1-minute voter guide: Secretary of state candidates
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Two Democrats and one Republican are among those hoping to replace Secretary of State Jena Griswold to oversee an office responsible for elections, business licenses and rule-making for state agencies.
Why it matters: Election security is a major concern in an era when some elected officials openly question their validity and safety — even though Colorado remains one of the safest places to cast a ballot in the country.
Between the lines: Griswold is term-limited and running for attorney general.
Meet the candidates:
Jessie Danielson (Democrat) is a state lawmaker from Wheat Ridge who cites a 2013 law allowing statewide mail-in voting as a career highlight.
- She's focused on building relationships with county clerks, pushing back against President Trump's attacks on Colorado's elections and forging strong ties with the state's rural communities.
Amanda Gonzalez (Democrat) is the Jefferson County clerk who previously served as director of the ballot-access advocacy group Colorado Common Cause.
- Gonzalez, an attorney, is campaigning on making the state's campaign finance site easier to navigate, improving transparency from the clerk's office to ensure election confidence, and preparing for potential federal legislation impacting Coloradans' ability to vote.
James Wiley (Republican) is running unopposed, campaigning on free and fair elections, making it easier for businesses to open in Colorado, and promising to put all state public records on an "immutable blockchain."
- Wiley advocated for freeing former Mesa County clerk Tina Peters and has filed lawsuits, including one against Dominion Voting Systems, alleging election misconduct.
The intrigue: Third-party candidates are also vying for a chance to serve.
- Alex Astley and Sean Vadney are campaigning for the Libertarian Party nomination, while Celeste Landry represents the Colorado Forward Party