Joe Reagan

Joe Reagan served in the U.S. Army from 2005 to 2012, during which time he earned the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart. Reagan earned a bachelor's degree from Norwich University in 2004 and a graduate degree from the University of Virginia, Darden School of Business in 2016. His career experience includes working as a nonprofit executive. Reagon has served on the Norwich University Alumni Association Board of Directors and been involved with the Downtown Colorado Springs Rotary Club, having been elected to serve as club president in 2026.[1][2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Joe Reagan has devoted his career to serving others. After the 9/11 attacks, he answered the call to serve upon graduating from Norwich University, the nation’s oldest private military college. He accepted a commission in the U.S. Army and completed two combat tours in Afghanistan, first as an infantry platoon leader and then as a Military Intelligence officer.

He spent eight years on active duty serving in roles ranging from tactical operations to strategic intelligence, including two tours with the 10th Mountain Division. A graduate of the U.S. Army Ranger School, Airborne School, and Mountain Warfare School, Joe has earned multiple awards and decorations, including the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Bronze Star, and the Purple Heart.

After leaving active duty, he earned an MBA from the University of Virginia. Joe has dedicated his career to supporting military Veterans, small business development, and working families. He has served as a Senior Director at both Easterseals and Wreaths Across America, and he now works full time with a local nonprofit that helps Veterans open and operate small businesses.

Joe currently sits on the Norwich University Alumni Association Board of Directors and serves as President-elect of the Downtown Colorado Springs Rotary Club. He is the proud father of two young men who attend Colorado Springs public schools and is an avid cyclist, hiker, and skier who spends as much time outdoors as he can.

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?

Economic Affordability and Prosperity: The price of everyday necessities, from gas to rent to groceries, is way too high for Coloradans. Joe is committed to making sure El Paso County is a thriving economic center by investing in our communities' long term growth in large part by expanding healthcare coverage, small business development, protecting consumers from price gouging, and expanding affordable child care. As our government continues to increase the national debt, we must work across the aisle to eliminate government waste, reduce energy costs, cut the red tape to modernize wastewater systems, and eliminate unproductive tariffs that are impacting the pocketbooks of working families.Government Accountability and Trust: We must restore trust in and civility in government by putting constituents first, not special interests. Joe has spent his nonprofit career stretching every dollar to deliver results, and he believes our government must meet that same standard. He believes we must prioritize smart spending, eliminate waste, and reduce the national debt. To put families first, not corporations, Joe will support campaign finance reform initiatives to get dark money out of politics and accountability measures to stop politicians and their families from using nonpublic information for stock trading and receiving compensation from foreign businesses while in office, so we can put America’s interests first.Supporting Our Veterans: As a decorated combat veteran with two tours in Afghanistan, Joe knows we must provide holistic support that strengthens national security and the families who serve it. With nearly 100,000 veterans and five military installations, Colorado Springs needs a representative who understands their needs, supports wraparound services, protects Space Command, prevents encroachment, and keeps Fort Carson the “Best Hometown in the Army.” Joe honors the sacrifices of service members, families, and caregivers and will strengthen VA healthcare, address veteran homelessness, expand the GI Bill for modern careers, and build on his nonprofit work to grow veteran entrepreneurship through loans, mentorship, and business resources.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Joe is passionate about an array of topics, but he consistently comes back to:

-Healthcare--especially access to mental healthcare

-Veterans Affairs

-Supporting small businesses

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Elected officials must show up for their constituents, understand community issues, and create space for people to voice their concerns. Joe practices a "no wrong door" policy, using his office to connect anyone in need with the right resources, even when he cannot fulfill a request personally. He focuses on the strength of the team around him rather than claiming to have all the answers. Leadership requires integrity, honesty, humility, and transparency. Officials should be accountable to the people who elect them—not out-of-state donors or special interests.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Joe is raising two young men in local public schools. They are kind, smart, and talented. He learns something new from them every day—whether on a Scouts camping trip, at one of their many baseball games, or while being schooled by them in the latest video game.

Campaign website

Reagan’s campaign website stated the following:

Healthcare

Successful federal healthcare policy builds on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and blends public and private approaches to address accessibility, quality, transparency, and costs.

