The Hidden Power Within Local Government. A virtual training. Wednesday, February 28, 7-8 PM, Zoom. Advanced registration required. Image includes an illustrated group of different women voters and the Colorado 50-50 logo.

The Hidden Power Within Local Government

Did you know Colorado has both a Presidential Primary and a caucus? You have probably already received your mail ballot. You can drop it off or vote in person between now and March 5. That takes care of one part of the election.

Another very important part of the election will be happening at caucuses around the state from March 5-9. That’s where you can support local candidates to get on the ballot for the June Colorado Primary. Some caucuses will happen in person and some will be by Zoom. It just depends on what party you’re affiliated with and what county you’re in.

You can become a delegate at caucus to help support your favorite candidates. Delegates go on to the county assembly, the state assembly, and may even go to the national convention. Many people don’t know that if you want to be a delegate, you must attend your local caucus.

Getting candidates on the ballot isn’t the only thing that takes place at caucus. It’s also where people step up to be precinct organizers. These are the folks that do some volunteering to encourage their neighbors to get out and vote.

But that’s not all precinct organizers do. They also choose replacements for some elected officials who don’t or can’t finish their terms. This is also known as a vacancy committee process. Here’s a startling fact: 29 of 100 of our state legislators were chosen by a vacancy committee! Precinct organizers hold a surprising amount of power in Colorado – and the place to become one is at caucus.

Join us for an online webinar on Wednesday, February 28, from 7-8 PM, called “The Hidden Power Within Local Government.” There you will hear from regular folks just like you. You can learn more about:

  • How to attend a caucus
  • What it’s like
  • How to vote at a caucus and help get local candidates on the ballot
  • How to become a delegate
  • How to become a precinct organizer

By the way, we want you to know that participating at caucus and beyond is pretty easy and not that complicated. We just want to break it down for you, since we want you to feel comfortable and good about going.

At Colorado 50-50, our mission is to demystify the process of getting involved in local politics. We want to see as many people participate as possible, because that’s what makes our democracy work! We hope you will join us for this interesting and fun webinar.

Advanced registration is required, and easy to do. Simultaneous Spanish language interpretation will be provided. See you on Wednesday, February 28.

AAPI 2023 Fall Social Dinner

Colorado has zero Asian-American and Pacific Islander (or AAPI) people in the Legislature and – if you wanted a number that reflected the population – there should be four. We’re working to change that. Three years ago, Colorado 50-50 brought together a group of volunteers specifically interested in seeing more AAPI women in elected office.

Please join us on Friday, November 17, 6-8 PM for our AAPI Fall Social Dinner where you will meet other fabulous people who are interested in promoting AAPI women in leadership! We’re meeting at the Coark Collective Food Hall at 15775 E. Arapahoe Rd. in Centennial where you may purchase what you would like for dinner. There is no additional fee for this event. An RSVP at info@colorado5050.org would be appreciated.

Have fun discussing politics and policy. Meet women elected officials and candidates. Bring your checkbook in case you meet some you would like to support financially. Get connected with people working on campaigns, hear what campaigns are like, and discover volunteer opportunities. Come meet up with us!

Changing the Narrative of Local Politics - a nonpartisan panel discussion on Monday, October 23, 2023, 6-7:30 PM at the Longmont Public Library. Photos of four panelists. Marta Loachamin, Boulder County Commissioner. Justin Brooks, Mayor of Erie. Doris Crespo, Dacono City Councilor. JD Mangat, Mayor of Lafayette.

Changing the Narrative of Local Politics

Colorado 50-50 is proud to be partnering with The BIPOC Alliance to present, “Changing the Narrative in Local Politics.”

We aim to demystify the process for running for office and show how lived experience can open doors in politics. By harnessing the power of difference, we can change the narrative of local politics to one that is reflective of our democracy and more inclusive than ever.

The event will be a panel discussion followed by an intentional networking session.

Our panelists are:

  • Boulder County Commissioner Marta Loachamin
  • Lafayette Mayor JD Mangat
  • Erie Mayor Justin Brooks
  • Dacono City Councilor Doris Crespo

Date: Monday, October 23, 2023
Time: Doors open 5:45 PM with light refreshments
Panel discussion begins at 6 PM
Networking with local elected officials begins at 7 PM
Event ends at 7:30 PM
Location: Longmont Public Library, 409 4th Avenue Longmont, CO 80501

Registration is free and available through Facebook or EventBrite.

Please share this event with any women you’d like to encourage to take their next steps in leadership!

Movie poster for "Represent" along with logos for three co-hosts

Inspiring Women to Represent in Colorado Springs

Have you ever wanted to serve in elected office and rejected the idea because you don’t want to campaign? Come learn what’s involved in running and serving at our Saturday, July 15, event in Colorado Springs. We’ll start by showing the documentary “Represent” and follow it with an intentional networking event with current and former local elected women officials.

