This op-ed by Quentin Young appeared on Colorado Newsline on June 11, 2026.
Jeff Peckman, a Unity Party candidate for Colorado governor, responded to a question about what he’d want historians in 50 years to say about his administration if he wins election in November.
“They would share that I was part of the first delegation to have open, public contact with visitors from outside of Earth,” Peckman wrote.
In recent weeks, Colorado Newsline sent questionnaires to candidates in contested Colorado primary races. Their responses, which were published this week as part of the Newsline voter guide, offer a vivid view of why they’re seeking office, what they think are the biggest issues, and the policies they’d pursue if they win.
Only one candidate mentioned diplomatic relations with alien lifeforms, but the responses are packed with engaging information that will help Colorado voters make informed decisions when they fill out their ballots in the June 30 primary election. U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who is running for reelection and faces a Democratic primary challenger, was one of only a few major party candidates for top offices who did not respond to the questionnaire. Every major party candidate for governor responded, and in other races, such as for attorney general and the congressional district that covers Denver, every candidate viewed as most competitive responded.
Some major themes come through. Affordability is the top issue candidates cite as a problem their constituents want them to address. This is true up and down the ballot, and across parties.
“We have an affordability crisis here in El Paso County,” said Jessica Killin, a Democrat running for Congress in the 5th District. “Families are struggling to afford housing, healthcare, childcare, and groceries. As gas prices continue to skyrocket because of the Iran conflict, families are being squeezed even further.”
State Rep. Ava Flanell, a Republican running for reelection in District 14, made a similar point: “Constituents in House District 14 consistently point to affordability as the most pressing issue facing their families. Rising housing costs, increasing energy prices, and the growing burden of regulations and fees on businesses are all contributing factors, and those costs are often passed on to consumers.”
Resistance to Trump administration actions is a consistent theme among Democratic candidates. It’s the first priority mentioned by Phil Weiser, the Democratic attorney general, who’s running for governor.
“Right now, the federal government is attacking the rule of the law, slashing funding for critical programs and rolling back civil rights,” Weiser said, noting he’s sued the Trump administration 65 times.
His primary opponent, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, said his highest priority “will be taking the cost-of-living crisis head on,” but he notes that “Donald Trump is doing everything he can to make things worse.”
A similar split between these two priorities is seen in other races, such as in the 1st Congressional District, which covers Denver. When asked what residents tell her is the biggest issue, incumbent U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette said, “Far and away it’s Donald Trump.”
Asked the same question, DeGette’s leading opponent in the Democratic primary, the democratic socialist Melat Kiros, said, “Affordability. That is what I hear at every door, at every coffee shop counter, on every block I have knocked in this district.”
A striking hostility toward the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights emerged among Democrats in statehouse races who answered the questionnaire. Many Democrats, who control large majorities in both the state House and Senate, have long expressed frustration with TABOR, a conservative constitutional amendment passed in 1992 that caps how much revenue the state can collect and spend. But several years of severe budget shortfalls and service cuts appear to have pushed their patience beyond the breaking point.
“In my view, all roads lead back to TABOR,” said Rep. Sean Camacho, the incumbent running for reelection in District 6 in Denver. “If we don’t finally rid Colorado of TABOR, we will continue to have to cut crucial services that my constituents rely on, especially in health care.”
His Democratic primary opponent, Iris Halpern, also supports repealing TABOR, and many other Democrats indicated they’d back at least reforms to the tax measure.
Republican statehouse candidates consistently take a different view, which Matt Alexander, who’s running to represent Cañon City-centered House District 60, summarized when he said, “We do not have a lack of tax revenue; we have a spending problem. We must learn how to say no to bad spending.”
We wanted to get to know the candidates as people. For example, we asked statehouse candidates where they would take an out-of-town friend to visit in their district, and some of the answers might reveal as much about the candidate as any policy position.
Glen Eyrie Castle in Colorado Springs gets a couple of mentions. The Foundry Plaza in Loveland comes up. So does Tonantzin Casa de Café in Denver, Infinity Park in Glendale, The Bagel Deli & Restaurant in Denver, Dougherty Antique Car & Tractor Museum in Erie, Lucy Coffee Shop in Aurora, the Arkansas River Trail in Pueblo County, and a Denver cafe that has “some of the best Czech pastries you’ll ever try.”
We asked every governor candidate about their hobbies and passions apart from politics. Several said outdoor activities, one said flowers, one said tennis, one said the Denver Nuggets, and one said juggling — which come to think of it could be an essential skill for a governor.
Find out who said what in Newsline’s governor candidate Q&A.
Colorado Newsline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Colorado Newsline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Quentin Young for questions: info@coloradonewsline.com.