Nearly 400 Boulder County Democratic delegates gathered on March 14 to decide which candidates advance to the primary ballot and elect delegates to upcoming district and state assemblies.
Most county races are uncontested, meaning candidates automatically advance to the ballot. Delegates voted to place two candidates on the Democratic primary ballot for Boulder County treasurer — the only contested county race — Superior City Councilmember Jenn Kaaoush and former Boulder City Councilmember Rachel Friend.
Delegates also held a straw poll to gauge which candidates Boulder County delegates may support in a hotly contested March 27 party assembly that will determine the Democratic primary for Boulder’s CU Board of Regents seat.
About 50% of Boulder County delegates favored lawyer Kubs Lalchandani, while 25% favored former state Rep. Edie Hooton and 25% favored Kris Larsen, a CU Boulder researcher.
A fourth candidate, Murray Smith, a data scientist, is attempting to petition onto the ballot rather than go through the caucus process.
Candidates can either qualify for the primary ballot by collecting petition signatures or by receiving at least 30% of delegate votes at party assemblies.
Some prominent Democrats have chosen to bypass the caucus system this year. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet are petitioning onto the ballot in races for U.S. Senate and governor, respectively, skipping the assembly process.
Both senators have drawn criticism from some progressive activists, who argue they have not done enough to oppose President Trump.
Trump’s first year in office was a recurring theme throughout the March 14 assembly. Party leaders said local political participation has increased sharply, with caucus attendance rising 50% compared with last year.
Promises from gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser to oppose Trump policies, along with pledges from several attorney general candidates to prosecute ICE agents who violate the law, drew loud applause from the crowd.
“When I think of how to describe this administration, the one word that invariably comes to mind is cruelty,” Rep. Joe Neguse said at the start of a speech that received a standing ovation.
Treasurer race
The Boulder County treasurer race, the only contested county race, split closely among delegates.
Kaaoush received 48.1%, Friend received 41.8%, and Bill Van Dusen received 10%. Because Van Dusen met the 10% vote threshold, he can still petition onto the ballot if he chooses.
Friend opened her speech with endorsements from former state Sen. Steve Fenberg and Sen. Judy Amabile of Boulder.
“Look at who is supporting Rachel,” Fenberg said. “The people who trust Rachel are people you trust as well.”
Friend said her four “unusually intense” years on Boulder City Council, which included the King Soopers shooting, Covid and wildfires, prepared her for the role.
“We had many late nights during Covid, in particular, which required us to sort of build the plane while flying it to keep Boulder afloat while our $400 million budget was in free fall,” she said. “I had the gift, if you will, of being repeatedly battle-tested.”
Kaaoush emphasized her personal experience with financial hardship and a career focused on financial oversight and government systems.
“I’m not running because this position was a next step in a political career,” Kaaoush said. “I’m running because I understand financial vulnerability and because I have spent decades learning how systems work so I can protect people when it matters most.”
She cited a childhood growing up on food stamps and in government housing and a career that began in the military overseeing millions of dollars in overseas operations.
Van Dusen highlighted his experience as a tax attorney and proposed a five-point plan focused on investment and community engagement.
“I’ve worked with over 500 clients to build capital for them, to go up against the IRS, levies and liens, to keep them a viable entity in our community,” he said.
CU regent
Three candidates — Edie Hooton, Kubs Lalchandani and Kris Larsen — are competing for the Democratic nomination for CU regent through the caucus process, which culminates in the March 27 Congressional District 2 assembly.
Boulder County’s straw poll suggested Lalchandani holds an early advantage in the county, which makes up nearly half of the district’s voters, though the vote does not bind delegates.
Smith will qualify for the ballot through petitions if the state certifies his signatures, meaning as many as four candidates could appear on the June primary ballot.
The race gained a new dimension recently after the CU Board of Regents delayed a decision on collective bargaining, pushing a possible vote into next year, according to Regent Elliot Hood. The delay means the next regent elected could help decide the issue.
Both Larsen and Smith have made collective bargaining rights for university workers a primary campaign issue, while Lalchandani has also expressed support for the policy.
Earlier this month, Hooton said she supported Regent Hood’s efforts to develop a proposal to expand collective bargaining and was closely following negotiations but wanted to see their outcome before taking a final position on a specific proposal. After this story was published, she clarified that she “absolutely 100% support[s] collective bargaining” and will work with the Board of Regents “to enact comprehensive collective bargaining rights for CU staff.”
Lalchandani argued the Board of Regents needs “new people, diverse people, dynamic people,” and emphasized his experience as a lawyer. He was recently recommended for caucus by the Boulder Progressives, along with Smith. He outlined a four-part argument for his candidacy, including a plan to train students to outcompete AI and raise graduation rates.