“In the heart of the American Midwest, three women take on entrenched political systems in their fight to reshape local politics on their own terms. ‘Represent’ is equal parts personal and political, journeying on and off the campaign trail to tell the stories of female candidates from vastly different communities, support systems, and political parties. The politics may be local, but for these women, the stakes are high.”

  • Date: Saturday, July 15
  • Time: Doors open 1:45 PM
    • Film begins at 2 PM
    • Networking with local elected women officials begins at 3:30 PM
    • Event ends at 4:30 PM
  • Location: The Penrose House, 1661 Mesa Ave., Colorado Springs, CO, 80906

Light refreshments will be served. Registration is free and available through Facebook or EventBrite. Donations would be greatly appreciated so that we can cover our costs and make this event as accessible as possible.

We are partnering with Pikes Peak Women and the Rocky Mountain NAACP to show the film. We are grateful for the generosity of El Pomar Foundation for providing space.

AAPI 2023 Summer Social Dinner

Colorado has zero Asian-American and Pacific Islander (or AAPI) people in the Legislature and – if you wanted a number that reflected the population – there should be four. We’re working to change that. Almost three years ago, Colorado 50-50 brought together a group of volunteers specifically interested in seeing more AAPI women in elected office.

Please join us on Friday, June 30, 6-8 PM for our AAPI Summer Social Dinner where you will meet other fabulous people who are interested in promoting AAPI women in leadership! We’re meeting at the Coark Collective Food Hall at 15775 E. Arapahoe Rd. in Centennial where you may purchase what you would like for dinner. There is no additional fee for this event. An RSVP at info@colorado5050.org would be appreciated.

Have fun discussing politics and policy. Meet women elected officials and candidates. Bring your checkbook in case you meet some you would like to support financially. Get connected with people working on campaigns, hear what campaigns are like, and discover volunteer opportunities. Come hang out with us!

Colorado makes history in 2022 election

Colorado makes history as #2 state in the nation with a female majority in the State Legislature with 51 women out of 100 seats.

Update — February 10, 2023 — One Democratic female State Representative resigned and later pled guilty to criminal charges for lying about her place of residence to run for reelection. Her replacement was male, bringing the number of women down to 50.

Colorado made history in the 2022 election by achieving gender parity with legislators at both at the federal and state level.

For the first time, four of eight Colorado members of the US House of Representatives will be women – a doubling of the current number:

  • Diana DeGette (District 1, Democratic incumbent)
  • Lauren Boebert (District 3, Republican incumbent)
  • Brittany Pettersen (District 7, Democrat)
  • Yadira Caraveo (District 8, Democrat)

This is the first time that Colorado has sent a Latina – Dr. Caraveo – or any woman of color to Congress. It’s also the first time that District 7 will be represented by a woman.

Up to now, only five women have ever represented Colorado in Congress. Besides DeGette and Boebert, the others were Patricia Schroeder, Marilyn Musgrave, and Betsy Markey. 

“It’s amazing that this time has finally arrived,” said Erin Hottenstein, Colorado 50-50 Founder. “Women have been helping to build this state into the great place it is for 146 years and yet we didn’t have our voices equally represented in the halls of power. Now we will.”

At the State Legislature, voters elected 51 women out of 100 available seats.

  • State House – 39 women out of 65 seats
    • 34 Democratic women, 5 Republican women
  • State Senate – 12 women out of 35 seats
    • 10 Democratic women, 2 Republican women

That’s the first time in our state’s history that we have had not only gender parity, but a female majority in the Legislature. The next closest time was in 2019 when we had 46 women.

“We’re excited to see these historic milestones, and we know there is more work to do.” Hottenstein said. “Colorado has never had a woman governor or US Senator, and many cities, including Denver, have never had a woman mayor. 

“We also know that we can’t have a truly representative democracy without more women of color serving at all levels,” she continued.

“Colorado 50-50 looks forward to continuing our work in inspiring and training women to run for office, so that we can break even more glass ceilings,” she said.

Igniting AAPI Women's Participation in Politics

Igniting AAPI Women’s Participation in Politics

Can you imagine a world in which more AAPI women were lifted into leadership? What would this world be like? How would we stand to benefit in Colorado? 

Join us on Saturday, September 17, 9 – 11 AM, at Happy Living at 14015 E. Evans Ave. in Aurora for a brainstorming session on how we can collectively mold such a world into being.

We want to know what you think it would take to make this world a reality. Then, we can work to implement your ideas! 

Light refreshments will be served at this in-person event. Please RSVP by using the QR code below or by simply sending an email to info@colorado5050.org with your name and contact information.

We’re excited to partner with the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network and the Asian Pacific Bar Association of Colorado to make this event happen!

