Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Submitted Biography
Chris VanDijk is a father, veteran, and firefighter who has consistently put his life on the line to protect both our country and our community. The son of an immigrant and proud member of the AAPI community, Chris was raised with the values of hard work and service above self. Chris is a third-generation veteran, proudly serving in the U.S. Navy Reserve. As a firefighter with the South Adams County Fire Department, Chris protects his fellow residents in HD32 on some of their most difficult days. While working as a firefighter, Chris earned his Master’s of Public Policy from the University of Colorado, Denver. A local union leader in the International Association of Fire Fighters, Chris understands both the on-the-ground needs of the community and the policy necessary to improve lives. Now, Chris is running for the Colorado State House to put people first and ensure all Coloradans, regardless of background, can afford to live in safe and healthy communities.
Campaign Phone
720-500-5585
The most important principles for an elected official are a deep commitment to service, real-world accountability, and the practical knowledge needed to solve community problems. We also have to agree to the same reality. We can’t come up with solutions if we can’t agree on the actual problems that exist in our daily lives.
As a firefighter, I do not ask people who they voted for before I help them. I believe elected officials must have that same mindset. True leadership means putting the safety, economic health, and well-being of the community ahead of political games and personal ambition.
My experience as a stay-at-home dad keeps me grounded in the everyday pressures families face right here in HD32.
Finally, it is not enough to just point out problems; you have to know how to fix them. My Master’s degree in Public Policy gives me the tools to analyze data, draft effective laws, and ensure tax dollars are spent responsibly.
Compromise is absolutely necessary to get things done in government, but it must be the right kind of compromise. In public policy, there is a big difference between compromising on the details of a bill to help real people and compromising on your core values.
Bringing people with different views to the table is the only way to build solutions that actually last. My graduate studies focused on policy advocacy in post-war democracies. I had clear evidence that successful solutions come from finding common ground that satisfies different groups without harming the most marginalized and underserved communities.
While I will always bring various stakeholders to the table, I will never compromise on my duty to the families of HD32. I will not compromise on public safety, lowering costs for working people, or keeping corporate greed out of our local politics. I am ready to work with anyone who is serious about making our community safer and more affordable.
My passion for public policy comes from my life in Commerce City and my years as a firefighter.
First, we must fix our broken healthcare system. I respond to medical emergencies daily and see people use first responders as primary care. We need to expand telehealth in the 911 system, partner responders with clinics for mobile medicine, and make mental health care accessible. No family should face financial ruin over illness.
Second, we need bold state housing laws to stop corporate landlords from pricing families out. I will fight for policies that protect renters from unfair evictions, stop rent-gouging, and give tax incentives to developers building true working-class housing near transit centers.
Finally, we must build a transit system that connects people to jobs, hospitals, and grocery stores. As a stay-at-home dad, transit was my lifeline, but too many neighborhoods are cut off. Expanding regional rail and local bus routes cuts traffic and lowers expenses for working families.
I have total confidence in the integrity of our elections right here in Colorado. Our state is a national model for secure, accessible voting because we use secure paper ballots, bipartisan teams, and regular audits.
However, I have deep fears about the future of voting rights across our country under the Trump administration. We are seeing dangerous federal attempts at voter suppression, aggressive partisan gerrymandering designed to take away the power of regular people, and a Supreme Court that seems entirely complicit in letting it happen. When powerful politicians try to rewrite the rules to benefit themselves, it hurts communities like ours.
I am focused on protecting your voice. We must keep Colorado elections secure while making it easier for working parents, seniors, and shift workers to vote. I will always stand up against federal overreach and defend the power of the voters in HD32.
