David Stiver

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

David Stiver

Republican Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

June 25, 2024

Education

Associate

Pikes Peak Community College, 1982

Bachelor's

University of Colorado Colorado Springs, 1986

Graduate

University of Phoenix, 1998

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Army

Years of service

1976 - 1979

Personal

Birthplace

Akron, Ohio

Religion

Evangelical

Profession

Business owner and president

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Campaign YouTube

Personal LinkedIn

David Stiver (Republican Party) ran for election to the Colorado State Senate to represent District 10. He lost in the Republican primary on June 25, 2024.

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

Biography

David Stiver was born in Akron, Ohio. He served in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1979. He earned an associate degree from Pikes Peak Community College in 1982, a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado Colorado Springs in 1986, and a graduate degree from the University of Phoenix in 1998. His career experience includes working as a business owner and president, investment advisor, and community association manager.

Stiver has been associated with the following organizations:

• National Federation of Independent Business
• Leadership Institute
• Rocky Mountain Gun Owners
• Network for Life
• Colorado Springs Citizens for Life
• Colorado Right to Life
• American Center for Law and Justice
• Judicial Watch
• Prison Fellowship
• Disabled American Veterans
• Community Associations Institute

Elections

2024

See also: Colorado State Senate elections, 2024

General election

General election for Colorado State Senate District 10

Incumbent Larry Liston defeated Ryan Lucas and John Hjershman in the general election for Colorado State Senate District 10 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Liston (R)	57.1	49,886
		Ryan Lucas (D)	39.3	34,352
	Submit photo	John Hjershman (L)	3.7	3,198

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 87,436
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado State Senate District 10

Incumbent Larry Liston defeated David Stiver and Rex Tonkins in the Republican primary for Colorado State Senate District 10 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Liston	60.7	12,478
		David Stiver	22.1	4,538
	Submit photo	Rex Tonkins	17.2	3,535

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 20,551
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Stiver in this election.

2020

See also: Colorado State Senate elections, 2020

General election

General election for Colorado State Senate District 10

Larry Liston defeated Randi McCallian and Heather Johnson in the general election for Colorado State Senate District 10 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Liston (R)	56.4	47,463
		Randi McCallian (D)	38.1	32,114
	Submit photo	Heather Johnson (L)	5.5	4,620

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 84,197
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado State Senate District 10

Randi McCallian advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado State Senate District 10 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Randi McCallian	100.0	14,822

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 14,822
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Melanie Bernhardt (D)

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado State Senate District 10

Larry Liston advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado State Senate District 10 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Larry Liston	100.0	20,258

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 20,258
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• David Stiver (R)

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

David Stiver completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Stiver'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.

David Stiver is the "RIGHT" Choice Candidate for Colorado's 10th Senatorial District. Military Veteran, Small Business Owners, Proven Record of Service, and Crime victim Advocate.

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?

• "FIGHTING FOR YOU". As a Citizen Advocate, David Stiver has fought for the common man for what is TRUE, JUST, and RIGHT.
• 'DAVID VERSUS THE MACHINE." David Stiver has opposed Colorado's Administrative State at ALL LEVELS. Executive, Judicial, Legislative, and Political.
• "CITIZEN ADVOCATE." David Stiver IS NOT a Career Politician, an Attorney, nor a Lobbyist.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Administrative State (Government Over-Reach, Regulatory Reform), Taxation (Endorsed by the author of TABOR - Taxpayers Bill of Rights), Judicial Reform (former Colorado Judicial Employee and Project Director of the Crime Victim Restitution Program, and former a Board Member of the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance COVA/Southeast Regional Representative). Assisted with the creation and passage of the Colorado Crime Victim Bill of Rights. Advocating for greater OVERSIGHT of Justices and Magistrates in the state of Colorado.

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

N/A

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

The Federalist Papers, The Bible, The Art of Warfare (Tsn Tsu), American Constitutional Law, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People (Stephen R. Covey), RX for America (Dr. Ben Carson), The 100 Simple Secrets of Successful People (David Niven Phd), Robert's Rules of Order, Legends & Lies (Bill O'Reilly), An American Life (Ronald REagan), Presumed Innocent (Scott Turow), The Creature from Jekyll Island (Edward Griffin), War on the American Republic (Kevin Slack), The Devaluing of America (William J. Bennett), The Teavangelicals (David Brody), Leadership is Dead (Jeremie Kubicek), Right Thinking (David Hornfischer), The Way Things Ought To Be (Rush Limbaugh), Lessons from the Edge (Gary A. Berg), Unfreedom of the Press (Mark R. Levin), We're So Big And Powerful Nothing Bad Can Happen To Us (Ian I. Mitroff), The American Story (David Barton).