We must both introduce measures to stabilize private insurance markets, such as offering subsidies to middle-income earners to make coverage more affordable, and incentivize insurers to participate in underserved communities. The latter is particularly important for rural Coloradans, who know too well the difficulty of receiving adequate care. We must look to sustainable paths forward that increase overall access to care and especially support rural and independent providers.

At the same time, we must work to control costs and improve efficiency. This means incorporating elements of value-based care and encouraging healthcare providers to focus on patient outcomes rather than the volume of services rendered. In parallel, the government should be able to negotiate prices with pharmaceutical companies for medications covered by federal programs like Medicare.

By combining elements of public assistance with market-based mechanisms and prioritizing cost containment and quality improvement, we can make meaningful strides toward a more accessible, affordable, and effective healthcare system for all Americans.

Veterans

As a Veteran, I will use my time in Congress to build on my work as a non-profit leader to provide a holistic support system that recognizes and honors the sacrifices made by those who have served their country, their families, and caregivers while ensuring their well-being and successful integration into civilian life.

I believe a successful federal policy would emphasize a “no wrong door” philosophy that prioritizes comprehensive support across the many facets of a Veteran’s life. This includes healthcare, education, employment, and social services. A “no wrong door approach” emphasizes meeting the Veteran where they are instead of forcing the Veteran and their family to navigate the complicated web of benefits that exist at the state and federal level.

First and foremost, we need to emphasize strengthening the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) healthcare system to ensure timely access to high-quality medical services for Veterans. We need to focus on reducing wait times, expanding mental health services, and addressing the specific healthcare needs especially impacting Veterans, such as traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Moreover, private and/or community care plays an important role, but it is inherently a government function to fulfill President Lincoln’s Promise to care for those who have served in our nation’s military and for their families, caregivers, and survivors.

Education: We need to enhance access to vocational training, higher education, and career counseling services. We must consider expanding the GI Bill to cover a broader range of educational programs and providing additional support for Veterans transitioning to civilian careers while also holding predatory academic institutions accountable when they overpromise, underdeliver, and over charge for their services.

Employment: It is paramount that we incentivize businesses to hire Veterans and create programs to assist Veterans in translating their military skills to civilian job opportunities. Veterans are problem solvers and make ideal entrepreneurs. As such, a key avenue for this is supporting entrepreneurship among Veterans whether through small business loans, mentorship programs, or access to resources for starting and growing businesses.

Homelessness: I have worked on initiatives to combat Veteran homelessness; we need to build on the successes of over 80 communities nationwide who have effectively ended Veterans homelessness. Ultimately, homelessness is a symptom of a larger problem and only when we help the Veteran address the underlying cause of homelessness can we set them on a pathway to long-term success.

Housing

Housing is an issue that transcends any one of local, state, and national government and thus requires action at all levels. Solutions therefore begin at a local level, starting with responsible and sustainable zoning practices. At the federal level, housing affordability policy must balance the needs of both renters and homeowners while promoting sustainable solutions to the housing crisis.

To address the immediate challenges faced by renters, we need to expand rental assistance programs and increase funding for the construction of affordable housing units. Local tax incentives for developers to build affordable housing, as well as grants to local governments to revitalize distressed neighborhoods and create mixed-income communities, are all areas that will help maintain the character of the community we love while ensuring our children and grandchildren can afford to stay here.

For homeowners, we need to tackle the rising cost of property insurance, while creating programs supporting first time home buyers. The GI bill made home ownership a reality for many Veterans—including myself—and at the federal level I would consider similar programs for first time homebuyers who participated in federal service programs, such as city year.

By combining targeted support for renters and homeowners with efforts to increase housing supply and address regulatory hurdles, a new federal housing policy could make meaningful strides toward addressing the affordability crisis and promoting equitable access to safe, stable housing for all Americans.

Environment

Climate change is real and requires immediate action. I believe the economic incentive to address climate change is as strong as the moral one. By taking action, we will support American jobs, reduce energy costs, and increase our energy sovereignty… it is a no brainer.

In Colorado, such a policy could have significant impacts due to our state's reliance on outdoor recreation and natural resources. Measures to protect and preserve the state's iconic landscapes, such as Rocky Mountain National Park and the Colorado River, could bolster tourism and recreational opportunities while safeguarding ecosystems and biodiversity.

