Julie Gonzales

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https://www.julieforcolorado.com/

Education

Yale University, Double Major in History and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration, 2001 - 2005

Professional Experience

State Senator (SD 34), Colorado General Assembly, Nov 2018 - Present
State Central Committee Member, State Central Committee Member, Colorado Democratic Party, Feb 2017 - Present
Policy Director, Meyer Law Office, P.C.,. Feb 2017 - Jul 2019
2016 Persuasion Field Director in CO-06, Colorado Democratic Party, Mar 2016 - Nov 2016
Firm Manager, Meyer Law Office, PC, Mar 2012 - Mar 2016
Statewide Board Chair, Colorado Latino Forum, Jan 2014 - May 2015
Organizing Director, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition, Nov 2008 - Apr 2012
State Director, Reform Immigration FOR America, Sep 2009 - Jun 2010
Director of Youth Organizing, Padres Unidos Inc, Jul 2006 - Nov 2008
Organizer, Front Range Economic Strategy Center, Jun 2005 - May 2006

Why Running

"Julie’s story is proof of what one generation’s sacrifice can make possible. But she’s candid about the reality families face today: too many people are working just as hard without getting ahead because the rules are tilted toward the wealthy and well-connected. That’s why she’s running a people-powered campaign to lower costs, protect fundamental freedoms, and make sure Colorado is a place where every family can afford a home, see a doctor, and build a future with dignity."

Policy Summary

Legislative Priorities:

Affordability: Focuses on making basic necessities attainable by expanding access to universal healthcare, accelerating federal homebuilding, strengthening renter and first‑time homebuyer protections, lowering the cost of childcare and eldercare, and raising wages so families can build stability with dignity.
A Fair Deal for Colorado: Emphasizes an economy that serves people rather than corporations by cracking down on price‑gouging, enforcing antitrust laws, empowering workers, ending corporate tax loopholes, and strengthening ethics rules to curb political corruption and eliminate stock trading by members of Congress.
Freedom to Thrive: Centers on protecting personal autonomy and democratic rights by reforming the immigration system, expanding access to reproductive and gender‑affirming care, strengthening voting rights and civil liberties, and ensuring workers can organize and secure fair contracts.

Past Legislation in Colorado State Senate:

Affordable Housing: Invested over $500 million to expand affordable housing, strengthened protections for renters, and removed state‑level barriers so communities could build more homes.
New Americans: Prevented ICE from accessing state databases, guaranteed in‑state tuition for every Colorado high school graduate regardless of immigration status, and created a statewide Office of New Americans.
Environmental Justice: Established statewide monitoring and health‑based standards for toxic air pollutants, eliminated PFAS “forever chemicals” from Colorado’s water supply, and secured more than $100 million for clean‑air improvements.
Criminal Legal Reform: Repealed the death penalty, rewrote Colorado’s misdemeanor code and sentencing guidelines to be more just, and strengthened legal protections for children, immigrants, renters, and people with intellectual disabilities.
Reproductive Justice: Safeguarded reproductive autonomy by sponsoring and passing the Reproductive Health Equity Act, which codified the right to make personal reproductive healthcare decisions free from government interference.