Candidate Q&A: Colorado Senate District 13

Boxes of stickers stating “I voted” are seen at the Adams County Government Center in Brighton, Nov. 7, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

All 65 seats in the Colorado House of Representatives are up for election this year. Democrats currently hold a 56-19 supermajority and will likely retain the majority next year.

Senate District 13 is currently represented by outgoing Sen. Kevin Priola, a Democrat who was a Republican until 2022. The district leans about 4 percentage points to the right, according to an analysis of recent elections completed after redistricting.

The district spans from Brighton to Greeley along U.S. 85.

Registered voters in Colorado should soon receive their ballots in the mail for the Nov. 5 general election, which includes races for president, Congress, the state Legislature, the University of Colorado Board of Regents and other local positions, as well as a handful of statewide ballot measures.

Voters can contact their county clerk if they have not received their ballot or check the online BallotTrax system. They can also visit the secretary of state’s website to make a plan to vote in person ahead of or on Election Day. Ballots need to be received by the county clerk by 7 p.m. on that day, so voters should make a plan to mail their ballot at least eight days ahead of time or drop it off in person.

Voters can find their state legislative districts at the General Assembly’s website.

Johnston did not submit survey responses.

If elected, what would be your top three priorities during the 2025 legislative session?

BRIGHT: Reduce prices and the cost of living, improve Colorado’s business climate, and put an end to the Colorado crime and drug (particularly fentanyl) wave.

What unique perspective and life experiences would you bring to the General Assembly?

BRIGHT: Eighteen months ago, I was just the owner of ABC Child Development Centers, with a passion for early education. In the spring of 2023, I took that passion to the Legislature. I wanted to suggest improvements to the pre-K implementation bill. I wanted to make sure it did everything possible to help parents and young kids. I brought my case to the chair of the House Education Committee. She escorted me out of her office. I knew then I had to get involved. Even though I had never been involved in politics, I decided to run for the state Senate, so I can put my experience and education expertise to work on behalf of Colorado families.

Coloradans told us through the Voter Voices survey that rising cost of living is a top issue for them this election year. How do you feel the Legislature can most effectively address the cost-of-living for Coloradans across all backgrounds?

BRIGHT: I’ll work to cut spending and regulations and focus on reducing insurance rates. Runaway health, property, and auto insurance rates are crushing Colorado families. Bidenomics caused record inflation nationally through runaway and spending and regulation, and Colorado Democrats have doubled down on those policies. As a result, Colorado’s inflation rate has been among the highest in the nation. Cutting the cost of government spending and regulation will unleash prosperity, lower prices, and restore Colorado’s competitive edge. We need to make Colorado a great state to start and operate a business.

Democrats are expected to hold onto a wide majority next year. What does good governance look like in that political environment?

BRIGHT: As a member of the minority party, this is a must. As a conservative, I want to help bring political balance to the state Senate to rein in the far-left Legislature. I currently serve on the boards of, or in leadership positions for, the Early Childhood Education Association of Colorado, the Weld Trust, the Greeley Downtown Rotary, and Colorado Trails Preservation Alliance. In those roles, I have put partisanship aside to work across the aisle and move our community forward. I will work to do the same in the Senate.

Residents across the state are concerned with air quality, from wildfire effects in the northwest to pollution along the Front Range. How can the Legislature work to ensure clean air for all Coloradans?

BRIGHT: Colorado energy is clean energy. Our oil and gas production is amongst the cleanest in the world. Instead of driving energy development out of Colorado into the arms of dirty, hostile actors, such as Iran, Venezuela and Russia, we should be promoting more Colorado energy development by repealing punitive regulations. I support an “all of the above” (renewables, oil and gas, nuclear, etc.) energy policy and oppose the government picking winners and losers in the energy marketplace. I believe a new generation of nuclear reactors (effectively zero emissions) provides long-term hope for cleaning our air and I could support an effort to incubate one or more of these new, safe, clean nuclear reactors in Colorado. We must also prioritize healthy forests and wildfire mitigation.