Amanda Gonzalez

Amanda Gonzalez earned a bachelor's degree from Occidental College in 2006 and a law degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law in 2011. Her career experience includes working as an attorney, executive director, and adjunct professor. Gonzalez was elected to serve as the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder in 2022. She has been affiliated with Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Colorado Women's Bar Association, Colorado LGBTQ+ Bar Association, and Colorado Pet Pantry.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Amanda Gonzalez is the elected Clerk & Recorder for Jefferson County, Colorado, where she oversees elections, motor vehicle services, and public records for nearly 600,000 residents. A nationally recognized leader in election administration, Amanda has delivered the county’s highest voter turnout while cutting costs by millions. She has championed access to the ballot through innovations like jail-based voting, expanded ballot drop boxes, and multilingual ballots.

An attorney and former Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause, Amanda authored landmark state laws creating automatic voter registration, strengthening redistricting, and protecting election security. She is the first Latina and first openly LGBTQ person to serve as JeffCo Clerk, and if elected Secretary of State, would be the first Secretary to hold those historic roles in Colorado.

Amanda’s commitment to service is shaped by her roots: her father is in residential construction and if the former board chair of the local little league, her mother is a former Girl Scout troop leader who has work at Costco for more than three decades. Amanda was the first in her immediate family to graduate college and law school. She believes democracy works best when it works for everyone, and she is dedicated to ensuring elections remain accessible, secure, and transparent for all Coloradans.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

When it comes to our elections, experience matter. Amanda Gonzalez is the only candidate in this race with direct experience running large scale elections. As Clerk & Recorder for Jefferson County, she managed voting for nearly 600,000 residents, delivered record voter turnout, and saved taxpayers millions. At a time when democracy is under attack, Amanda is ready to serve as Secretary of State on day one—no on-the-job training required.Throughout her career, Amanda has fought to protect and expand voting rights. As an attorney and former Executive Director of Colorado Common Cause, she helped write the laws that created automatic voter registration, expanded ballot drop boxes, and safeguarded fair redistricting. Amanda’s record proves she doesn’t just talk about protecting democracy—she delivers results.Democracy only works when it works for all of us, not just the wealthy and well-connected. Amanda Gonzalez knows representation matters. She is the first Latina and first openly LGBTQ person elected Clerk in Jefferson County and is running to make history again as Colorado’s next Secretary of State. Amanda is committed to building a democracy that works for all Coloradans, not just the powerful few.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Amanda Gonzalez is passionate about building a democracy that truly works for the people. She has fought to expand voting rights with automatic voter registration, more ballot drop boxes, and in-person voting for people in county jails—because no one should be silenced. She believes representation matters, and that government must reflect the diversity and strength of our communities. For Amanda, protecting democracy isn’t just policy—it’s the foundation for justice, equity, and progress on every issue Coloradans face.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The Secretary of State is our Democracy Defender in Chief. Every right we have as Americans depends on our right to vote, and this office is the guardian of that right. It ensures the very systems of democracy function fairly and securely so people’s voices are heard. In Colorado, that means protecting and expanding voting rights, administering elections with transparency, strengthening security measures, and standing up to those who seek to silence voters or spread lies about our elections. That responsibility makes this office one of the most powerful and consequential in the state. It requires an incredible depth of technical experience in election operations, knowledge and stewardship of Colorado’s election laws and rules, and the courage to stand against extremists who would erode trust in our democracy.

I’ve proven I can do exactly that—running some of the largest elections in the state while expanding access and increasing voter participation. I’ve fought for new laws, sometimes even against my own party, that make government more transparent and accountable, and our democracy more inclusive. Every Coloradan deserves to have a Secretary of State ready to defend their future.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I want my legacy to be a stronger, more inclusive democracy—one where everyone knows their voice matters and their vote counts. I hope to leave behind systems that are transparent, secure, and accessible, and a culture where government truly reflects the people it serves. I want the next generation to see that barriers can be broken and leadership can look like them. We can choose to do things differently—and better. Our systems haven’t always worked for everyone, but they can if we actually work together.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Like a lot of teenagers I started out babysitting in my neighborhood, running the snack shack at little league games, and tutoring to make extra money. My first “real” paycheck came as a telemarketer, cold-calling people to sell windshields over the phone. In college I worked at Home Depot, and after law school I became Executive Director of a local nonprofit and taught election law at DU. Every step of the way, I’ve worked jobs that taught me the value of hard work and fueled my commitment to making sure everyday people have a voice in our democracy.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

Our democracy is under attack, and those attacks are increasing in frequency and intensity. Our next Secretary of State must have the elections experience and legal expertise to be able to stop outside interference, no matter where it comes from.

Just as importantly, they must be unwavering in their commitment to protecting voting rights and building an inclusive democracy where every community has equal access to the ballot box.

Our democracy only works if people believe their votes are counted and their voices matter. That trust is earned through transparency, accountability, and consistently delivering elections that are both secure and accessible. Safeguarding the right to vote isn’t just one responsibility of the Secretary of State—it is the foundation that makes every other part of the job possible.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

In addition to elections, the Secretary of State oversees business registration and licensing, regulates some forms of gambling, manages campaign finance, maintains public records, and performs a variety of other critical functions that shape Colorado’s economy and future. In partnership with other statewide leaders—the Governor, Attorney General, and Treasurer—the Secretary of State helps ensure we can all enjoy a healthy democracy where every Coloradan can thrive.

Democracy isn’t just voting. It’s affordable housing, access to health care, fair wages, and a clean environment. It’s creating a Colorado as strong and inclusive as our election system—because true democracy means every person has the opportunity to fully participate in shaping the future of our state. My record shows I take that broader vision seriously: I’ve written laws to expand access, fought to protect voting rights, and modernized systems so they actually work for people. That’s the kind of leadership I’ll bring to every corner of this office.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

A Secretary of State must be an elections expert. It’s the single most important qualification. Running an election is an incredibly technical, detailed, steep-learning-curve role. It requires hands-on expertise, operational and business savvy, deep legal understanding of election law, and strong leadership of large, diverse teams. Only someone who has actually run elections before will be prepared to lead our state through the attacks on our electoral system and democracy that are already underway.

As a county clerk, I’ve administered several elections for nearly half a million voters—implementing reforms that expanded access for tens of thousands of Coloradans, increased voter turnout, added new security measures, and elevated public trust in the process. I’ve written and helped pass some of Colorado’s strongest election laws. I’m the reason you can vote in your own language. I made sure eligible voters held in jails can still make their voices heard. I co-wrote the constitutional amendment that protects Coloradans from gerrymandering. And I’m just getting started.