Axel Brown

Axel Brown (Democratic Party) ran for election to the University of Colorado Board of Regents to represent District 5. He lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Axel Brown was born in New York, New York. He served in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2019. Brown earned a high school diploma from Curtis High School and a graduate degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2024. His career experience includes working as a social worker.^[1]

Elections

2024

General election

General election for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Incumbent Ken Montera defeated Axel Brown in the general election for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5 on November 5, 2024.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Ken Montera (R)	58.8	203,772
	Axel Brown (D)	41.2	142,538

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 346,310
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Janet Turner (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Axel Brown advanced from the Democratic primary for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Axel Brown	100.0	36,516

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 36,516
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Incumbent Ken Montera advanced from the Republican primary for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Ken Montera	100.0	66,228

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 66,228
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Brown in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Campaign website

Brown’s campaign website stated the following:

“

ISSUES AND PRIORITIES

I, like many UCCS students, have often felt underrepresented by the CU Board of Regents. They frequently celebrate CU Boulder and its sports teams or students, but when it comes to UCCS, it always appears as though our students and accomplishments are simply an afterthought. I’m running for regent to change that narrative and bring our students, teams, and our amazing mascot, Clyde, into the mainstream.

As a regent, I am dedicated to fighting for a more affordable college education for every student in Colorado, regardless of background. I will work closely with legislators, faculty, staff, and students to understand their educational and financial needs and will find a way to accomplish these needs in a manner that is financially sustainable and affordable for our biggest constituency, the CU student population.”

Vision

As a regent, I will strive to further strengthen the Board of Regents’ dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Based on my personal experience as a student of color, I will fight to ensure that every voice is heard, supported, and properly represented on the UCCS campus and beyond. ^[2]

”

—Axel Brown’s campaign website (2024)^[3]

Ballotpedia survey responses

Axel Brown completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Brown's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a proud veteran and loving father who is passionate about my community and the students I represent. I am a strong advocate for the students of UCCS and the community, having previously served as the first two-time Student Body President and the only graduate student to hold the role. Previously, I also served as the chair of the Inter-Campus Student Forum (ICSF), representing the needs of all four CU campuses at every CU Regents meeting and other community engagements. This experience makes me uniquely suited to be a Regent because I understand how to advocate for the needs of students at every level, and be actively present on campus.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I, like many UCCS students, have often felt underrepresented by the CU Board of Regents. They frequently celebrate CU Boulder and its sports teams or students, but when it comes to UCCS, it always appears as though our students and accomplishments are simply an afterthought. I’m running for regent to change that narrative and bring our students, teams, and our amazing mascot, Clyde, into the mainstream.
As a regent, I am dedicated to fighting for a more affordable college education for every student in Colorado, regardless of background. I will work closely with legislators, faculty, staff, and students to understand their educational and financial needs and will find a way to accomplish these needs in a manner that is financially sustainable and affordable for our biggest constituency, the CU student population.
As a regent, I will strive to further strengthen the Board of Regents’ dedication to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Based on my personal experience as a student of color, I will fight to ensure that every voice is heard, supported, and properly represented on the UCCS campus and beyond.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Better Higher Education Funding, Social Work and Foster Care Reform, and generally any other policy that directly affects the students I represent.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

This office is unique because it has the power to influence the lives of students, faculty, and staff more than anyone else. Regents make the rules that guide every aspect of the functions of a University and that is immensely powerful and should not be taken lightly.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

I can’t say there is anyone in particular that I look up to. I look up to those who lead by example, who show the way and do the work at the same time. An example of people who exemplify these traits are Police Chief Dewayne McCarver, Dr. Gangemi and Dr. Marrus.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

If someone wanted to understand my political philosophy, I'd suggest that they watch the film Good Will Hunting. This movie illustrates my philosophy, because both of the main characters represent the duality of my personality. On one hand, I identify with Will because he represents the struggles that got me where I am today. While these experiences shape me and my desire to help people, they don't completely define who I am. Instead, the traits of the character played by Robin Williams fills those gaps and makes me who I am. Just like him, I have a strong desire to help people who are struggling and ensure that they see their true potential and succeed. The struggles of my past may help me understand where students are coming from, but my social work background will allow me to help them grow from these experiences and become the greatest stewards of the University of Colorado.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, Integrity, and Dedication are obviously crucial when serving in any public office. However, in my opinion the most important principle for any official is the desire to be present for the people who have elected them.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

A few qualities I have that I have that would make me a successful office holder are resilience, integrity, effective communication and ethical leadership.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

The core responsibilities of this office all boil down to being a servant for those who make our universities thrive. The regents would not have their jobs or any of their other duties like policy creation and budgeting without the support of students, faculty, and staff. This is why individuals in this role need to be active on campus and work directly for students, faculty, and staff instead of considering their needs as an afterthought.

What legacy would you like to leave?

As a CU Regent, I would aim to leave a legacy of fostering inclusive, accessible, and high-quality education for all students. My focus would be on promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion within the university, ensuring that every student has the opportunity to thrive. I would advocate for innovative and sustainable practices in education and campus operations, while also prioritizing fiscal responsibility to keep education affordable. Additionally, I would work to strengthen community partnerships and enhance the university's role in contributing to the social and economic development of the region. My legacy would be one of commitment to student success, educational excellence, and community engagement.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

As a native New Yorker, the first historical event I vividly remember is the terrorist attacks on September 11th. While I was only 5, I distinctly remember my mom picking me up from school early and telling me about the attacks. Its something that has stayed with me to this day.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a 92A Automated Logistical Specialist in the Army. I proudly served in this role for 6 years.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Body Kees the Score by Bessel van der Kolk. this Book. This book highlighted the connection of the body and mind connection. It detailed how physical symptoms are associated with psychological traumas.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Garfield

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Never Knew Love Like This Before- Stephanie Mills

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Self-Actualization of my accomplishments. I always feel like there is more work to be done. I never take the time to sit down and realize my accomplishments

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

I believe the most important responsibility is being present and accountable to your constituents. Too often on our campuses, we see a need to speak or interact with our leaders, and they're nowhere to be found. This has a huge impact on morale and an even bigger impact on the trust and respect that the public has for Regents. In CD5, we need a Regent who is present more than just at graduations and required meetings. We need a true advocate for students, faculty, and staff, and this can't happen without actually interacting with them.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I don't think that formal government or political experience is needed for this office. Instead, I think recent or current knowledge of the needs of students is essential to succeed.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

A current knowledge of the needs of students, faculty, and staff. These change all the time and if you don't try to keep your finger on the pulse you will never be able to effectively carry out the duties of the position.

Tell us your favorite joke.

What do you call and alligator in a vest?

An investigator

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Both practices are essential, especially when it comes to tuition spending and different investments. As I've mentioned before Regents should serve students, which includes being completely transparent on where their money is going.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

Axel Brown campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5	Lost general	$1,805	$1,795
Grand total			$1,805	$1,795
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission *This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
* Data from this year may not be complete

External links

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Candidate

University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 27, 2024
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Axel Brown’s campaign website, “Issues and Priorities,” accessed June 20, 2024

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 27, 2024

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] Axel Brown’s campaign website, “Issues and Priorities,” accessed June 20, 2024

[1]

[2]

[3]

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Axel Brown

Contents

Biography

Elections

2024

General election

General election for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Republican primary election

Republican primary for University of Colorado Board of Regents District 5

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2024

Campaign website

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

Election analysis

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