We need a roadmap as we transition toward clean energy sources, such as wind, solar, and hydroelectric power, that includes incentives for clean energy investment, research, and development. Tax credits for renewable energy production and funding for infrastructure improvements to support a more sustainable energy grid provide a clear starting point.

As part of this roadmap, we must include measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from sectors such as transportation and wider industry. These can entail renewed focus on fuel efficiency standards for vehicles and incentives for companies to invest in clean technologies and practices. Investment in natural infrastructure, such as wetlands and forests to mitigate wildfires and erosion, further enhance resilience and adaptation efforts.

Transitioning towards cleaner energy sources could benefit Colorado's burgeoning renewable energy industry, creating jobs and economic growth while reducing air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. I believe a common sense-based federal policy on climate change and the environment could have positive implications for Colorado by fostering environmental stewardship, economic prosperity, and resilience in the face of a changing climate.

Labor

Federal labor policy should establish labor standards and balance the needs of workers and employers while fostering a competitive environment that supports the growth of labor unions.

As a community we should emphasize the role of unions in workforce development and upskilling by promoting partnerships between unions, employers, and educational institutions. Unions can play a vital role in providing training programs, apprenticeships, and career pathways that equip workers with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly changing economy. Investing in workforce development initiatives led by unions would enhance the quality of the labor force and promote economic growth and innovation.

Too often, qualified union workers are underbid by sub-standard contractors resulting in costly overruns of both time and tax dollars. Federal contractors need to be held accountable and need to get the job done on time and on budget. Creating fair labor standards will help unions AND reduce costs.

To increase the competitiveness of labor unions, we need to protect collective bargaining rights and prevent employer interference in union activities. In Congress, I would consider revising labor laws to make it easier for workers to organize and negotiate for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

[3]

—Joe Reagan’s campaign website (2024)[4]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Joe Reagan has spent his career in service to others. After the terrorist attacks on 9/11, Joe felt called to serve and accepted a commission in the U.S. Army upon graduating from Norwich University, the oldest private military school in the country. Joe served two combat tours of duty in Afghanistan. During his first tour, Joe was injured by a suicide bomber and likely would have been killed had an Afghan guard not shielded Joe from the shrapnel. And while Joe lost Soldiers overseas in combat, he lost more on American soil to suicide.

After serving as an infantry officer in the U.S. Army, Joe transitioned to intelligence where he developed a deep understanding of the threats facing our nation including China’s growing influence on the world stage and Russia’s aggression towards former Soviet states.

After leaving active duty in the United States Army, Joe earned an MBA from the University of Virginia. His experience spans multiple industries ranging from healthcare to technology, national security and nonprofit work. His work as a nonprofit executive has been his most rewarding as a civilian and has allowed him to support Veterans and working families.

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?

Lower the cost of living for working familiesEnsure VA hospitals and clinics receive adequate funding to assist returning service members in their transition home.Protect our democracy

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Healthcare, Veterans Affairs, and Affordable Housing. For the last 20 years, I’ve served our nation and our community in the Army, as business leader, and running non-profits to advance policies that support our veterans and working families. I'll bring my experience as a non-profit leader to work with folks on both sides of the aisle to implement policies that support working families of Colorado, that address homelessness and housing instability. I'll focus on defending, expanding, and improving the ACA to expand healthcare coverage and bring down costs because that is the representation we deserve in Congress.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Civility, moderation, and compromise in the service of finding solutions for the people of Colorado. Growing up, my dad (a life-long Democrat) was best friends with our town’s GOP chairman. They taught me that politics isn’t about party – it’s about creating policy that serves the community and meets their needs. I believe in the moderate middle, and I understand, respect and value the diversity in thought, identity, and experiences of the American people. I am a changemaker who can execute and maneuver in a rapidly evolving landscape, and when it comes to policy, I seek the practical over the perfect. I am focused on what matters most: solving problems for the people of Colorado. This effort takes collaboration, and if we want to go far, we have to go together.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Growing up my mother had Multiple Sclerosis. It was a challenge growing up and watching my mom's health decline, and it was a challenge to see how people treated her because of her disability. She was such a smart woman, and taught me so much about service. The lasting effect on me is to understand that everyone should be valued, respected, and accepted for who they are; mom taught me to never underestimate someone and that all of us have the potential to create value when we invest in them.