Cecelia Espenoza

Democrat | Colorado

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Candidate Profile

Cecelia Espenoza — State Rep., Dist. 4 (Colorado General | November 5, 2024)
State Rep., Dist. 4 Colorado General | November 3, 2026
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Verified Liberal

BIOGRAPHY

EDUCATION

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Juris Doctor

University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Honor BA Political Science

WORK & MILITARY

US DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review, Appellate Immigration Judge

US DOJ Executive Office for Immigration Review, Senior Associate General Counsel

St. Mary's Law School, Associate Professor

University of Denver College of Law, Assistant Professor

World Bank, Access to Information Board Member

AFFILIATIONS

National Hispana Leadership Institute, President of the Board

Hispanic Association for Corporate Responsibility, Board Member

Arlington Board of Zoning Appeals, Chair

Arlington County Council of PTA's, President

POLITICAL OFFICES HELD

Colorado House District 4, 2024-2026

POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT

Colorado House District 4, 2026

ENDORSEMENTS

LIBERAL (7)

Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund

Cobalt Advocates

Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado

Colorado BlueFlower Fund

Colorado Black Women for Political Action CBWPA

OTHER (2)

Colorado Medical Society COMPAC

Colorado Chamber of Commerce

REPORTED BY CANDIDATE (5)

Colorado Ceasefire

Moms Demand Action

AFSCME

Pipefitters Local 208

Care for Colorado

SELECTED CONTRIBUTIONS


LIBERAL
GIVEN BY CANDIDATE (8)

Joe Biden (2024)

Paul Rosenthal (2024)

State Democratic Party Organizations (2024)

Alex Valdez (2019)

Jena Marie Rogers Griswold (2019)

RECEIVED BY CANDIDATE (1)

Paul Rosenthal (2024)

OTHER INFORMATION

Candidate completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024.

QUESTIONNAIRE

RIGHT TO LIFE

Abortion providers, including Planned Parenthood, should not receive taxpayer funds from federal, state, or local governments (including Title X grants).

Strongly Disagree

Under what circumstances should an elective abortion be allowed?

This is a medical decision that should be between a woman and her doctor.

Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.

Choose not to answer

The lives of human embryos created through artificial methods ought to be protected from purposeful destruction.

Choose not to answer

The Comstock Act, which bans interstate transportation of abortion-inducing drugs, should be enforced.

Choose not to answer


ECONOMY

What is your position on the minimum wage?

The minimum wage is a way to reduce poverty and income inequality. The federal minimum wage of $7.25 is too low. In Colorado the state minimum wage of $14.81, is still failing to keep up with costs for too many families.

Free enterprise and the right to private property are essential elements of a productive economic system.

Choose not to answer

List your top 3-5 priorities to eliminate government waste.

Regulatory review Increasing transparency Supporting Audit recommendations


RELIGIOUS LIBERTY

What does "separation of church and state" mean to you?

The separation of church and state balances an individual's right to religious liberty against the government‘s authority to enforce laws. As a result government laws need to remain neutral but also include ways to meet legal obligations without forcing individuals or businesses to act against their beliefs.

Individuals and businesses should be required to provide services even if it would violate their moral and/or religious beliefs.

Choose not to answer


HEALTHCARE

What most closely matches your view on healthcare: A) Healthcare for all should be guaranteed and funded by the government with no private healthcare option. (includes "universal healthcare," "medicare for all," etc.) B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options. C) Medicaid and Medicare should remain available, but no other taxpayer-funded programs are necessary. D) Taxpayer funded health care should be abolished in all forms, and Medicaid and Medicare should be defunded.

B) Healthcare insurance funded by the government should be available for all who want it, along with private healthcare options.

The government should keep a database of people with various ongoing medical illnesses to assess the economic burden of treatment.

Strongly Disagree


NATIONAL SECURITY

The Chinese Communist Party poses serious military, cyber security, intellectual property, and global economic threats to the United States.

Agree

Is the United States' relationship with Israel important, and if so why?

I choose not to answer


IMMIGRATION

I support the existence of sanctuary cities to protect undocumented persons.

Choose not to answer


EDUCATION

I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.

Strongly Disagree

Foreign governments should be prohibited from funding American education.

Choose not to answer


VALUES

Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.

Choose not to answer

Attempts to physically or socially transition a child to the opposite sex constitute child abuse.

Strongly Disagree

Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.

Strongly Disagree

I support the expansion of gambling in my state.

Choose not to answer

Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.

I choose not to share


ELECTIONS AND VOTING

People should be able to vote without photo identification.

Choose not to answer


EQUALITY

Reparations should be given to people on the basis of race.

Choose not to answer

Biological males should not be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.

Disagree


ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT

Man-made climate change is a global threat and requires urgent political action.

Choose not to answer

What do you believe is the most reliable energy source that will supply the growing demand for electricity?

It is too early to tell


ABOUT YOU

When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to foreign policy and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?

Liberal

Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.

No.

Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.

No.


CRIMINAL JUSTICE & PUBLIC SAFETY

What should be the goal of the criminal justice system?

Justice

Government has a responsibility to protect children from sexual exploitation during online activities.

Strongly Agree

Sharia law should not be accepted or incorporated in any form within the legal framework of the United States.

Choose not to answer


2ND AMENDMENT

What restrictions on gun ownership are needed to protect public safety?

I support gun safety legislation

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