
Cecelia Espenoza
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
SCORECARDS
CONSERVATIVE ORGANIZATIONS
2025-2026
25%
2026
27%, 23%†
2026
15%
2025
13%, 13%†
2025-2026
|25%
2026
|27%, 23%†
2026
|15%
2025
|13%, 13%†
LIBERAL ORGANIZATIONS
2025
100%
2026
100%, 100%†
2025
100%
2026
100%
2025
A-
2025
85%
2025
|100%
2026
|100%, 100%†
2025
|100%
2026
|100%
2025
|A-
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
If you are not already receiving our updates, stay current with important election alerts, educational articles, and encouraging reminders.
Invest in America’s Future
Join the movement to restore biblical values and constitutional principles in our nation by informing and mobilizing more faith-based voters with the truth.