Julie Gonzales
Colorado State Senator
Candidate for US Senate
Democrat
Next Election
Colorado 2026 Democrat Primary • June 30, 2026
About Julie Gonzales
From a ranching family to the State Capitol, Julie Gonzales has spent her life turning organizing into action and values into results.
GROUNDED IN WORK, GUIDED BY JUSTICE
Senadora Julie Gonzales is a progressive Democrat representing north, west, and downtown Denver in the Colorado Senate. Julie’s roots run deep: her family has lived in Colorado since before it was a state. Julie was born in Arizona and raised in South Texas where her family found ranch work and opportunity.
Julie’s mom, once a rodeo queen who was widowed with two kids by the time she was 20, fought her way back to the classroom as an elementary school teacher. Her dad worked cattle and later became a medical cannabis producer. As the sixth of seven kids, Julie learned what her parents preached: relentless work, radical honesty, and to always lift as we climb.
FROM THE CLASSROOM TO COLORADO
In high school, Julie spent summers in Denver saving for college; after graduating from Yale, she came back to stay. An organizer at her core, Julie built people-powered campaigns for affordable housing, education equity, and immigrant rights – proving that when everyday people come together, we can win.
ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE
Elected in 2018, Julie brought that organizing spirit into the Capitol and turned it into results. She enshrined abortion as a fundamental right, advanced voting rights, allocated millions of dollars to build and preserve affordable housing, strengthened protections for immigrant communities from ICE overreach, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, and repealed the death penalty. Julie’s approach is simple: put people first, take on entrenched power, and measure success by whether life gets better for working families.
LEADERSHIP WITH INTEGRITY
Julie currently serves as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair of Local Government & Housing, and sits on Appropriations, Finance, Legal Services, and Legislative Council. Senadora Gonzales also co-chairs the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus. Colleagues and community advocates alike know Julie as a coalition builder who doesn’t shy away from tough fights and who insists that bipartisanship is a tool, not a trophy.
WHY SHE’S RUNNING
Julie’s story is proof of what one generation’s sacrifice can make possible. But she’s candid about the reality families face today: too many people are working just as hard without getting ahead because the rules are tilted toward the wealthy and well-connected. That’s why she’s running a people-powered campaign to lower costs, protect fundamental freedoms, and make sure Colorado is a place where every family can afford a home, see a doctor, and build a future with dignity.
PROUD TO CALL COLORADO HOME
Julie lives in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood with her husband, Ben, and their beloved shih tzus, Panda and Beans.
GROUNDED IN WORK, GUIDED BY JUSTICE
Senadora Julie Gonzales is a progressive Democrat representing north, west, and downtown Denver in the Colorado Senate. Julie’s roots run deep: her family has lived in Colorado since before it was a state. Julie was born in Arizona and raised in South Texas where her family found ranch work and opportunity.
Julie’s mom, once a rodeo queen who was widowed with two kids by the time she was 20, fought her way back to the classroom as an elementary school teacher. Her dad worked cattle and later became a medical cannabis producer. As the sixth of seven kids, Julie learned what her parents preached: relentless work, radical honesty, and to always lift as we climb.
FROM THE CLASSROOM TO COLORADO
In high school, Julie spent summers in Denver saving for college; after graduating from Yale, she came back to stay. An organizer at her core, Julie built people-powered campaigns for affordable housing, education equity, and immigrant rights – proving that when everyday people come together, we can win.
ORGANIZING FOR CHANGE
Elected in 2018, Julie brought that organizing spirit into the Capitol and turned it into results. She enshrined abortion as a fundamental right, advanced voting rights, allocated millions of dollars to build and preserve affordable housing, strengthened protections for immigrant communities from ICE overreach, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, and repealed the death penalty. Julie’s approach is simple: put people first, take on entrenched power, and measure success by whether life gets better for working families.
LEADERSHIP WITH INTEGRITY
Julie currently serves as Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair of Local Government & Housing, and sits on Appropriations, Finance, Legal Services, and Legislative Council. Senadora Gonzales also co-chairs the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus. Colleagues and community advocates alike know Julie as a coalition builder who doesn’t shy away from tough fights and who insists that bipartisanship is a tool, not a trophy.
WHY SHE’S RUNNING
Julie’s story is proof of what one generation’s sacrifice can make possible. But she’s candid about the reality families face today: too many people are working just as hard without getting ahead because the rules are tilted toward the wealthy and well-connected. That’s why she’s running a people-powered campaign to lower costs, protect fundamental freedoms, and make sure Colorado is a place where every family can afford a home, see a doctor, and build a future with dignity.
PROUD TO CALL COLORADO HOME
Julie lives in Denver’s Jefferson Park neighborhood with her husband, Ben, and their beloved shih tzus, Panda and Beans.
Latest Updates
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Make no mistake — the GEO Group’s pattern of violence and disregard for human life is systemic. The answer is clear: end for-profit immigration detention, abolish ICE, and replace it with a system that ensures dignity and respect for ALL our neighbor... more
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Abolish ICE and end the profit motive driving the deportation machine to dehumanize our neighbors.
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Hudson Town Hall during Wednesday’s Town Council meeting to oppose a plan to open an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detention facility in Hudson, which is located about 30 minutes northeast of... more
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Condolences to Senator Lindsey Graham’s family and constituents.
May his passing serve as a reminder as to why term limits are so terribly needed in the US Senate.
