Joe Johnson (Colorado)

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

Joe Johnson

Libertarian Party

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Personal

Birthplace

Camden, N.J.

Religion

Agnostic

Profession

Director, Partnership development

Joe Johnson (Libertarian Party) ran for election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 61. He did not appear on the ballot for the general election on November 5, 2024.

Biography

Johnson was born in Camden, New Jersey. His career experience includes working as a director in partnership development. He is a former trustee for the town of Frederick, Colorado.

Johnson has been affiliated with the following organizations:

• National Libertarian Party
• Libertarian Party of Colorado
• Ducks Unlimited
• Gun Owners of America
• Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

Elections

2024

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 61

Incumbent Eliza Hamrick won election in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 61 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eliza Hamrick (D)	100.0	32,799

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 32,799
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Joe Johnson (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 61

Incumbent Eliza Hamrick advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 61 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Eliza Hamrick	100.0	6,805

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,805
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

• Luis Moy (R) (Disqualified, appeared on ballot)

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Johnson in this election.

2022

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 19

Jennifer Parenti defeated incumbent Dan Woog and Joe Johnson in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 19 on November 8, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Parenti (D)	50.3	21,917
		Dan Woog (R)	47.0	20,450
		Joe Johnson (L)	2.7	1,168

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 43,535
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 19

Jennifer Parenti advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 19 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Jennifer Parenti	100.0	7,566

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,566
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 19

Incumbent Dan Woog advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 19 on June 28, 2022.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Woog	100.0	7,996

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7,996
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Dan Woog defeated Geneiveve Schneider and Joe Johnson in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Woog (R)	59.8	35,064
		Geneiveve Schneider (D)	35.6	20,906
		Joe Johnson (L)	4.6	2,711

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 58,681
= 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.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Geneiveve Schneider advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Geneiveve Schneider	100.0	9,257

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,257
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Dan Woog defeated Patricia Miller and Corey Seulean in the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Dan Woog	62.4	8,620
	Submit photo	Patricia Miller	37.6	5,196
		Corey Seulean (Write-in)	0.0	0

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 13,816
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Libertarian convention

Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Joe Johnson advanced from the Libertarian convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on April 13, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Joe Johnson (L)

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Incumbent Lori Saine defeated Brandon Bobian and Joe Johnson in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on November 6, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lori Saine (R)	59.7	25,816
	Submit photo	Brandon Bobian (D)	35.5	15,346
		Joe Johnson (L)	4.8	2,060

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 43,222 (100.00% precincts reporting)
= 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.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Brandon Bobian advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Brandon Bobian	100.0	5,136

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 5,136
= 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.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63

Incumbent Lori Saine advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 63 on June 26, 2018.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Lori Saine	100.0	7,625

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified.	Total votes: 7,625
= 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.

2016

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 4, 2016.

Incumbent Lori Saine defeated Thomas Hudson and Joe Johnson in the Colorado House of Representatives District 63 general election.

Colorado House of Representatives, District 63 General Election, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lori Saine Incumbent	60.87%	26,952
	Democratic	Thomas Hudson	30.83%	13,651
	Libertarian	Joe Johnson	8.31%	3,678
Total Votes				44,281
Source: Colorado Secretary of State

Thomas Hudson ran unopposed in the Colorado House of Representatives District 63 Democratic primary.

Colorado House of Representatives, District 63 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate
	Democratic	Thomas Hudson  (unopposed)

Incumbent Lori Saine defeated Colleen Whitlow in the Colorado House of Representatives District 63 Republican primary.

Colorado House of Representatives, District 63 Republican Primary, 2016
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Republican	Lori Saine Incumbent	62.74%	3,533
	Republican	Colleen Whitlow	37.26%	2,098
Total Votes				5,631

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Joe Johnson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

2022

Joe Johnson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

2020

Joe Johnson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnson'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 believe in Liberty and freedom first and foremost. I believe that individuals are sovereign, and when left to their own devices, most people will chose to lead honest productive lives. I believe that from this basic fundamental belief upon which this nation was founded, we have lost our way. We now have a government at both the state and national level that is involved in every level of decision making in which we as citizens engage. This has made us dependent upon 'leaders' and bureaucrats who subjugate us for their own advancement. A perfect example is our monitory system where our money is no longer backed by anything of value (gold) and is now little more than paper. The result of this is a two-party system falling over each other to pass out "free money" by the trillions. This will end in disaster. As such, it is vital for Americans to become more involved in government at all levels to take back our power. Both the Republican and Democratic Presidential candidates compete with each other to be the next Santa Claus, promising more 'free' programs and money that they do not have to give. Yet the only other candidate on all 50 state ballots - Jo Jorgensen - who is calling attention to this disaster, has been barred from the debate stage. As we move headlong into full-on socialism, no one but the Libertarians are pointing out the long historical record of these disastrous policies. This year you can vote to take back your liberty, this year, you can vote Libertarian.