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

Integrity - I am the only candidate seeking this office who has SIGNED AN INTEGRITY PLEDGE. I do not have any Civil Judgments (Bankruptcies, Foreclosures, etc.), Criminal Complaints and/or Adjudications (Past/Present) nor do have any domestic or gun related violations. I have undergone background screens with the Colorado Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), as a college professor, judicial employee, and military veteran (White House Security Clearance).

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

Military Veteran, Small Business Owner, Proven Record of Community Service, and Crime Victim Advocate. Also, have taught Undergraduate/Graduate Accounting, Economics, Statistics, Management, and Finance. Worked for two Congressmen. Interned on Capitol Hill for FCM (Fund for a Conservative Majority), graduate of the Engalitchef Institute at Georgetown University, and an Alumni of The Fund for American Studies (TFAS).

Have testified before numerous legislative bodies, administrative agencies, and judicial proceedings.

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

90% of the Dance is SHOWING UP. Over the years, it has been my experience that FEW (if any) Republican elected officials ever attend any SUNSET REVIEW/AUDIT HEARINGS by the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), or the Administrative Bureaus, Departments, and/or agencies. Thus, the audit recommendations are generally favorable to programs and eventually end up being continued. However, the legislature is required to review NEWLY ADOPTED programs as part of the Sunset Review Process every at least every five years (unless a shorter period is adopted) for costs, effectiveness, etc.

However, the legislators have at least three (3) opportunities at ELIMINATING WASTEFUL and INEFFECTIVE programs. Rarely is this done and as such the Colorado Budged has grown to approximately $40 billion dollars and 25% since 2021.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Being an EFFECTIVE and KNOWLEDGEABLE COLORADO STATE SENATOR.

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

Apollo 1 Disaster (Jan. 27, 1967)

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

United States Army (3 years)

What is your favorite book? Why?

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. (Stephen R. Covey)...Chapters 3 and 4 are my favorites. Especially in regards to time management.

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

The Bionic Man (Lee Majors)

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

God Bless the USA (Lee Greenwood). Its played at every Donald J. Trump Rally.

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

DAVID vs. THE MACHINE. Fighting for the average citizen before numerous legislative, judicial, executive, and political entities.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

Each body should function 100% independently. Since 1876, the Republican Party in Colorado has only held the House, Senate, and Governorship (the TRIFECTA) a total of four (4) times. The last Republican Governor was Bill Owens who served from 1998 to 2006. Republicans last held the House by one (1) seat in 2010, and the Senate by three (3) seats in 2018.

As such, the Democrat Party in Colorado has controlled the legislative and legal agenda for decades. Colorado ranks as one of THE MOST HEAVILY REGULATED states in the nation. At times, eclipsed by California and New York. To date, Colorado Households (per capita) are expending an additional $15,000.00 per annum (due to inflation and over-regulation) than they did in 2021. The national average is $11,000.00 per capita per household.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

To date housing costs have skyrocketed such that many individual homes are too expensive to build. Further, the average down payment required for a commercial loan has grown to approximately $75,000.00. Thus, placing the possibility of a home purchase for a FIRST TIME HOME BUYER out of reach. Coupled with escalating Rental Costs the average Middle-Class Wage Earner is being squeezed out of the housing market entirely.

Couple that with newly adopted Rules and Regulations and government has created a very UNFRIENDLY and UNCOMPETITIVE MARKETPLACE. In a FREE ENTERPRISE/CAPITALISTIC ECONOMIC SYSTEM government's role is not to determine the WINNERS and/or LOSERS in the marketplace.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Question: If you are diagnosed with an acute but curable brain tumor. Do you want the BEST SURGEON to do the surgery or are you satisfied with a person who has READ THE MANUAL. You do not have to be an attorney to serve in the legislature. You do not have to be a PROFESSIONAL POLITICIAN to be effective.

Any CITIZEN ADVOCATE, who is well learned, can do quite well. Is it helpful to have read the United States and Colorado State Constitution? YES. Is it beneficial if a person is familiar with Robert's Rules and Mason's Rules of Order for Parliamentary Procedure? ABSOLUTELY. However, to be effective one must: 1) Know their enemy. 2) Know the terrain. And, 3) Know their available resources.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

ABSOLUTELY. For example, the Democrats in Colorado currently enjoy a 46-19 advantage. If the Democrats were unified on EVERY ISSUE, the votes would be 46-19 on a regular basis. However, this is NOT ALWAYS THE CASE. That said, if a person knows how a legislator from an opposing issue may vote on an issue, they may need their support to pass or kill legislation. Know your enemy. Know the terrain. And, know the available resources.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Ronald Reagan wasn't a legislator. However, Ronald Reagan (as President) was able to pass one of the largest Tax Cuts in American History with a Democrat House and at times a Democrat controlled Senate. How was that possible?

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

NO. At the present time I do not have any aspirations for higher office.

