2026 Colorado Secretary of State election
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November 3, 2026
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The 2026 Colorado Secretary of State election will take place on November 3, 2026, to elect the secretary of state of Colorado. Incumbent Democratic secretary Jena Griswold is term-limited and ineligible to seek reelection. Primary elections took place on June 30, 2026.[1]
The general election will feature Democratic candidate Amanda Gonzalez, an election official who serves as Jefferson county clerk and recorder and Republican nominee James Wiley, a political consultant who been described as an election denier who has spread misinformation and conspiracy theories about the legitimacy of elections.[2] Candidates from three minor parties are also on the ballot.[3]
Background
[edit]Incumbent secretary of state Jena Griswold who previously won in 2018 and was reelected in 2022, is term-limited and is running for Attorney General in 2026. Jefferson County clerk and recorder Amanda Gonzalez and state senator Jessie Danielson competed in the Democratic primary. Gonzalez won the primary with around 64% of the vote.[4] The Republican candidate, James Wiley, ran unopposed.[4]
Campaign
[edit]Before becoming Jefferson County clerk and recorder in 2022, Gonzalez served as director of Colorado Common Cause, an advocacy group that aims to increase ballot access to voters and limit the influence of money in politics.[4] As Clerk and Recorder of Jefferson county, Gonzalez oversees election operations for the county.[4] Throughout the primary and general election, Gonzalez has said she will advocate for voting rights and uphold Colorado's electoral system if elected.[4] She has also said she will defend the state's mail-in ballot voting system, advocate for electoral transparency and streamline Colorado’s campaign finance site TRACER if elected.[5]
Republican candidate James Wiley was previously director of the Libertarian Party of Colorado before switching party affiliations to run for secretary of state. Colorado Public Radio described Wiley as a "MAHA Republican", someone aligned with the pro-Trump political health movement.[4] Wiley has stated his belief that Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election.[6][7] Wiley has stated that if elected, he plans to remove the entirety of the state's voter rolls and require every voter in the state to re-register in person to continue to vote.[6] He plans to decertify all electronic voting machines and end mail-in voting in the state if elected.[8] Several of his proposed polices have been criticized by Republican and Democratic election experts as impractical, expensive, likely illegal under state and federal law, and a misunderstanding of election law.[6] Wiley has claimed that Communist countries control elections in the state and throughout America via electronic voting equipment.[9] According to the election law organization States United Action, Wiley has promoted conspiracies theories and misinformation about the legitimacy of elections.[10][11]
Democratic primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]To move forward to the primary, candidates had to petition onto the ballot or achieve 30% or more at the Colorado Democratic Party State Assembly. No candidate petitioned onto the primary ballot. Both Amanda Gonzalez and Jessie Danielson went through the State Assembly process. Both candidates achieved 30% or more.[12]
Nominee
[edit]- Amanda Gonzalez, Jefferson County clerk and recorder[13]
Eliminated in primary
[edit]- Jessie Danielson, state senator from the 22nd district (2019–present)[14]
Declined
[edit]- Jeff Bridges, state senator from the 26th district (2019–present)[15] (running for state treasurer)
Endorsements
[edit]- State legislators
- Rhonda Fields, former state senator from the 28th district (2017–2025)[16]
- Labor unions
- Organizations
- Newspapers
- Organizations
- Latino Victory Fund[21]
- LGBTQ Victory Fund[22]
- LPAC[23]
- New American Leaders Action Fund[24]
- Our Revolution[25]
- Political parties
- Colorado Working Families Party[26]
Results
[edit]
- 50–60%
- 60–70%
- 70–80%
- 80–90%
- 50–60%
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Amanda Gonzalez | 530,299 | 64.4 | |
| Democratic | Jessie Danielson | 293,351 | 35.6 | |
| Total votes | 823,650 | 100.0 | ||
Republican primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- James Wiley, former executive director of the Libertarian Party of Colorado[28]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | James Wiley | 445,626 | 100.0 | |
| Total votes | 445,626 | 100.0 | ||
Libertarian primary
[edit]Candidates
[edit]Nominee
[edit]- Sean Vadney[29]
Withdrawn
[edit]- Alex Astley[30]
Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Libertarian | Alex Astley | 2,204 | 61.9 | |
| Libertarian | Sean Vadney | 1,357 | 38.1 | |
| Total votes | 3,561 | 100.0 | ||
Following Alex Astley's "suspicious" withdrawal from the race one day after the deadline to replace third party candidates, the Libertarian Party of Colorado's vacancy committee nominated Sean Vadney. This nomination was originally blocked by the Colorado Secretary of State's office, however Denver District Court Judge Adam J. Espinosa approved a motion filed by Vadney putting him on the general election ballot, citing that the party met "substantial compliance".[31]
Independents
[edit]Declared
[edit]Filed paperwork
[edit]- Melissa Richards[33]
General election
[edit]Predictions
[edit]| Source | Ranking | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Sabato's Crystal Ball[34] | Safe D | September 9, 2026 |
Post-primary endorsements
[edit]Results
[edit]| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Amanda Gonzalez | ||||
| Republican | James Wiley | ||||
| American Constitution | Amanda Campbell | ||||
| Forward | Celeste Landry | ||||
| Libertarian | Sean Vadney | ||||
| Total votes | 100.0% | ||||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "2026 State Primary Election Dates". NCSL. May 9, 2025. Retrieved August 5, 2025.
