Posted November 5, 2026
Colorado made history tonight, overwhelmingly electing Amanda Gonzalez as its first Latina and first openly LGBTQ+ Colorado Secretary of State in a landmark victory that represents generations of courage, barrier-breaking leadership and the power of grassroots organizing.
Standing alongside friends, family, and the women she calls her Madrinas, Secretary of State-elect Gonzalez celebrated the historic moment on Nove. 3, and recognized the generations of women who have paved the way and fought for representation and a meaningful place in our democracy.
“Before I could stand here tonight, they had to stand in rooms where nobody expected them. They had to fight for seats at tables that weren’t built for them. They had to open doors that had been closed for generations,” Secretary-elect Gonzalez said. “I am here tonight because these incredible, beautiful, powerful Latinas and so many others who came before us refused to accept that the way things had always been was the way things had to stay.”
Secretary-elect Gonzalez’s campaign was powered by an extraordinary grassroots movement, built around a kitchen table and largely operated out of Gonzalez’s car, without the resources of traditional political campaigns. Driven primarily by volunteers, the campaign grew through countless hours of hard work, personal contributions, community relationships and an unwavering belief that political power belongs to the people. That movement resulted in her 29-point victory for the Democratic nomination in June after being outspent nearly 3-to-1, and now Secretary-elect Gonzalez’s projected win over her Republican opponent – with current results standing at 60%-37%, a 23-point victory.
“I am not your typical candidate. And many powerful people said I couldn’t win. They told me it wasn’t my turn. They told me to wait. To play by their rules,” Secretary-elect Gonzalez said. “But we are the daughters and granddaughters of women who fought too hard, sacrificed too much and dreamed too big to spend our lives waiting for somebody else’s permission. We don’t wait for history to make room for us. We make history.”
The Secretary of State-elect emphasized that Tuesday night’s victory is proof that people-powered campaigns can challenge expectations and create lasting change.
“We built this campaign with hope. And love. And this outlandish, unshakable belief that you don’t have to be invited into power to change who holds it,” Secretary-elect Gonzalez said. “How it’s always been has never worked for us all. Our democracy has expanded because ordinary people refused to accept exclusion as permanent. Every generation widened the circle. Now it’s our turn.”
As Colorado’s next Secretary of State, Secretary-elect Gonzalez pledged to defend every Coloradan’s right to vote, protect the integrity of the state’s nationally recognized elections system and ensure that democracy remains accessible to everyone.
Secretary-elect Gonzalez also made clear that her administration will stand firmly against efforts to undermine Colorado’s elections or diminish the power of voters. Defending democracy requires more than protecting the institutions and rights passed down by previous generations – it’s to build the democracy the next generation deserves.
In marking her election victory, Secretary-elect Gonzalez recognized her family, volunteers and the women who helped make her historic candidacy possible. She thanked her parents for instilling in her the values of hard work, honesty and fairness, and recognized the volunteer team that built the campaign with determination and heart.
The historic victory signals the beginning of a new chapter in Colorado’s democratic story. Looking toward the future, Secretary-elect Gonzalez reflected on the young girls who will see this moment and recognize new possibilities for themselves.
“Someday, a little girl is going to look at this stage and see women who look like her, women who love like her, women who were told they couldn’t – and did anyway. This is the beginning of what we build together. This is what democracy looks like. This is what history looks like,” Secretary-elect Gonzalez said.
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