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Here's another journalist acknowledging he should have covered the Gonzales-Hickenlooper U.S. Senate race more closely. The first, @chasewoodruff.bsky.social, is quoted in this week's Colorado media newsletter about what he'll do differently in the f... more
Candidate
Running for US Senate
I messed up badly. Had I known the CO SEN Dem primary would be remotely this close, I would’ve attempted to organize a debate and covered the race differently.
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Thanks to the @summitdailynews.bsky.social for this opportunity to reflect.
www.summitdaily.com/news/how-wes...
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Graham Platner should not be the Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in Maine.
Jenny Racicot — thank you for your courage as a survivor in sharing your story not once, but twice.
www.politico.com/news/2026/07...
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Some losses still feel like wins. @senadorajulie.bsky.social you ran the most inspiring race. You were outspent ~10-1, your opponent was staunchly entrenched in establishment politics & through it all you kept 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 at the core.
Thank you for... more
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Thank you to everyone who stepped up and dug deep during this campaign. Órale ❤️✊🏽
As Colorado and the United States itself prepare to celebrate anniversaries, a new exhibition highlights the timeless nature of clay, fiber and the work of many hands
State Sen. Julie Gonzales, state Rep. Yara Zokaie and David Seligman, a candidate for attorney general, said this week when contacted by The Colorado Sun that Kiros’ answer was wrong
The Colorado Sun entrevistó a los dos demócratas que compiten por un escaño en el Senado de Estados Unidos para conocer sus posturas sobre la economía, la atención médica, la inmigración y otros temas importantes.
The race between U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper and state Sen. Julie Gonzales has emerged as one of Colorado’s most intriguing Democratic primaries. Gonzales is running on a message of generational change, arguing that Democrats need a more aggressive approach and that a vote for Hickenlooper will just...
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper launched his reelection campaign’s first TV ad Tuesday, a week before Colorado voters start receiving primary ballots, with a spot taking aim at the Trump administration’s foiled plans to sell public lands. Hickenlooper is facing a primary challenge from state Sen. Julie ...
The Colorado Sun interviewed the 2 Democrats running for U.S. Senate to see where they stand on the economy, healthcare, immigration and other top issues
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Tuesday signed a sweeping corrections bill that seeks to ease chronic overcrowding in state prisons by expanding earned‑time credits and launching a new working group to overhaul population management. Senate Bill 159, sponsored by Sens. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Juli...
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper hits screens Tuesday with his reelection campaign’s first statewide ad, recounting highlights of the Colorado Democrat’s business and political career. The 30-second spot, set to air on digital and streaming platforms, lands six weeks before the June 30 primary election, ...
Colorado lawmakers advanced two high‑profile measures Thursday—one reshaping how the state manages its strained prison population and another allowing Coloradans to sue federal immigration agents for alleged constitutional violations—sending both bills to Gov. Jared Polis as the legislative session ...
A panel of Colorado legislators on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have allowed residents to sue federal and local officials in state court for alleged constitutional violations. Sponsored by Sens. Mike Weissman, D-Aurora, and Julie Gonzales, D-Denver, Senate Bill 176 would have allowed indi...
Colorado’s prison population plan was designed to prevent overcrowding. Instead, eight months after it was triggered, the system remains strained and largely ineffective, prompting two Democratic lawmakers to push for changes through new legislation. According to its sponsors, Senate Bill 036 lays o...
House Republican leaders had called on the three-term Gonzales to not seek reelection.
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper’s campaign raised nearly $1.4 million in the first quarter of 2026 and plans to report more than $4 million on hand heading into Colorado’s June primary, the first-term Democrat’s campaign said Thursday. That brings Hickenlooper’s total receipts to about $9 million since ...
This is the second federal legislative proposal this year seeking to block Forest Service funding for permitting or review of the Berlaimont Estates project
Attorney General Phil Weiser’s name will appear first on Colorado’s Democratic gubernatorial primary ballot after his overwhelming win Saturday at the party’s state assembly in Pueblo. Weiser joins U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the June 30 primary for the office held by term-limited Gov. Jared Polis. ...
As Colorado Democrats prepare to designate candidates to the June primary ballot at the party’s state assembly in Pueblo on Saturday, three candidates appear poised to win top-line designation in downballot statewide races, according to data compiled by the state party. There isn’t much suspense abo...
Michael Bennet
Running for Governor
John Hickenlooper
Running for US Senate
Julie Gonzales
Running for US Senate
Karen Breslin
Running for US Senate
Amanda Gonzalez
Running for Secretary of State
David Seligman
Running for Attorney General
Phil Weiser
Running for Governor
Jessie Danielson
Running for Secretary of State
State Sen. Julie Gonzales’ bid to challenge U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper in Colorado’s Democratic primary got a boost Tuesday from Indivisible when the national arm of the progressive grassroots group endorsed the Denver lawmaker. The national group’s endorsement comes less than a week before Gonzale...
Colorado Democrat John Hickenlooper becomes first statewide candidate to submit nominating petitions
U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper on Thursday became the first statewide candidate to submit petition signatures for Colorado’s June Democratic primary, according to his campaign and the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. Seeking reelection to a second term, Hickenlooper is facing four primary challeng...
"Windows are getting smashed in cars. ... Five-foot-2, middle-aged women are being thrown to the ground,” said Sen. Mike Weissman, a bill sponsor.
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who is running for governor, told a newspaper this month that he favors suspending Colorado’s wolf reintroduction program, though he sounded less certain in another interview a few days later. “I think it’s right to suspend it for now and to try to see whether there’s any w...
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