CIRC Action Fund Endorsements for 2024 General Elections Amid Escalating Threats to Immigrant Rights

CIRC Action Fund

The Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund (CIRC AF) is proud to announce our endorsements for the 2024 general elections, a crucial year as anti-immigrant rhetoric and threats to our rights grow. Colorado recently faced national attention due to sensationalized and false claims targeting immigrant communities in Aurora. More cities in Colorado are passing anti-sanctuary resolutions, and Conservative Counties are suing the state to strip away key protections that keep ICE out of our state. Amid these rising threats, the stakes have never been higher.

The need to invest in local elections and build grassroots power has never been more urgent. Our power goes beyond casting a vote; it comes from building stronger, more connected communities that stand together in the face of rising threats. Electing pro-immigrant leaders is one of the ways we safeguard our communities from efforts—both local and statewide—to take away hard-won protections. By choosing champions for immigrant and workers’ rights, we’ve been able to pass critical laws that ensure everyone in Colorado, regardless of background or income, is treated with dignity and respect.

At CIRC AF, our core belief is in upholding the inherent dignity and humanity of all individuals through advocating for fair, humane, and practical public policies, and by increasing civic engagement among new Americans. This year’s endorsements reflect our commitment to supporting candidates who not only share our vision of an inclusive and welcoming Colorado but also have demonstrated the courage to stand up against the divisive rhetoric and harmful policies threatening our communities. By endorsing candidates who prioritize fair and humane solutions over fearmongering, we are building the foundation for lasting change that protects all Coloradans.

Across the nation and here in Colorado, some politicians seek to exploit fears and spread lies about immigrants to divide us. Instead of focusing on real solutions like affordable housing and improving the cost of living, they stoke division to distract from the issues that truly matter, like the cost of living in Denver. Meanwhile, private corporations profit from the suffering caused by our broken immigration system, lobbying to keep detention centers full and our communities divided.

We know that Colorado’s strength lies in its diversity and the shared values of fairness, equality, and opportunity for all. We’ve proven this in the past, passing critical legislation that makes our communities stronger by keeping local police from collaborating with ICE to keep families together, expanding access to in-state tuition for undocumented students so they can contribute and thrive in our economy, and establishing legal defense funds for immigrants in detention to navigate our outdated and inaccessible immigration system. Now is the time to continue that progress by electing leaders who will uphold these values and protect our communities.

We urge all Coloradans to reject the politics of fear and division and to vote for candidates who will unite us in the pursuit of a just and equitable future. Our collective power lies not just in our vote, but in our ability to build strong, resilient communities that advocate for the rights and dignity of all people. Together, we can ensure that Colorado remains a place where every person, regardless of where they were born, can thrive.

CIRC Action Fund 2024 Endorsements:

Congressional Races: CD 1: Diana Degette; CD 6: Jason Crow; CD 7: Brittany Pettersen

Senate District Races: SD 13: Matt Johnston; SD 16: Chris Kolker; SD 28: Mike Weissman

House District Races: HD 1: Javier Mabrey, HD 7; Jennifer Bacon, HD 9: Emily Sirota; HD 10: Junie Joseph; HD 16: Stephanie Vigil; HD 23: Monica Duran; HD 32: Manny Rutinel; HD 34: Jenny Willford; HD 35: Lorena Garcia; HD 40: Naquetta Ricks; HD 41: Iman Jodeh; HD 46: Tisha Mauro; HD 50: Mary Young; HD 52: Yara Zokaie; and HD 57: Elizabeth Velasco

By standing together and supporting these candidates, we can create a Colorado that truly reflects our shared values of fairness, equality, and opportunity for all.

Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition (CIRC) is a statewide, membership-based coalition of immigrant, faith, labor, youth, community, business and ally organizations.