Joseph was appointed to the House District 10 seat in August 2022 by a vacancy committee and then won the general election, becoming the first Black woman to represent the City of Boulder at the Colorado Capitol. She serves as the vice chair of the House Finance Committee. She has been involved in several local organizations, including as a former volunteer area coordinator for the Boulder County Democratic Party and a member of the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board, which recently has considered name changes to landmarks with ties to racist language or people.
Joseph moved to Orlando, Florida, from Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, when she was 14. She went on to earn a bachelor’s degree from the University of Florida, a master’s in applied human rights from the University of York in England, and interned at the White House under the Obama administration. She worked as a human rights officer for the United Nations in the Central African Republic. In 2018, she moved to Colorado to get a law degree from University of Colorado Law. She then served on the Boulder City Council from 2019 to 2023. She is currently working as a family attorney. She has said she is the only renter running in the Democratic primaries.
Her major endorsers include Gov. Jared Polis, House Speaker Julie McCluskie, House Majority Leader Monica Duran, Mayor Aaron Brockett and Mayor Pro Tem Nicole Speer. Her endorsements for organizations include Boulder Progressives, local unions, Moms Demand Action and Conservation Colorado.
Her opponent in the Democratic primary is Tina Mueh.
Why are you running for the state legislature?
I am running for re-election to continue serving Colorado’s House District 10 with integrity, compassion, and a tireless dedication to advocating for a more just and equitable society. As a dedicated State Representative, I face everyday challenges alongside our community, understanding their economic struggles firsthand. From being a renter in Boulder to balancing law school and the duties of elected office, I have navigated complex responsibilities effectively. With a law degree, passing the Colorado Bar, and owning a family law practice, I have always prioritized public service, mirroring my commitment to House District 10. As a proven advocate for Democratic priorities, I champion social justice and human rights through my work on criminal justice reform, bilingual accessibility, and property tax relief for low-income older adults. With grassroots support, I ensure inclusive and progressive representation while addressing disparities in the criminal justice system, housing, and climate justice. My experiences as a minority small business owner, where I work to support myself while advocating for some of the most vulnerable families in our legal system inform my dedication to equitable policies that benefit our community and uphold our democratic values.
What distinguishes you from your primary opponent?
As a former Boulder City Councilwoman and Mayor Pro Tem, I deeply understand my constituents in House District 10. I know that environment and climate are top priorities, which is why I stood firm in my support for a just transition away from fossil fuels, even when it cost me endorsements from groups that support the oil and gas industry. I have fought for legislation to reduce and prevent gun violence and protect reproductive rights. I am a consistent advocate for people with marginalized identities, such as the LGBTQ+ community. As one of the 50% of Boulder residents who do not own their home but rent from others, I am keenly aware of how unaffordable housing impacts our community and how underrepresented renters are at all levels of our government. I am the first Black woman, Millennial, and immigrant to serve as State Representative for House District 10. I understand how hard many people have to fight to be seen as legitimate members of the Boulder community. I work hard for the people of HD10, exemplified by passing 36 bills in my first term.
The issue of homelessness played a central role in Boulder’s municipal election in 2023. Yet, homelessness is influenced by factors outside a city’s control, such as the high cost of living and lack of mental health treatment capacity. What would you do at the state level to address homelessness in cities like Boulder?
As someone who experienced homelessness when I first arrived in Boulder as a law student, I know how stressful and frightening it can be not to have a place to call home. In Boulder, the number of evictions and demands for emergency rental assistance has grown since the end of COVID-19 assistance programs, which means homelessness is growing, too. The fastest-growing segment of the homeless population in Boulder and across the state is older adults, who are being hit particularly hard by rising costs of basic needs such as property taxes, energy bills and food. My bills in the past two years have focused on keeping more people from losing their housing by enabling more low-income adults to reduce their state taxable income (HB24-1142), providing 30-day waiting periods and access to mediation for low-income people facing eviction (HB23-1120), and providing monetary support to local organizations that provide legal representation and legal advice to low-income individuals (HB24-1286). While the legislation I create focuses on preventing homelessness, I have also supported legislation to address behavioral health needs that we often equate with homelessness, such as bills to increase mental health services and facilitate substance use recovery programs.
In the 2023 city election, Boulder elected its mayor using a form of ranked-choice voting. Proponents of this voting method want to extend it to elect candidates for the Boulder City Council. They argue that to do this, state lawmakers must mandate the Colorado Secretary of State to establish new regulations enabling the city and county to conduct elections using a multi-winner form of ranked-choice voting. Would you support such legislation? Why or why not?
I support new regulations enabling cities and counties to conduct elections using a multi-winner form of ranked-choice voting (RCV). Boulder’s first RCV mayoral election allowed for a more diverse representation of voter perspectives on the ballot and gave voters more choices. Voters do not have to worry about their votes being “wasted” if they would prefer more candidates than can be elected. RCV can require more outreach and engagement. If this were to move forward, the legislature would need to provide the Secretary of State’s office with the necessary funding, training programs, and educational materials that she and county and city clerks would need to make this transition and educate voters on filling out a multi-winner RCV ballot. Boulder’s City Clerk and the County Clerk and Recorder offices did an excellent job supporting Boulder’s first mayoral RCV election and ensuring voters understood how to fill out an RCV ballot. We must ensure that as cities and counties progress with multi-winner RCV elections, local election officials have the resources they need for a smooth transition.
Earlier this year, lawmakers passed the “just cause” eviction bill, marking a significant legal change in renters’ rights. Some lawmakers want to further these protections by repealing a Colorado law that prohibits cities like Boulder from capping rent increases, a measure they believe would improve housing affordability. What are your thoughts on repealing this law?
Yes, I am in favor of repealing the state ban on rent control. My tenure on the Boulder City Council and my two years as Representative for HD10 have made it clear that this repeal has been a legislative priority for our city for many years. It enjoys broad support across a diverse range of political perspectives, demonstrating that it’s not a partisan issue. Given that land use changes at the state level will facilitate more housing development, we need to empower our local governments to address affordability issues as they see fit. We should not hinder their ability to tackle the soaring housing costs, especially when we are witnessing record levels of evictions and a growing number of rental properties being bought by Wall Street investors. The increasing number of families and older adults renting their homes — and losing them to high housing costs — further underscores the need for cities to have rent control as an option to stabilize housing costs in Boulder and across the state.
Last session, lawmakers introduced a bill that would have required state regulators to stop issuing new oil and gas drilling permits by 2030, in line with global commitments to zero out fossil fuel emissions responsible for global warming by midcentury. Gov. Jared Polis and many Democratic legislators were skeptical of the bill, and it was ultimately voted down in committee. What are your thoughts on restricting oil and gas drilling in Colorado for climate and public health reasons?
I fully supported the bill that would have required state regulators to stop issuing new oil and gas drilling permits by 2030, in line with global commitments to zero out fossil fuel emissions responsible for global warming by midcentury. I also co-sponsored all the air quality bills and efforts to regulate the oil and gas industry because I know that environmental protection and addressing the impacts of the climate crisis are critical to the residents of HD10. I consistently champion environmental legislation for Boulder residents. Legislative efforts to ban new oil and gas operations align with our city’s efforts to prioritize renewable energy sources, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and protect natural landscapes from potential environmental harm caused by fossil fuel extraction. Additionally, I support promoting cleaner energy alternatives and advocating for policies prioritizing the health and well-being of communities affected by oil and gas operations. With more environmental champions at the state legislature, we can work towards the common goal of having access to clean air and water while ensuring our local communities are not stuck paying for the health and climate disaster-related costs of continued fossil fuel extraction operations.
