Women Decided: Colorado Women Put Their Priorities Front and Center in the Governor’s Primary Race

As Colorado prepares to elect its next governor, women across the state are making it clear that their priorities must be part of the conversation.

The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Women’s Foundation of Colorado hosted Women Decide: The Colorado Governor’s Forum. This nonpartisan event invited candidates from both parties to discuss the issues shaping our state’s future.

This event gave space to the experiences, concerns, and hopes of Colorado women, who drive the economy, support communities, build businesses, and make important decisions for their families every day.

Missed the Forum? Read the recap below and watch the full recording here.

Watch Women Decide: The Colorado Governor’s Forum

A Conversation Grounded in the Voices of Colorado Women

A statewide poll by The Women’s Foundation of Colorado shaped the forum, showing that women across the state are feeling more economic pressure.

The results stood out:

• 84% of Colorado women say the cost of living is increasing faster than their income
• Economic inequality and the gender pay gap remain top concerns
• Childcare costs and availability continue to impact families and workforce participation
• Many women shared concerns about their economic futures and opportunities for growth

This data guided the evening’s discussion and ensured that candidates answered questions based on what women are experiencing across Colorado.

The poll findings painted a clear picture of the challenges women are facing and helped shape many of the questions posed throughout the evening.

As CWCC CEO Simone Morrison emphasized, women are the driving force behind Colorado’s economy and future success.

That message came through during the forum as candidates discussed how they would address the issues and opportunities challenging Colorado women.

The Economy Appeared as a Central Theme

Throughout the evening, candidates discussed issues that directly affect women’s economic success, including housing costs, workforce development, access to health care, entrepreneurship, and childcare.

Although candidates had different policy solutions, affordability emerged as a recurring theme throughout the discussion.

For CWCC, the discussion reinforced a reality we see every day: when women encounter barriers to economic participation, businesses, communities, and Colorado’s economy all feel the impact.

The forum reinforced the connection between women’s economic success and the state’s overall prosperity.

Supporting Women Entrepreneurs and Business Leaders

For the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, one particularly meaningful discussion focused on entrepreneurship and small business ownership.

Forum participants noted the importance of expanding opportunities for women entrepreneurs through improved access to capital, mentorship, professional networks, and business resources. Candidates discussed how state programs and economic development initiatives can help strengthen pathways for women-owned businesses throughout Colorado.

Candidates were asked how they would support entrepreneurship and strengthen opportunities for women-owned businesses throughout the state.

The conversation stressed the importance of investing in ecosystems that help women start, grow, and scale successful businesses—an issue that remains central to CWCC’s mission.

Childcare Is an Economic Issue

Another common theme throughout the forum was childcare. Far too often, childcare is viewed solely as a family issue. The discussion made clear that it is also a workforce, business, and economic issue.

When families cannot access affordable, reliable childcare, workforce participation suffers. Participants discussed how childcare challenges can affect workforce participation, career advancement, and business operations across the state.

The candidates discussed various approaches to improving affordability and access, strengthening the importance of finding feasible solutions that support working families and strengthen Colorado’s economy.

Why Forums Like This Matter

Voters from across Colorado tuned in to hear directly from gubernatorial candidates and engage in a conversation centered on the issues women identified as most important to their lives, families, careers, and communities.

By providing equal time and focusing on questions rooted in Colorado women’s experiences, the forum offered voters an opportunity to compare perspectives on the issues that matter most.

At the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce, we believe informed civic engagement is essential to building a stronger and more inclusive future.

Women Decide: The Colorado Governor’s Forum provided voters with the opportunity to hear directly from candidates, compare ideas, and better understand how each would approach the issues that matter most to Colorado women.

Equally important, it demonstrated the power of collaboration. By bringing together media organizations, community leaders, advocates, and voters, the forum elevated conversations that too often receive limited attention in traditional political discourse.

Looking Ahead

As Colorado moves toward the primary election and beyond, the conversations from this forum will continue.

The Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce is committed to championing women’s leadership, advancing economic opportunity, and building spaces for important conversations.

Thank you to Rocky Mountain PBS, The Women’s Foundation of Colorado, moderator Gabriela Resto-Montero, the participating candidates, and every Coloradoan who joined us for this important discussion.

Together, we can continue building a Colorado where women, families, businesses, and communities may thrive.