Bryan Lindstrom
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Bryan Lindstrom (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 36. He lost in the Democratic primary on June 25, 2024.
Lindstrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Bryan Lindstrom was born in Aurora, Colorado. He attended Metro State University and University of Northern Colorado for undergraduate study, and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Northern Colorado in 2010. He earned a graduate degree from Regis University in 2018. Lindstrom's career experience includes working as a high school social studies teacher. Lindstrom is a licensed teacher in English, social studies, physical education, and special education.[1][2]
He has been affiliated with the following organizations:[2]
- Aurora Education Association
- Colorado Education Association
- National Education Association
- Colorado People's Action
- Colorado Working Families Party
- Democratic Socialists of America
Elections
2024
See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
Democratic primary election
Campaign finance
Endorsements
To view Lindstrom's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lindstrom in this election.
2021
See also: City elections in Aurora, Colorado (2021)
General election
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
2019
See also: City elections in Aurora, Colorado (2019)
General election
Endorsements
To see a list of endorsements for Bryan Lindstrom, click here.
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Bryan Lindstrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lindstrom's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Expand all | Collapse all
I’m a born and raised Auroran, an Aurora Public Schools history teacher, and the progressive Democrat, and I am running for HD36 to ensure our future works for all of us in Colorado.
I am a long-time labor, education, and housing activist, ready take my advocacy on the outside to being the policymaker on the inside.
- I am a teacher and almost 20% of my students deal with unstable housing. What happens inside the classroom is impacted by policies outside the classroom. We need a working class champion who will fight for housing for all, 21st century education, and thriving wages
- Colorado is a strong Democratic State but we have some of the weakest worker protections in the nation. I will fight for Colorado to be the most pro-labor state in the union.
- We need educators in positions of power where education policies are being made.
I am a history teacher and nerd out on policy broadly but my areas of focus are housing, public education, and labor law.
I have a lot of people I look up to but I also try to keep perspective and not deify them either. My role models nearby are my parents and my sister. They all modeled for me a work ethic and a sense of service and they're why I became a teacher. More broadly I try to live up to the models that A. Philip Randolph, Angela Davis, Eugene Debs, and countless other civil rights and labor leaders have set for us. They all had a vision for a better world and took actions to try and create that world.
I am a nerd so there are a lot of books that helped me land on my philosophical beliefs:
- There is Power in a Union
- Pedagogy of the Oppressed
- Assata: An Autobiography
- Stamped from the Beginning
- The Autobiography of Malcolm X
- The Rich and the Rest of Us
- Born in Blood and Fire
- Democracy at Work An elected official should have a track record of showing up in the community before they expect our votes. They should have have a clear and strong moral compass and the mentality to work with others to get things done. They should be honest and forthright when they agree or disagree with you and they should have thick enough skin to take criticism from their community and an open mind to move on policy when new information is presented. And most of all, they should be accountable to the community, not to their donors. This is why I only take money from organizations with a track record of fighting for our community.
I am idealist and pragmatic, simultaneously. I help others understand that a better world is possible and I push for policies to help get us there but I also understand that change is made one bite at a time so I take wins when I can and don't let perfect be the enemy of the good.
I am notably compassionate and personable. Even though I am often the most progressive person in the room, I make everyone feel comfortable and they know that, even when we disagree, I will still be kind and collaborative while we work together to find common ground to pass good policies.
I show up for others. I know that governing is a collaborative effort and I show up to help other people get elected, I show up for the community where I am asked to, I build strong bonds, and I fight my butt off to protect Aurora. One of the biggest responsibilities of an elected official is responding to the community and connecting them with existing services. Other responsibilities include regular townhalls and community outreach so they can learn what is most important to their constituency and fight to pass laws that benefit them. They should base their conclusions in data and not on fear.
I am currently to go-to person in Arapahoe County as it relates to public education and unions. I would like to leave a legacy of pro-working class policy changes that make it easier for working class people to serve in office if they choose, support themselves and their families, and retire with dignity.
I remember the 1996 Clinton vs Dole election. I was in elementary school and my GT class tasked us with creating campaign ads for our chosen candidates. I don't remember what I said but I remember creating an ad for Clinton. I was approaching nine years old and I was having my first experience in politics.
My first job was at a small business called "Modern Meat Packing" in Denver. I spent the first hour or two grinding and packaging meat and the rest of the day delivering to restaurants, bowling allies, jails, etc. around the metro area. I worked there for three summers.
