fight, even when it feels like an unwinnable war. My hope for a Biden victory is to have more accountability and hopefully turn this, what feels like a war, into a path for real change for our communities”
– Junior Contreras, Canvasser for CPA
“With the help of our members, we were able to move our largest and most robust electoral program to date. This year’s field program ensured that Coloradans were educated and mobilized to the polls. CPA voters turned the page from hate and division to politicians that will stand with BIPOC and immigrant communities. While the election brought many victories up and down the ballot, we know that the work of accountability is barely beginning and we will continue to mobilize voters to create lasting and impacting change that works for all of us.”
– Ana Temu Bidrio, CPA Board Chair
2018 Elections
Together we made over 120,000 contact attempts, built power, and won!
Jared Polis (Governor), Jason Crow (Congressional District 6), Rochelle Galindo (House District 50) Kerry Tipper (Senate District 28), and Dominique Jackson (House District 42) won their bids for office. We supported these candidates in their bold platforms that prioritize people and the planet over corporate interests. Additionally, Proposition 111 passed, capping interest rates from predatory payday lenders at 36%; a measure CPA members worked to support. This election proves that when candidates support bold progressive policies, people turn out to disrupt the status quo.
We have been working in Congressional District 6 for many years. Through one of our legacy organizations, we started working in CD6 in 2007 and have been working to hold Rep. Coffman accountable since 2012. We have been working so hard for many years and this victory didn’t come over night, this has been a result of so much hard work to flip this district. We are ecstatic for this huge victory and to finally elect a candidate that is willing to work with the community.
Aurora City Council Elections 2017
CPA Member and Aurora City Council Member (Ward I), Crystal Murillo shares about her experience of running for city council:
“I can’t point to one single moment of the election that made me the proudest, but my favorite part of running this campaign was getting out to speak with people in the area I grew up in and seeing them in different stages throughout my campaign. I was a first time candidate with a Latino background and, though I’ve had experience in other campaigns, being the person running didn’t come without its own challenges. From personal attacks to being pulled in various directions, it was difficult to always be certain what the right course was. We ended up continuing to go door to door to a establish a presence with the community I now represent.”
On November 7th, 2017, Colorado People’s Action (CPA)-endorsed grassroots candidates Crystal Murillo, Nicole Johnston, and Allison Hiltz were successful in their bids for Aurora City Council in Ward I, Ward II, and At-Large. Between late June and election day, CPA members, volunteers, and staff hit doors throughout Aurora to support our candidates, who represent the values of the people and not corporate interests.
A core part of CPA’s strategy was to focus on the issues most important to the people of Aurora as opposed to maintaining the status quo. Despite going up against established candidates, and the thousands of dollars in corporate money poured in against the CPA candidates, CPA was able to change the discourse to focus on the priorities of the people of Aurora and win.
2016 Elections
It is important to recognize that on election night in 2016 Colorado did deliver: we knocked on thousands of doors, talked to over 17 thousand voters and we won! Colorado rejected Trump and his ideas, and that was a direct result of all the work of our members canvassing. We also had an incredible victory; we won an increase on the minimum wage by passing Amendment 70! This was a victory for thousands of Coloradans who will get a much needed raise (Amendment 70 increases the minimum wage to $12 an hour by 2020) – this victory happened because we organized, we went door to door and we engaged voters on this important issue.
Want to get involved in our work? Contact Ananiya at ananiya@coloradopeoplesaction.org!