Election Day is November 4th!

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Election Day is November 4th! *

2025 Boulder Colorado Endorsements and Voter Guide

The 2025 General Election will be held on November 4th.

All ballots must be mailed on or before October 27th, after that date you must use an official drop box or vote in person!

You can find more information about where to vote/how to cast your ballot here. 

Boulder Progressives Endorsements - Building Community

Boulder Progressives is Proud to Endorse


Lauren Folkerts

Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Lauren Folkerts

Lauren Folkerts

Housing Affordability & Climate

An award-winning architect and current Mayor Pro Tem, Lauren brings her housing expertise, sustainable design skills, and bold vision for a more inclusive and affordable community to her work on Council.

In her first term, Lauren led efforts to expand affordable housing options and spearheaded the adoption of a nation-leading energy code to increase the sustainability of new construction. She strongly supports renter protections and led the charge to raise Boulder’s minimum wage, making our city more livable for all.

Lauren is building a more walkable, inclusive, and resilient city.

Boulder City Councilperson Matt Benjamin

Matt Benjamin

Matt Benjamin

Good Governance & Sustainable Small Business

An astronomer and former head of CU’s Fiske Planetarium, on Council, Matt has been a leader in delivering protected bike lanes and safer transportation options for everyone across the city.

In his first term, Matt championed Boulder’s electric bike voucher program, supported increasing Boulder’s minimum wage, and has been a leader on policies that expand access to affordable housing.

Matt is focused on enacting bold climate action and protecting the community from fire risks, as well as being a strong voice for the business community.

Nicole Speer

Boulder City Councilperson Nicole Speer

Nicole Speer

Inclusive Leadership & Fair Labor

A Ph.D cognitive neuroscientist who directed CU Boulder’s brain imaging facility, Nicole brings science and compassion together to champion policies that strengthen and progress our community.

Nicole championed moving our local elections to even years to boost participation, helped stand up Boulder’s first library district, and prioritizes renter protections, affordable housing, climate resilience, and ensuring that everyone has a chance to be heard and represented in city decisions.

Nicole is focused on an equitable and inclusive city that supports us all.

We’re proud of the incredible work our community has done to come together though wildfires, a global pandemic, an uncertain federal government, and funding cuts to many of our most important local institutions.

Through it all, our community has stood strong, and stood together.

We know these three incumbents will continue to build on the important work of the past four years in their next term, and together we can create a Boulder that works for everyone.

BUILDING ON PROGRESS:

Your city should meet your needs.

Lauren, Matt, and Nicole have spent the past four years making Boulder work for you. Here is some of the work they’ve done over the past four years to make build our community:

BUILDING TOMORROW:

There’s still more to be done!

Matt, Lauren, and Nicole have the experience and plans to continue building a better Boulder. Here’s what you can unlock with your vote:

Boulder Progressives Ballot Issues Endorsements for a Better Boulder and Stronger Colorado
Boulder Progressives Endorsed Boulder Ballot Question 2C Council Pay

YES: City of Boulder Ballot Issue 2A & 2B - Extension of an existing .3 percent community, culture, resilience, and safety sales and use tax & authorizing the increase of debt to build and maintain capital improvements.

This ballot issue will make permanent the city's existing 0.3% Community, Culture, Resilience & Safety (CCRS) sales and use tax, which is currently set to expire in 2036. 

  • Approved originally in 2014 and extended in 2017 and 2021, this tax funds a broad array of capital infrastructure projects:

    • road and bridge repairs

    • fire and police facility upgrades

    • bike lanes

    • recreation centers

    • trail improvements

    • 10% set aside for grants to local nonprofits. 

  • Permanent extension is projected to raise approximately $15 million annually

  • Authorizes issuance of up to $262 million in bonds to accelerate completion of overdue capital projects

YES: Boulder County Ballot Issue 1A - Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension

The Boulder County Open Space Sales and Use Tax Extension asks voters to continue the existing 0.15% sales tax for another ten years, without raising taxes. Revenue from this tax would continue to fund the county’s open space program, which is responsible for acquiring new lands, improving existing properties, and managing and maintaining trails, habitats, and recreational areas. Since the 1970s, this tax has been a central source of funding for Boulder County’s open space system. All revenue and any investment earnings from the tax count as a voter-approved revenue change under TABOR, meaning the county can keep and use the full proceeds without refund limitations. 

YES: Boulder County Ballot Issue 1B - Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax

The Boulder County Mental and Behavioral Health Sales and Use Tax ask voters to approve an additional sales and use tax for five years of 0.15% for the purpose of addressing unmet needs of youth, adults, families, unhoused individuals, and older adults in Boulder County with or at risk of mental health and substance use disorders by providing mental health crisis services; suicide prevention and intervention; mental health and substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery; treatment services for unhoused individuals; and assistance finding appropriate services through community-based organizations, governmental entities, and other options; and shall the revenues and the earnings on the investment of the proceeds of such tax, regardless of amount, constitute a voter-approved revenue change; all in accordance with Board of County Commissioners’ Resolution No. 2025-038.

YES: Proposition LL - Healthy School Lunches (Retention)

See Below

YES: Proposition MM - Healthy School Lunches (Expansion)

The Healthy School Meals for All program allows public School Food Authorities (SFAs) participating in the National School Lunch and School Breakfast Programs to provide free meals to all students under the previously approved Proposition FF (2022). If at least one of Proposition LL or MM is approved by Colorado voters, the law will extend the local school purchasing program, which is set to repeal after fiscal year 2025-2026.  This part of the program lets schools purchase food from local farmers and ranchers. If the measures don’t pass, cost-cutting measures would likely mean not all schools would get money to pay for free lunches for all.

Healthy School Lunches - LL (Retention Measure) will allow the state to retain and spend excess revenue originally collected under Proposition FF, instead of refunding it to high-income earners.

Healthy School Lunches - MM (Expansion Measure) will allow state income tax deduction limits for households earning $300,000+ to be reduced, generating about $95 million annually to fully fund the free school meals program.

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