It is hard to limit to just one book because there are so many great ones. But a book I have read over and over again and a book I use in my classroom is "Stamped" by Ibram X. Kendi. It is such an accessible book for people knew to history while pointing out the intersections of race, class and gender in the US over the last 500 years. Students love it and each time I read it I find something knew I want to learn more about (therefore picking a new book for myself).
The 'heroes journey' is a classic story telling device that help make our favorite fictional characters develop into who we love in the end. Unfortunately, tragedy is often part of the heroes journey and dealing with that tragedy is a part of being that character. So I am picking a character that didn't deal with tragedy before becoming a hero and that's Tim Drake (one of the Robin Characters). I get all the cool gadgets that Batman has, I have the money to help make change away from fighting crime, and I get to do all that good without having to be the face of the franchise.
I am a huge Maná fan so "Vivir Sin Aire" is currently stuck in my head.
Just being a working-class person in the US is tough. Living paycheck to paycheck, trying to eat healthy on a budget, going to the doctor when you need, etc. has been tough, especially when I was in my 20s. I had crushing student loan debt but teaching pays so little, especially starting out, that I had to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
The Governor may set priorities but, overall, the executive branch is there to check the legislative branch, not direct us. The legislative branch writes the laws and the governor has determine how they are enforced.
The cost of living is the most important issue of our time but, especially in Colorado, we need to take a strong look at water because that will become the issue of our time ten years from now.
I think it can be beneficial to have experience because so much of governance is relationships and navigating the system, however, I've worked around politics for a long time. I also know that too much experience in government and politics leaves many jaded, burned out, or ready to sell out. There has to be a balance of knowing your job but not getting so entrenched that you're no longer there to do the work of the people.
Absolutely. 80% of this work is relationships. People have to trust that you're acting in good faith to be willing to work with you and caucusing and getting a majority is how you get good laws passed.
I am a big Bernie Sanders supporter. If you look on YouTube you will see countless videos of him speaking up, alone when necessary, on issues years before they become bread and butter issues. His ability to get elected without SuperPACs and other dirty money tactics is commendable.
The issue I most care about are state level. If I were to ever run for another office it would be the State Senate to continue the work I'm already doing in the other chamber of the legislature and that is only due to Colorado having term limits.
In 2017, I was at a city council meeting in Aurora. I saw person after person go to the podium begging the city council to fight for them as they were getting displaced from their mobile home park due to policies the city council passed. As my eyes began to water, I noticed that the person speaking was a parent to one of my students. All levels of government are interconnected and all issues within society impact communities like mine harsher. This really solidified with me where I need to focus my efforts in my community and why I am running now.
I am a sucker for corny dad jokes. I tell the "does your face hurt..." joke at least once a week to students I teach (always met with a grin and slight disappointment that I am not funnier).
So in classic dad joke fashion:
“you guys wanna hear a joke about pizza?”
Nevermind….. it’s too cheesy This is really tough to answer because I believe democracy should be at the center of all governance and this inherently becomes less democratic; but I also understand that Emergencies need swift response. As a general rule, my answer is no. But I would be open to an argument for granting this when these emergencies take place.
The first bill I will introduce is a bill that would Abolish the Labor Peace Act (a law that makes it difficult for workers to organize and fight for their rights) and I would replace it with a Colorado PRO Act (Protecting the Right to Organize), making Colorado the most pro-labor state in the country.
Colorado Education Association
The Colorado AFL-CIO
SEIU105
Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund
Colorado Working Families Party
Aurora Education Association
Denver DSA
National DSA
Denver Berniecrats
Run for Something
Lead Locally
State Representatives:
Javier Mabrey
Steven Woodrow
Tim Hernández
Elisabeth Epps
Junie Joseph
Tammy Story
Sheila Lieder
Chris deGruy Kennedy
Manny Rutinel
Chad Clifford
David Ortiz
Lorena Garcia
Iman Jodeh
Mandy Lindsay
Senator Lisa Cutter
Councilmembers
Crystal Murillo
Ruben Medina
Juan Marcano
Alison Coombs
Commissioners:
Jessica Campbell Swanson
Leslie Summey
Treasurer Michael Westerberg
Assessor PK Kaiser
APS School Board:
Tiffany Tasker
Vicki Reinhard
Tramaine Duncan
Danielle Tomwing
Kevin Cox Education
Business Affairs and Labor
Transportation, Housing, and Local Government Sunlight is the best disinfectant and having clear and accessible transparency is essential to having the ability to hold any institution accountable. I believe that if transparency is a hindrance than that thing needs to be hindered.
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.
2021
Bryan Lindstrom did not complete Ballotpedia's 2021 Candidate Connection survey.
