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Colorado State House District 38 / Cámara de Representantes

The State House of Representatives is made up of 65 members who are elected by voters in their district for a two-year term. They are limited to serving four consecutive terms in office, but after a two-year break, they are eligible to run again. Every two years, all 65 seats are open for election. The legislative branch of the Colorado state government is composed of the State House and the State Senate. Their legislative authority and responsibilities include passing bills related to public policy matters, approving state budget spending, raising and lowering taxes, and voting to uphold gubernatorial vetoes. Scroll for Spanish Translation. La Cámara de Representantes del Estado está compuesta por 65 miembros que son elegidos por los votantes de su distrito para un mandato de dos años. Están limitados a servir cuatro períodos consecutivos en el cargo, pero después de una pausa de dos años, son elegibles para postularse nuevamente. Cada dos años se convocan elecciones para los 65 escaños. El poder legislativo del gobierno del estado de Colorado está compuesto por la Cámara de Representantes y el Senado. Su autoridad y responsabilidades legislativas incluyen la aprobación de proyectos de ley relacionados con asuntos de política pública, la aprobación del gasto del presupuesto estatal, la subida y bajada de impuestos y la votación para mantener los vetos del gobernador.

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  • Candidate picture

    Jeffrey Patty
    (Rep)

  • Candidate picture

    Gretchen Jeannette Rydin
    (Dem)

Biographical Information

What is the top issue(s) facing constituents in your district and what legislation would you champion to address it?

What would you do to reduce household expenses?

What role should the state government have in enforcing federal immigration laws? Please explain.

What legislation or action would you support to improve Colorado's energy production?

What is your stance on access to abortion and reproductive health care?

What is your opinion of the current integrity of elections?

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Submitted Biography I'm a social worker, therapist, Littleton city council member, musician, and advocate running to build a stronger, more inclusive Colorado. I earned my Bachelor of Arts at Brigham Young University and my Masters in Social Work (MSW) at Howard University. I hold a license in clinical social work (LCSW) and a license in addiction counseling (LAC).
Website / Sitio Web http://gretchenforcolorado.com
Campaign Phone 720-507-5401
Campaign Twitter Handle @gretchenforCO
Equitable Housing: I want to remove barriers to and expand funding for local governments to build more affordable housing, stabilize rents, and prevent homelessness.

Mental Health and Addiction Treatment: I want to secure broader access to mental health and crisis services and ensure funding for more inpatient/rehab facilities for those struggling with addiction.

Small Business Support: I want to make it easier for individuals to start their own business in Colorado, creating a diverse economy.
Housing is a major component of cost of living. We’ve already made some progress at the local level by passing inclusionary zoning in Littleton, which requires new developments to include affordable housing units. Moving forward at the state level, I’ll work to expand these efforts, explore additional housing initiatives, and partner with local organizations to ensure residents aren’t cost-burdened. By addressing housing affordability and supporting policies that reduce living expenses, we can create a more sustainable, affordable community for everyone.
Generally, the state government has a limited role in enforcing federal law, but I believe it can be a strong partner. As a state legislator I would work to make sure that we: ensure timely access and fully staffed resources for asylum seeking refugees; establish and fund immigrant resource centers in cities (like we did in Littleton); and ensure access to emergency and critical primary care services to ensure the safety of immigrants and the wider community.
I support strengthening alternative energy industries in Colorado. This means working with local municipalities to convert public transportation vehicles and departmental vehicles to EVs’, seeking state and federal funds to continue to develop charging stations and EV infrastructure across the state, and supporting communications campaigns with the public and builders to develop support for green projects. Making sure that new energy projects benefit Colorado workers, not harm them, is my biggest priority.
Everyone should have access to healthcare and the freedom to make their own healthcare decisions. Abortion in particular needs to be legal, accessible, and affordable. Legality is the central issue, but legality without accessibility hurts women too. I will always support efforts to keep abortion and reproductive healthcare legal and accessible in Colorado, including adding the protections of Gov. Polis' executive order D-2022-032 to state statutes and adding the protections of the Reproductive Healthcare Equality Act to the Colorado constitution. The freedom to make individual decisions relating to your body are the most fundamental of rights, and healthcare access (including reproductive choice) is how we turn abstract legal rights into healthy, thriving communities.
The integrity of elections is a critical foundation of democracy, and in recent years, it has been a topic of significant debate and concern. Overall, numerous studies, audits, and investigations have consistently shown that U.S. elections remain secure and reliable, with very few instances of widespread voter fraud. Recent innovations in election security, such as enhanced cybersecurity measures, increased transparency, and post-election audits, have generally improved confidence in the system. The Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder, who is responsible for carrying out our elections, holds tours of the process, which I recommend to anyone concerned about the process.