Week 22: Why is Celeste running?

Dear Colorado Voter,

I'm sometimes asked, "Why are you running for Secretary of State?"

1. I have the experience, vision, and leadership qualities to be a great Secretary of State. For about a decade, I have worked with the office and legislators to make Colorado's elections and election laws the best in the nation, often as a member of the nonpartisan League of Women Voters (LWV).

2. Two bills passed in 2025 that, for the first time in American history, disenfranchise voters based on party affiliation in government-run special elections. The other SoS candidates do not appear concerned about these clearly unconstitutional, party-protection bills. I led an LWV effort to challenge these bills and proposed a better, constitutional option in a January 2024 Colorado Sun guest opinion.

3. Proportional representation is the best way to end gerrymandering and ensure that a spectrum of voices reflective of the electorate can serve on governmental bodies. In 2018 I introduced then-candidate Joe Neguse to the U.S. Fair Representation Act, which calls for electing congressional delegations using a proportional voting method. Congressman Neguse has been a bill co-sponsor ever since. Meanwhile, several communities are waiting for the CO SoS to fulfill their statutory duty and write rules for county clerks to conduct a proportional-voting election.

4. When voters are limited to choose-one voting, candidates often effectively resort to negative campaigning, and vote-splitting between 2 or more candidates can result in electing the candidate with the least support. Approval Voting is a simple voting method that addresses these problems and can be implemented quickly – St. Louis did it in 4 months – if the SoS writes implementation rules, which I would do.

5. The Forward Party is about as non-partisan as a party can be. Its platform is perfect for county clerks and secretaries of state. Most voters in Colorado are unaffiliated. In our politically polarized world, my candidacy as neither a D nor an R gives Colorado a chance to break out of the mold of political people running elections.

6. I see a path to victory if I can get out the word about my candidacy. I will defend your right to vote, facilitate implementation of better voting methods so you can have better representation, and protect our elections. You can help by asking the media to cover my campaign and by introducing me to CO voters. Then I'll "be ready when the luck happens!"

With enthusiasm and purpose,

Celeste