Both sitting legislators and candidates for office hear many personal stories from the residents of their district. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching, memorable, or impactful?

N/A

Tell us your favorite joke.

Did I ever tell you about a girl I dated in High School? Her name was VAGUELY FAMILIAR. She had a cousin that looked very much like her. Her name was ODDLY SIMILAR.

Should the legislature oversee or grant the use of emergency powers?

In 1998 thru 2002, the Republican Party in Colorado controlled the House, Senate and Governorship (the TRIFECTA). During that period, the Colorado legislature adopted EMERGENCY POWERS. Granting broad powers to the Executive Branch. Not figuring that it would ever come back to haunt them.

Fast forward to 2020 and COVID19. Not only was there an ABUSE OF POWER, the Democrat Majority granted additional support to the Democrat Governor. Such that approximately 30 percent of the small businesses in Colorado went out of business never to return. You can medicate for crazy. You can educate for ignorance. But you cannot fix stupid.

Elections have Consequences. So too does the ABUSE of OFFICE, and the ABUSE of POWER. That said, there should be a mechanism in place whereby the electorate can OVERRIDE when ONE PARTY DOMINATES the three (3) branches of government.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

REPEAL TITLE 24. Title 24 grants authority to the various bureaus, departments, and/or agencies to provide taxpayer funding to various NONPROFITS and NGO's (Non-Governmental Organizations) for various services. This includes providing funding for ILLEGAL ALIENS/IMMIGRANTS.

I would introduce legislation that provides any funding to any NONPROFIT or NGO that is providing assistance to any person/persons that ARE NOT LEGAL CITIZENS of the United States and are in violation of Title 18.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Douglas Bruce (author of TABOR - Colorado's Taxpayers Bill of Rights). Although not endorsed, received a CONSERVATIVE RATING from I Voter Guide (ivoterguide.com).

What committees interest you?

Appropriations, Budget (Joint Budget), Finance, and Judiciary.

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The Colorado Constitution and Title 24 of the Colorado Administrative Procedures Act requires that ALL LEGISLATION that is introduced be accompanied with two supporting documents: 1) A Fiscal Note that outlines projected costs to the government to implement said legislation, and 2) An Economic Impact Statement that outline the costs (positive and/or negative) to the individual consumer and/or small business.

Unfortunately, as Senate Bill 2024-159 shows, this is not done. During the Senate Energy Committee hearings on the measure when asked if he had said information, Senator Kevin Priola (D) responded that he did not. Had Senate Bill 24SB-159 passed it would have impacted approximately 210 small businesses, 30,000 employees (avg. wages of $60,000.00 to $70,000.00 per year), and had an INDIRECT IMPACT upon 300,000 Coloradans.

Do you support or oppose changes to the current state ballot initiative process? If so, what kind of changes would you consider?

Question. If a person merely misspells the name of the county they reside in, or their city, etc. should the Secretary of State be authorized to reject the signature if the person is a validly registered citizen and elector due to a technical error? I do not believe so.

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.

2020

David Stiver did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Campaign finance summary

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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.

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David Stiver campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Colorado State Senate District 10	Lost primary	$39,171	$33,582
Grand total			$39,171	$33,582
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

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Candidate

Colorado State Senate District 10

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Colorado State Senate

Leadership

Senate President:James Coleman

Majority Leader:Robert Rodriguez

Minority Leader:Cleave Simpson

Senators

District 1

Byron Pelton (R)

District 2

Lisa Frizell (R)

District 3

Nick Hinrichsen (D)

District 4

Mark Baisley (R)

District 5

Marc Catlin (R)

District 6

Cleave Simpson (R)

District 7

Janice Rich (R)

District 8

Dylan Roberts (D)

District 9

Lynda Zamora Wilson (R)

District 10

Larry Liston (R)

District 11

Thomas Exum (D)

District 12

Marc Snyder (D)

District 13

Scott Bright (R)

District 14

Cathy Kipp (D)

District 15

Janice Marchman (D)

District 16

Chris Kolker (D)

District 17

Katie Wallace (D)

District 18

Judy Amabile (D)

District 19

Lindsey Daugherty (D)

District 20

Lisa Cutter (D)

District 21

Dafna Jenet (D)

District 22

Jessie Danielson (D)

District 23

Barbara Kirkmeyer (R)

District 24

Kyle Mullica (D)

District 25

Faith Winter (D)

District 26

Jeff Bridges (D)

District 27

Tom Sullivan (D)

District 28

Mike Weissman (D)

District 29

Iman Jodeh (D)

District 30

John Carson (R)

District 31

Matt Ball (D)

District 32

Robert Rodriguez (D)

District 33

James Coleman (D)

District 34

Julie Gonzales (D)

District 35

Rodney Pelton (R)

Democratic Party (23)

Republican Party (12)