Igniting AAPI Womens' Participation in Politics
Week of Women Colorado logo

Week of Women – March 2022

Colorado 50-50 is proud to be participating in the 2022 Week of Women. It runs from March 3-13 with a variety of events from concerts to networking and more.

We’re partnering with the Colorado League of Women Voters to show the film “Represent.”

“In the heart of the American Midwest, three women take on entrenched political systems in their fight to reshape local politics on their own terms. ‘Represent’ is equal parts personal and political, journeying on and off the campaign trail to tell the stories of female candidates from vastly different communities, support systems, and political parties. The politics may be local, but for these women, the stakes are high.”

Register for free now to receive a link to stream the film at your convenience from March 5-6. Then, your free registration also allows you to join us on Monday, March 7, 7-8 PM on Zoom for a film discussion. We’re interested to hear your thoughts on the ups and downs of running for office, as well as whether you think we have similar circumstances in our local races here in Colorado.

Then, meet us on Wednesday, March 9, 4-7 PM at the McNichols Events Center in Denver at the Women Powering Change Expo. This inspiring event brings together community members, leaders, activists, volunteers and philanthropists with nearly 100 Colorado-based organizations to showcase what women are doing to catalyze social change locally and globally to create a better world. This will be an expo-style event where you can come meet community leaders and learn what is being done in Colorado, and explore how you can also be a part of it all.

Admission to the expo is free (with donations also accepted) and you can use this EventBrite link to register.

Want to see the whole list of Week of Women events? Look here.

We look forward to seeing you at the “Represent” film discussion or at the expo!

Nov. 18 Online Winning With Women

The volunteers of Colorado 50-50 are proud to present “Winning With Women” on Thursday, November 18. The event will happen on Zoom beginning at 6 PM.

The purpose of the event is to demystify the process for running for office and we do it in two parts.

The first part is a panel discussion of elected women officials who will share how they decided to run for office, what was involved in campaigning, and what it is like to serve. This panel will highlight what it is like to run as a woman of color in Colorado. Our panelists are:

  • State Representative Yadira Caraveo
  • State Representative Naquetta Ricks
  • Aurora City Council Candidate Becky Hogan

Colorado 50-50 volunteer Maia Yang, who serves on our Asian American Pacific Islander Committee, is looking forward to hearing from the panelists.

“As a woman of color, it’s exciting to see myself represented in politics,” she said. “It opens the door for me to envision a world where I, too, could run and win.”

The second part of “Winning With Women” is an intentional networking session where participants will have opportunities to speak in small groups. We hope you will encourage women to attend who should take their next steps in leadership. In the Zoom breakout rooms will be elected women officials, women who are curious about running, and those who want to support women running.

Registration via EventBrite is required and costs $5. Scholarships are available. Please contact Erin@Colorado5050.org.

We are grateful for our co-sponsors: the Colorado League of Women Voters, the Asian Pacific American Bar Association of Colorado, and the Colorado Asian Culture and Education Network.

Colorado 50-50 Awarded National Grant to Promote Gender Parity in Elected Offices

Royal Neighbors of America, one of the largest and first women-led insurance organizations in the U.S., located in Rock Island, Ill., has announced Erin Hottenstein, founder of Colorado 50-50, Fort Collins, CO, has been presented with one of ten Nation of Neighbors℠ empowerment awards and grants presented nationwide. In addition to the award, she received a $10,000 grant for her organization. Formed in 2017 by a circle of women in Fort Collins, Colorado 50-50 is a nonpartisan, educational group that believes office-holders – whether elected or appointed – should more closely reflect the population. The organization aims to strengthen civic engagement by facilitating discussions, so people feel empowered to participate in politics through exercising their right to vote, running for office, or supporting a candidate. To date, more than 600 people have participated in 15 events in eight locations.

According to the Center for Women and Politics, the number of women in municipal office hovers around 30%. “This data motivates me to inspire women to get on a path to leadership,” said Hottenstein. “Colorado and the world need the voices of women of all political stripes, women of color, and all those who are underrepresented in government and other positions of power. As a society, we make better policy decisions when there are diverse voices at the table.”

“Erin encourages, supports, trains and celebrates women who run for elective office in Colorado,” said Darcy Smith, Senior Member Engagement Specialist at Royal Neighbors. “She understands the importance of motivating and supporting young women who show an interest in serving their community, and the action she takes aligns with the same mission Royal Neighbors has lived since 1895.”

The grant from Royal Neighbors will be used to hire an attorney and nonprofit consultant and fund more trainings, marketing, and internship stipends. “I really want to express my gratitude to all the people who have helped us,” stated Hottenstein. “It’s really a community effort to inspire that next wave of women leaders!”

Nation of Neighbors is a Royal Neighbors of America philanthropy program that awards financial assistance to nominated individuals who plan to start or expand a business, organization, program, or nonprofit that helps women and/or girls in their community. To date, nearly $2.5 million has been awarded nationwide.