“There is a time for legislators. There’s a time for scientists. With this administration, it is a time for attorneys, and not just attorneys — litigators,” he said. “Because we know how to fight back.”
Lalchandani’s lead was somewhat unexpected, since many of Boulder’s prominent political figures had lined up behind Hooton, who served six years in the state legislature, when she entered the race.
In her speech to delegates, Hooton highlighted her work securing millions of dollars in higher-education funding and championing progressive issues at the state Capitol.
“I never back down from an issue that’s worth fighting for,” she said. “This is why the Boulder County Democratic Party gave me their Give Them Hell Harry award.”
Larsen, a former mayor of Nederland, highlighted his ties to the university as both a former student and current researcher. He also promoted progressive priorities including divesting university investments from fossil fuels and ending contracts with Key Lime Air over ICE ties.
Smith similarly emphasized collective bargaining, arguing it would strengthen protections for university employees.
“I really want to support the people that make the institution what it is,” he said.
He also argued he’s better suited to connect with students as the “only candidate that graduated in this century.”
Congressional and legislative races
In Congressional District 2, delegates unanimously supported Rep. Joe Neguse, who is seeking reelection.
Cinque Mason is attempting to petition onto the ballot and has until the end of next week to collect signatures.
One of the few competitive legislative contests discussed at the assembly is House District 19, a swing district including Erie and Firestone.
Republican Dan Woog won the seat in 2024 by just 110 votes after Democrat Jillaire McMillan entered the race late.
McMillan is running again this year and faces a primary challenge from Erie City Councilmember Anil Pesaramelli.
McMillan has secured most endorsements from Democratic state lawmakers, while Pesaramelli has won backing from several local officials, including the mayors of Longmont and Lafayette.
Delegates voted to send seven delegates supporting McMillan and four supporting Pesaramelli to the April 11 district assembly, which will determine the primary ballot.
A third candidate, Colton Jonjak Plahn, a 2023 Stanford University graduate, will try to qualify for the ballot by collecting petition signatures.
In House District 11, Democratic Rep. Karen McCormick received 90.5% of delegate votes and will appear alone on the primary ballot.
State assembly
Boulder County will send 127 delegates to the Colorado Democratic state assembly on March 28, where candidates for U.S. Senate, governor and other statewide offices will compete for ballot access.
Among Boulder County delegates planning to attend the state assembly, 82% listed state Sen. Julie Gonzales as their first choice for U.S. Senate, while 12% were uncommitted, 5% supported Karen Breslin and less than 1% supported Jessica Williams.
Because no other candidate reached the 30% threshold, Gonzales will have the support of all 127 Boulder County delegates at the assembly.
Hickenlooper is bypassing the assembly and instead petitioning directly onto the primary ballot.
Uncontested Boulder County races and state legislators
County offices (uncontested)
County Commissioner, District 3: Ashley Stolzmann
County Clerk and Recorder: Molly Fitzpatrick
County Assessor: Cynthia Braddock
County Coroner: Jeff Martin
County Surveyor: Kayce Keane
County Sheriff: Curtis Johnson
State legislature (uncontested)
House District 10: Junie Joseph
House District 12: Kyle Brown
House District 49: Lesley Smith
Senate District 15: Janice Marchman
Senate District 17: Katie Wallace
Clarification, March 16, 2026 1:38 pm: An earlier version of this story characterized former Rep. and Regent candidate Edie Hooton as reserving judgment on collective bargaining. After publication, Hooton clarified that she “absolutely 100% supports collective bargaining” and will work with the Board of Regents to enact comprehensive collective bargaining rights for CU staff.
Correction, March 16, 2026 8:47 am: A previous version of this story stated that Lalchandani received 61% of delegates’ support. He received roughly 61 delegates, about 50% of the total. A previous version of this story also stated that Boulder Progressives endorsed Lalchandani. The group recommended both Lalchandani and Smith for caucus.
This doesn’t add up….
About 61% of Boulder County delegates favored lawyer Kubs Lalchandani, while 31% supported former state Rep. Edie Hooton and 31% supported Kris Larsen, a CU Boulder researcher.
This was an error and was corrected.
Thank you Brooke for your report on the state assembly.
Paul Fuller
Great coverage of the assembly. I’ve been supporting Kubs since the beginning, and watching 50% of Boulder County delegates rally behind him Saturday was genuinely exciting and but not surprising to those of us who’ve been in the room with him.
One thing worth highlighting, Kubs isn’t just talking about AI as a buzzword. His focus around preparing students to outcompete AI – rather than be displaced by it – is the most substantive, forward-looking proposal from any candidate in this race. Higher ed will hit an inflection point within the next regent’s term, and CU needs a regent who actually understands the technology and legal landscape, not just the political one.
The March 27 assembly is the real test. The momentum is real. Watch this space.