Jena Griswold
In 2018, Jena Griswold was elected as the first Democratic Secretary of State in Colorado in 60 years. She became the first Democratic woman Secretary of State in Colorado’s history. Jena has been able to lead, and work with the legislature to pass, one of the largest democracy reform packages in the nation as Secretary of State. Jena grew up in a working-class family in rural Colorado and was the first person in her family to attend a four-year college and then law school. She knows first-hand how important it is for every vote to count and for every Coloradan's voice to be heard, no matter their background or income. She is fighting to protect our right to vote, stop secret political spending, improve transparency, and stand up to those who try to bend the rules or break the law.
At 35, Jena is a rising star in Colorado politics, serving as the youngest statewide elected official in Colorado. Having received her JD from Penn, she started her legal career practicing international anti-corruption law, and then began working on our elections as a voter protection attorney for President Obama. Jena also served as the Director of the Governor's DC Office, where she fought for Colorado’s interests. One of the things she's most proud of is helping bring back hundreds of millions of dollars of relief when the 2013 flood hit northern Colorado. After her tenure in Washington, Jena moved back to Colorado, and opened her own small business--a legal practice--in Louisville.
Despite a pandemic and devastating wildfires, in 2020 Sec. Griswold successfully oversaw the largest general election in Colorado state history, with 94% of voters casting their ballot using the mail or a ballot drop box. In 2020, the Secretary of State’s office successfully led efforts to expand mail ballot access nationwide. Her office engaged with nearly all 50 states to share Colorado’s experience and ensure that other election officials could run safe and accessible elections.
In 2019, Jena worked with the legislature to pass:
The Clean Campaign Act of 2019 which helps shine light on dark money and requires corporations to disclose their political ads.
The Lobbyist Transparency Act gives Coloradans better information about who is working to influence lawmakers' decisions.
Automatic Voter Registration increases eligible Coloradans' access to register to vote.
Colorado Votes Act adds polling locations and mail-in ballot drop boxes across the state, guaranteeing them on all public universities and tribal lands.