2019
Bryan Lindstrom completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lindstrom's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Expand all | Collapse all
Bryan has lived in Aurora his whole life, attending Aurora Public Schools, and now teaching in the same district he graduated from. Bryan is running because, where he teaches, 15% of his students deal with unstable housing and this is an issue that can be tackled from the city level. Bryan has attended city council meetings long before he decided to run and has seen the lack of ethics, accountability, and transparency at council and wants to change it. He believes we are selling out our neighbors, our environment, and our future so a few developers can get rich. Bryan will bring his experience as a classroom teacher, union organizer and union leader, and lifelong community member to the council to use strategic, 21st city planning to bring in revenue to tackle our housing and infrastructure issues, without raising taxes, so we can build an Aurora that works for all of us. Bryan is running in Southeast Aurora, Ward 6.
- Our Neighbors: Putting the people of Aurora above the profits of developers so people can afford to live in Aurora and the infrastructure meets their needs.
- Our Environment: Prioritizing our health and safety over industry and utilizing public enterprises to invest in carbon neutral energy systems.
- Our Future: Having city driven development that meets the needs of today and tomorrow. Chartering a public bank and establishing municipal broadband so we have the financial systems, technology, and revenue to move into the 21st century and beyond.
Municipal banking: This can help us prioritize the people of our city by building community wealth, protecting us from fraud, and bringing in revenue without having to raise taxes.
Housing development: We are currently using development models that remove the risk for developers so they can make the most profits without having to develop in ways that meet the needs of Aurora Residents. We need to use models that force developers to meet the needs of the people of Aurora and not just themselves.
Best Value Contracting: This will create formulas to ensure we are getting the best value for the contracts we create in our city, not just the contract going to the lowest bidder.
Campaign Finance Reform: We currently have no limits, very little reporting, and we don't have to report to the Secretary of State, like typical campaigns in Colorado. This is allowing money to fly into our elections to influence candidates with little transparency and accountability.
Ethics Reform: We have very lacked ethics rules for the city council, they are allowed to take huge amounts of gifts from lobbyists, and they can enrich themselves with their votes. I want to strengthen our ethics laws to ensure that these are roles for service, not ways to benefit oneself. We are a home rule city and they possess the powers to impact your life every single day. Housing development, oil and gas development, minimum wage, business incentives, developmental regulations, infrastructure, ethics, police and fire budget, etc. This position is really our most important elected roles for our day to day lives.
It is cliche but I very much look up to leaders like Martin Luther King Junior, John Lennon, and Mahatma Gandhi. I even have a tattoo of a few of them. These leaders were outsiders who were prevented from engaging in the system in the way the felt they had the right to and navigated how to engage anyway. They empowered others to lead and use their voices to build power for people who lacked access to it. They were brave, strong willed, and principled, and I very much look up to them, people like them, and their leadership.
I think it would be impossible to narrow down my political philosophy by reading or watching one thing. I am a social studies teacher and have seen hundreds of movies, read hundreds of articles, essays, and book. Plato, Strauss, Chomsky, Rand, Hobbs, Locke, Marx, Rousseau, etc. I don't agree or disagree completely with any of it. I read, critique, and analyze all of it to come up with my views.
Putting people first and a willingness to do what's right, not just what is politically expedient.
To serve the people and make their lives better through policy.
I want to leave a legacy of being bold, authentic, and collaborative. I want to leave an Aurora that works for everyone who chooses to call it home and, when I leave office, I want to ensure a smooth transition to someone who wishes to continue that same focus of systematic changes that put people first.
Professor Charles Xavier because he is an amazing leader, can navigate working with people he disagrees with, and has super powers.
Minimum wage and Oil and gas development are two very new powers the city council has that most people are probably unaware of.
Like any other job, experience can be beneficial but it is not the only or even the most important thing when considering who to elect. There is city staff with institutional knowledge that are there to help you transition and learn the ins and outs of that role. I think the most important experience for someone to have for elected office is a history of working to help the people of the city/state and a record of strong values that they will carry into that new job.
Experience with the people of the city and skills to navigate helping them in a systematic way. I think that many elected officials fall into responding only to individual problems on a one-on-one basis but don't think of how to alleviate the problem overall. We need leaders who will tackle things in that way and with a systematic approach.
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.
See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted on Ballotpedia’s biographical information submission form on October 22, 2019
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on April 16, 2024
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Julie McCluskie
Majority Leader:Monica Duran
Representatives
Democratic Party (43)
Republican Party (20)
Vacancies (2)
