Meghan Lukens

Meghan Lukens earned a high school diploma from Steamboat Springs High School, a bachelor's degree in history and secondary social studies education from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2015, and a master's degree in leadership in educational organizations from the University of Colorado at Denver in 2020.[1] Lukens' career experience includes working as a high school social studies teacher with Steamboat Springs High School, the Peak to Peak Charter School, and the American School of Kosova.[2][3]

As of 2024, Lukens has been affiliated with the Steamboat Springs Education Association, the Colorado Education Association, the Young Professionals Network of Steamboat Springs, Steamboat Pilot’s 20 Under 40 Class of 2022, and the Steamboat Springs Adult League Hockey.[2]

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am honored to be the State Representative for House District 26, which includes Eagle, Routt, Moffat, and Rio Blanco counties. I grew up in Steamboat Springs, and am proud to represent the communities that raised me. Before getting elected, I was a social studies teacher at Steamboat Springs High School. At the State Capitol, I am proud to advocate for Northwest Colorado, addressing our most pressing issues.

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?

It is frustrating to see our home become somewhere families can no longer afford. I am determined to build a diverse and thriving economy that empowers everyone in our community. To address housing affordability, I passed legislation to allow state-owned land to be used for affordable housing projects. We also initiated measures to ease financial pressures on families, such as developing childcare facilities and implementing a Child Tax Credit. Despite these steps, I know that many people are still hurting from rising costs due to price gouging and corporate greed. I’m committed to advocating for affordable housing and accessible childcare to support our middle class, address the workforce shortage, and strengthen our local economies.As a teacher, I understand the importance of a quality education. During my first term, we secured groundbreaking funding for our schools by enacting the School Finance Act and a New School Funding Formula.These bills boosted funding by over $500 million, with resources designated for the rural schools that need it most. These efforts earned me the Rural Schools Champion award from the Rural Schools Alliance. Still, I know we can do much more to fund our schools and support our students. I’m committed to improving the education our children receive, increasing mental health resources in schools, and addressing the educator shortage many of our communities face.Agriculture is a cornerstone of our way of life on the Western Slope. I have consistently advocated for the needs of our farmers and ranchers while working to protect our precious water resources. To tackle the negative effects of wolf reintroduction, I fought for legislation to support and compensate ranchers for any damages, including a bill to implement the 10J rule, which was unfortunately vetoed. We also enhanced Colorado’s drought protection system and allocated funds for conservation. Our ability to adopt effective conservation strategies and back our farmers and ranchers is crucial for bolstering our economy and preserving Northwest Colorado’s character.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

With my background as a teacher, promoting K12 education is a personal passion area of mine. Our children are our future, and investing in kids is an investment in our future.

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

In a world of political noise, I have focused on what matters, finding solutions to help make a difference for the community that raised me. During my first term as State Representative, I delivered results on the issues that matter most to Northwest Colorado: making our economy work for all, investing in education, and protecting our land and water. I am running for re-election to continue reaching across the aisle to find common-sense solutions and real progress for the people I represent. Collaboration isn’t just a strategy; it’s a way of life here on the Western Slope. Each bill I sponsored in the past two years reflects this commitment to people over politics. I firmly believe that real progress comes from dialogue, not division.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

Listening and learning are necessary qualities to be a successful officeholder. I always tell my students that learning is my favorite activity, and I bring this lens to everything I do as State Representative.

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I grew up in House District 26, specifically in Steamboat Springs and currently teach social studies at Steamboat Springs High School. I have a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Colorado in History with a Secondary Social Studies licensure and a Master’s degree in Leadership in Educational Organizations with a Principal’s Licensure.

I have always told my students that my favorite activities are learning and listening. We need more legislators that listen and learn. I value collaboration, communication, and partnership. I am a passionate advocate for every member of our community. I will work hard to bring our communities together to create the future that we need and deserve. I’m young, energetic and I have the fire for making change now. I pay close attention to what’s going on at the state legislature, and I feel I have something to contribute, and with my youth and energy I believe I represent the future of Colorado. I cannot wait to run. The time is now. I want to fight for Colorado.

Political engagement and leadership has always been important to me, and I have supported campaigns via canvassing, phone calling, and voter registration.

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?

Economy: In my district and in many parts of Colorado, our high cost of living makes it challenging for middle-class locals to thrive, especially with the increase in housing prices and the large number of second-home owners. This is a true crisis in Colorado. We need legislation that supports affordable housing. My community in Routt County has seen many benefits of building low-income housing, so more programs like this should be supported. I would work with leaders who have experience implementing these programs so that we can learn from past mistakes and successes. We also must prioritize the early childcare crisis in order to support families who are navigating the high cost of living in Colorado.Environment: One of my top priorities is to protect our Colorado culture. Therefore, I support the continuation of the transition to renewable energy by expanding public transit options, improving soil function, producing more infrastructure for electric vehicles, and creating jobs in solar, wind, and geothermal industries. Green energy makes financial sense and supports the rural economy in our district. It is also essential for us to protect Western Slope water rights. I will prioritize water security and multi-benefit water projects at the State Legislature. I am fortunate to have grown up in Colorado, the most beautiful state, and therefore I am dedicated to maintaining our beautiful public lands and addressing climate threats.Education: I am currently a Social Studies teacher at Steamboat Springs High School, and I understand that in order for our democracy to be successful, it is imperative we have a quality education system. However, Colorado consistently ranks lowest in comparison to other states when it comes to supporting education, so much so that teachers in Colorado are struggling to afford to live in our beautiful state. It is crucial for the legislators at the State Capitol to support Colorado’s students and teachers, especially in rural districts, by fully funding public schools. My teaching experience and Master’s degree in Leadership in Educational Organizations have prepared me to address education issues with practical solutions.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about representing the issues that matter most to House District 26. The economy, the environment, and education are three key issues within public policy that matter most to our district. In relation to the economy, our high cost of living makes it challenging for middle-class and low-income locals to thrive, especially with the increase in housing prices and the large number of second-home owners. This is a true crisis in Colorado. We need legislation that supports affordable housing and economic policy that benefits everyone. The protection of Colorado’s great outdoors is essential. I attended the CO River District’s State of the River and have studied the Colorado Water Conservation Board’s “Resiliency Toolbox.” The goals for the Resiliency Toolbox that I support include: identifying opportunities for partnership with state and local governments, addressing measurement and infrastructure needs, increasing agricultural viability, and having multiple benefits where possible, including watershed and forest health and restoration. As your State Representative, I will utilize my perspective as a high school teacher and my Master’s degree in Leadership in Educational Organizations to advocate for educational policy that promotes a quality education system, prioritizes student and staff mental health, and improves teacher recruitment and retention programs. By addressing the economy, the environment, and education, Coloradans will be on a better path forward. Add