- ↑ Gilbert, David (September 17, 2026). "Hundreds of Election Deniers Will Be on the Ballot This November". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- ↑ Hesse, Tom; Haskell, Havalin (September 25, 2026). "Colorado Secretary of State third-party candidates". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Brasch, Sam; Battulga, Sandy (June 30, 2026). "Jeffco clerk and voting rights advocate Amanda Gonzalez wins Democratic secretary of State primary". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ Brasch, Sam (May 29, 2026). "Colorado Secretary of State: Democrat Amanda Gonzalez". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- 1 2 3 Maulbetsch, Erik (August 10, 2026). "GOP Candidate for State's Top Election Job Is an Election Denier Who Wants to Delete the Voter Rolls". Colorado Times Recorder. Retrieved August 10, 2026.
- ↑ Gilbert, David (September 17, 2026). "Hundreds of Election Deniers Will Be on the Ballot This November". Wired. ISSN 1059-1028. Retrieved October 4, 2026.
- ↑ Smith, Abby (June 15, 2026). "James Wiley". KRDO. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- ↑ Mitchell, Jessica (August 27, 2026). "GOP Candidates Bring Policy Pitches, Sharp Rhetoric to Chaffee County". Ark Valley Voice. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
- ↑ Parks, Miles (May 4, 2026). "In many states, election-denying candidates are running to control voting". NPR. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Election Denial in Colorado". Election Denial in Colorado. August 7, 2026. Retrieved August 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Colorado Democratic Party Concludes 2026 State Assembly, Announces Results". Colorado Democratic Party. Retrieved March 28, 2026.
- ↑ Paul, Jesse (January 6, 2025). "Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzalez launches bid to become Colorado secretary of state". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved January 6, 2025.
- ↑ Paul, Jesse (July 15, 2025). "Democratic state senator launches bid to become Colorado's top election official". The Colorado Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ↑ "State Sen. Jeff Bridges, chair of budget-writing committee, running for Colorado treasurer". Colorado Newsline. April 15, 2025. Retrieved May 25, 2025.
- ↑ Luning, Ernest (July 15, 2025). "Democratic state lawmaker Jessie Danielson announces run to be Colorado's top election official". Colorado Politics. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "SEIU Colorado Announces First Round of 2026 Endorsements, Backs Julie Gonzales for U.S. Senate". February 19, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Our 2026 Endorsed Candidates". UFCW 7. Retrieved May 31, 2026.
- ↑ "Statement in Support of Jessie Danielson for State Senate" (PDF). Southern Ute indian Tribe. July 23, 2025. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "Denver Post endorsement for Colorado's next secretary of state (Editorial)". The Denver Post. June 2026. Retrieved June 11, 2026.
- ↑ "Latino Victory Fund Endorses Amanda González for Colorado Secretary of State". Latino Victory. June 4, 2026. Retrieved June 12, 2026.
- ↑ "LGBTQ+ Victory Fund endorses 43 new candidates in February for 2026 campaigns". LGBTQ+ Victory Fund. February 26, 2026. Retrieved March 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Amanda Gonzalez is running for Colorado Secretary of State". LPAC. February 16, 2026. Retrieved April 4, 2026.
- ↑ "New American Leaders Action Fund Surpasses its Record Number of Endorsed Candidates with 75 so far in 2026". New Americans Magazine. May 6, 2026. Retrieved May 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Bold Progressive Slate in Colorado". Our Revolution. May 26, 2026. Retrieved May 28, 2026.
- ↑ Monaco, Charles (February 11, 2026). "Colorado Working Families Party Announces 2026 Primary Early Endorsements". Working Families Party. Retrieved February 25, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "Colorado Primary Election Results". The New York Times. June 30, 2026. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved August 19, 2026.
- ↑ Heaney, Briana; Kim ·, Caitlyn (April 11, 2026). "Gubernatorial candidates Scott Bottoms, Victor Marx win slots on GOP primary ballot at state assembly". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved April 12, 2026.
- ↑ Luning, Earnest (September 4, 2026). "Judge puts Colorado Libertarians' secretary of state candidate on ballot after party's 1st nominee drops out". ColoradoPolitics. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Luning, Ernest (September 4, 2026). "Judge puts Colorado Libertarians' secretary of state candidate on ballot after party's 1st nominee drops out". ColoradoPolitics. Retrieved September 10, 2026.
- ↑ Luning, Ernest (September 4, 2026). "Judge puts Colorado Libertarians' secretary of state candidate on ballot after party's 1st nominee drops out". Colorado Politics. Retrieved September 13, 2026.
- 1 2 3 "2026 General Election Official Candidate List". Retrieved September 24, 2026.
- ↑ Birkeland, Bente (July 18, 2025). "Democratic state Sen. Jessie Danielson enters Secretary of State's race". Colorado Public Radio. Retrieved July 21, 2025.
- ↑ Jacobson, Jacob (September 9, 2026). "Secretary of State Races: Election Denialism Could Cost GOP Again in Swing State Races". Sabato's Crystal Ball. Retrieved September 12, 2026.
- ↑ "State and Local Candidates". EMILYs List. Retrieved August 8, 2026.
- ↑ "Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund Announces New Round of Statewide Endorsements, Backing 40 Statewide Candidates in 15 States". Moms Demand Action. Retrieved September 15, 2026.
- ↑ "2026: Meet Our Endorsed Candidates". National Women's Political Caucus. Retrieved September 1, 2026.
External links
[edit]Official campaign websites:
