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strengthened protections for immigrant communities from ICE overreach, lowered the cost of prescription drugs, and repealed the death penalty.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
One of the best tools we have to resist Donald Trump’s authoritarian takeover is nonviolent noncooperation. This May Day, join @indivisible.org’s day of action to send a clear message to billionaires like Trump: this is our country, and our economy.
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Find out how you can participate in the nationwide day of economic disruption on May 1 and learn more about the strategy behind economic noncooperation at the upcoming May Day training call.
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Soy Julie. Mi familia construyó a Colorado antes de que Colorado fuera Colorado, o parte de Estados Unidos. Esta campaña es por los trabajadores que mantienen este estado funcionando.
Únete: JulieForColorado.com
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Happy 4/20, Colorado! I have been working for legalization since Colorado made history with the passage of Amendment 64. Colorado deserves a Senadora who will fight for full cannabis legalization in the US Senate. #JulirforColorado
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Excited to see voters in CO Springs on May 3! Showing up and hearing from voters matters, esspecially before an election. Would love to share the stage with John W. Hickenlooper, but looks like he’s skipping this forum as well 🤷🏽♀️
Candidate
Running for US Senate
I am extremely proud to lead the fight to stop ICE from raiding our state databases. Leadership in 2026 means working with partners inside govt to pass meaningful policy AND ALSO working with partners in our community to build power and take on big f... more
Candidate
Running for US Senate
Wherever there exists selfish, profit seeking ambition, there shall also exist evil. Still, wherever there is evil, there are always good-hearted individuals and organizations standing up to fight it.
Candidate
Running for US Senate
We are so lucky to have multiple MVPs in #Colorado: Nikola Jokic; Nathan MacKinnon; @philweiser.bsky.social @seligmanforag.bsky.social @senadorajulie.bsky.social
Be sure to vote for ALL our MVPs!
Candidate
Running for US Senate
ENDORSEMENT ALERT!!! I am so honored to receive the endorsement of State Senator(SD-34) and Candidate for the U.S. Senate Julie Gonzales. Julie was been an instrumental leader in Colorado's state senate fighting to enshrine reproductive rights in our... more
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...
Julie Gonzales
Running for US Senate
John Hickenlooper
Running for US Senate
Karen Breslin
Running for US Senate
Michael Bennet
Running for Governor
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...
Hickenlooper endorsed by Planned Parenthood Action, environmental group in Colorado’s US Senate race
A pair of progressive national groups that advocate for abortion rights and fighting climate change have endorsed U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper’s bid for reelection, with both calling the Colorado Democrat a proven fighter for their causes. Planned Parenthood Action Fund said in its endorsement statem...
Two Democratic members of Colorado’s congressional delegation said this week that they plan to donate more than $100,000 received in campaign contributions from current and former employees of Denver-based firm Palantir Technologies to local nonprofits that assist immigrants and support civil rights...
Their donation announcements came after inquiries from The Colorado Sun last week and as criticism of Denver-based Palantir grows
Senate Approves Bill to Expand and Improve Colorado’s Red Flag Law Colorado Senate Democrats
Senate Fundraising: Disastrous Start for Julie Gonzales Colorado Pols
Legislation to Enact Protections for Meatpackers Clears Committee Unanimously Colorado Senate Democrats
Julie Gonzales
Running for US Senate
John Hickenlooper
Running for US Senate
Karen Breslin
Running for US Senate
Michael Bennet
Running for Governor
Amanda Gonzalez
Running for Secretary of State
Jena Griswold
Running for Attorney General
David Seligman
Running for Attorney General
Phil Weiser
Running for Governor
Michael Dougherty
Running for Attorney General
Hetal Doshi
Running for Attorney General
Jessie Danielson
Running for Secretary of State
State Sen. Julie Gonzales should be ashamed of herself. Doesn’t Gonzales understand that U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper is entitled to the Democratic nomination for Senate? Doesn’t Gonzales know that, just like in 2020, Hickenlooper “needs his sleep” and cannot be bothered with some pesky, young state ...
Allow me to start with a flashback. It was Thanksgiving 2024, just over 12 months back. For the first time, our son Clarke hosted the family Thanksgiving near New York City. It is a sign of our aging when the kids start to step into the role of host and convenor. The occasion was lovely. […] The pos...
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