Voces Unidas Action Fund is proud to endorse 18 candidates for public office in the 2024 November election, including five Latina and Latino candidates and two additional candidates of color.
“From positions on housing, healthcare access, and affordability to fighting for immigrant rights, small businesses, and the environment, we believe these candidates are poised to deliver justice-centered results for Latinas and Latinos in the region,” said Alex Sánchez, the founder and CEO of Voces Unidas Action Fund. “Latino voters can be confident that these candidates will put the issues impacting our community throughout the central mountains and across the Western Slope at the forefront of their work as policymakers.”
The endorsement committee made up of Voces Unidas staff and grassroots leaders reviewed responses to our online questionnaire and interviewed candidates to assess whose vision and plans would best help champion and deliver on our policy priorities. The resulting endorsements were awarded to the candidates we believe are best aligned with the values and mission of our organization.
For the Nov. 5 General Election, our endorsed candidates are:
Kamala Harris | President of the United States
Vice President Kamala Harris (D) has the vision and experience to lead our country forward. A daughter of immigrants, Harris understands the issues impacting working families and Latinos in Colorado, and we are proud to endorse her for President of the United States. We need her leadership to protect democracy and pass comprehensive immigration reform.
Adam Frisch | U.S. House of Representatives, CD-3
Adam Frisch (D) earned our support in CD-3 because he is willing to listen and advocate for the many important issues facing the Latino communities in the district where Voces Unidas is based. His victory in CD-3 could help secure a new majority in the U.S. House to begin addressing important issues like comprehensive immigration reform.
Brittany Pettersen | U.S. House of Representatives, CD-7
Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen (D) earned our support because she understands working families and knows that inflation impacts communities of color at a disproportionate rate. In her first term in Congress, she has made good on her promise to be a champion for policies that are important to Latinos in her district and help the next generation of Coloradans build better lives. CD-7 includes Lake County, where much of our work is focused.
Yadira Caraveo | U.S. House of Representatives, CD-8
Congresswoman Yadira Caraveo (D) earned our support because she understands the issues facing Colorado's working families and immigrant communities, even though her district is outside the Western Slope. As the first Latina in Congress from Colorado, she fought to address inflation and reduce the high cost of housing during her first term. Her victory in CD-8 could help secure a new majority in the U.S. House to begin addressing important issues like comprehensive immigration reform.
Elizabeth Velasco | Colorado House District 57
Elizabeth Velasco (D) earned our support because she is committed to championing environmental issues and fighting to make communities more affordable in HD-57. Her 2022 election was historic as she became the first Latina Representative from the Western Slope to serve in the State Legislature. The daughter of immigrants, Velasco earned our "Local Legislative Champion" award two years in a row.
Meghan Lukens | Colorado House District 26
Meghan Lukens (D) earned our support because she is committed to addressing issues affecting rural Latinos and working families in her district.
Julie McCluskie | Colorado House District 13
House Speaker Julie McCluskie (D) earned our support because she has fought for Latinos and immigrant communities including passing legislation that expands healthcare coverage to more undocumented families.
Ellen Angeles | State Board of Education, District 3
Ellen Angeles (D) is a former teacher who will bring real-world classroom experience and a fresh perspective to the State Board of Education.
Kathy Gebhardt | State Board of Education, District 2
Kathy Gebhardt (D) is a lifelong advocate, attorney and champion of public education who has earned our support for State Board of Education in CD-2. She is committed to holding rural school districts accountable for meeting the academic needs of all students.
Thomas Acker | Mesa County Commissioner, District 1
Thomas Acker (D) earned our endorsement for commissioner in District 1 because he knows working families and will work hard to make Mesa County more equitable for all.
Caitlin Carey | Garfield County Commissioner, District 2
Councilwoman Caitlin Carey (D) is a previously endorsed Voces Unidas candidate who will fight to decrease the cost of living in Garfield County and protect our air, water and public lands. She earned our endorsement as the District 2 candidate because she wants to ensure county services meet the needs of all residents in Garfield County equitably.
Steve Arauza | Garfield County Commissioner, District 3
Steve Arauza (D) is an active community leader who understands the issues facing working families in Garfield County. He will offer fresh solutions to make our communities more resilient, attract new jobs to the region and prioritize the health and safety of all families. Arauza would become the first Latino to serve as commissioner in a county where Latinos represent 30% of the population.
Matt Scherr | Eagle County Commissioner, District 1
Commissioner Matt Scherr (D) earned our support for the District 1 seat because he is committed to making affordable housing more accessible to more residents in Eagle County and is willing to partner with the Latino community to address equity issues.
Tamara Pogue | Summit County Commissioner, District 2
Commissioner Tamara Pogue (D) has earned our endorsement in District 2 because she is committed to making Summit County more equitable and accessible for all working families.
Christian Luna-Leal | Lake County Commissioner, District 2
Councilman Christian Luna-Leal (D) is one of the first Latino-elected city council members in Leadville and understands the issues affecting all working families in Lake County. He will bring fresh solutions to address the longstanding equity issues in the county. Luna-Leal would become the first Latino to serve as commissioner in a county where Latinos represent 36% of the population.
Hal Edwards | Lake County Commissioner, District 1
Hal Edwards (D) earned our endorsement for Lake County Commissioner District 1 because he is committed to ensuring that county government services meet the needs of all families.
Elsa Tharp | Lake County Commissioner, District 3
Elsa Tharp (D) earned our endorsement in District 3 because she will address issues affecting the Latino community throughout Lake County.
Angelica Salinas | Routt County Commissioner, District 1
Angelica Salinas (D) has our endorsement for District 1 because she will ensure that the needs of all working families are a priority for the county. Salinas would become the first Latina to serve as commissioner in a region where Latinos represent about 10% of the population.
As a local, community-created 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization, we invest our time, energy and resources to support our endorsed candidates. We volunteer, knock on doors, make phone calls, and raise money from local community members. We do this because we believe that when our neighbors and communities come together to support leaders who share our values, we can affect the change we need.
This year, Voces Unidas Action Fund and its affiliates will invest more than $400,000 in civic engagement and electoral work to ensure Latina and Latino voters participate in the November election. We target 15 counties in the Western Slope, engaging Latinos and other voters, regardless of race.
Visit our 2024 Election website for more information, including ballot guides, candidate comparison charts, and information on how and where to vote.
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