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?

• Over and over we hear that we need to raise taxes in order to pay for much needed infrastructure improvements. What is not discussed is the fact that Colorado drivers pay far more each year in taxes (gas taxes, taxes on all things related to automotive service and supplies, vehicle registrations, etc..) than is necessary for these improvements. The trouble is that these taxes go into the general fund and are used for many, many things beyond infrastructure. if elected, I will introduce a bill to remove auto-related taxes, and once again have then put into the highway fund, and unable to be used for anything but infrastructure. We do not need to raise taxes, we need to stop wasting our taxes on per projects.
• The facts are in, the COVID lock-down has caused more harm than good. The World Health Organization now admits that the damage to our health from lock downs exceeds the risks of COVID. It is time for a more logical - and liberty oriented- approach to this disease.
• Never in our nation's history have we been so divided and polarized. The right will not listen to, or discuss with the left, no matter how good the idea. The left will not work with the right no matter how valid their points may be. It is time! Time to elect Libertarians to office. Only by introducing a 3rd point of view will we finally being all sides together for legitimate discussion.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

No matter what the policy or issue, you can know my answer by knowing my philosophy. Unlike my opponents on the right or left, ALL of my decisions are made by a moral viewpoint. This viewpoint is simple; Liberty. Thus, when you ask me my view on a proposal, you can simply ask yourself; "will this proposal enhance the respect for the people's liberty, or will it restrict their liberty? Anything that will restrict liberty, I will fight against. No matter how much I might like an idea, I will never vote to steal from one group to give to another. Free people live together peacefully and voluntary. Force is NEVER the solution.

With the above said, Budgets in every state have been devastated as a result of the misguided closing of our economy. I will work to fully reopen our economy. Additionally, I will fight against efforts to raise taxes. The Colorado people have to live with reduced family budgets, our state government must do the same.

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

Defense of liberty.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Unrelenting and passionate defender of individual liberty and personal responsibility. Caring, loving, and kind to all friend and foe alike.

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

America's Bicentennial. I was a teenager and celebrations took place all around my hometown. I remember the pomp and pageantry and just knew that there was something deeper beyond the celebrations. Growing up only a half hour from Philadelphia, I soon after became deeply immersed in the enlightenment era and the quest for protecting liberty from all who seek to repress it. This set me on a lifelong journey that continues today, and brought me to realize just how far off of the track of respecting individual liberty we as a nation, and as a state have fallen. It is this fight to restore a healthy respect for individual liberty that brought me to the Libertarian Party in 2000, and has crafted my personal work since.

What is your favorite book? Why?

The Fountainhead. Howard Roark, despite overwhelming pressure, stuck to his principals - even to his own determent. It matters little whether I found his stance to be over something trifle, he never give up on his determination to live his life according to his own principals.
This book, and that character exemplify's Socrates' famous quote; "The unexamined life is not worth living"

Every state besides Nebraska has two legislative chambers. What do you consider the most important differences between the legislative chambers in your state?

Unfortunately, just as the Seventeenth Amendment weakened state's rights, and gave very little difference between the House and Senate in Washington, here in Colorado having a bicameral legislature provides very little - if any - advantage. As such the heavily populated parts of the state wield much greater power over the rest of the state. If we however had individual Counties elect one house of the legislature (either by the people of the county, or by the county commissioners of the county), and the other house elected by district as we do now, we would have a more true set of checks and balances giving the less populated areas of the state more equal representation within our legislature.

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

The executive branch is supposed to be a check and balance against too much overreach. The Governor is supposed to be the fact of the state with very little power. His only real power is supposed to be his power of the veto. A Governor was never supposed to be able to issue executive orders to get laws passed that he wants. The executive order is intended to be used in cases of emergencies ONLY. In this day and age with electronic communication, calling the legislature together to make decisions in critical emergency situations is not difficult, and so we should have seen a reduction in executive orders. The reverse has proven true. If the Governor wishes to write laws, he should run for the legislature and let someone who will respect the process run for Governor.

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

Absolutely! Our de facto "2-party" is, and has been, tearing this state, and this nation apart. With very rare exceptions, every issue, and every response to that issue in met with partisan bickering. If a Republican came up with a solution that normally would have been the type of solution that a Democrat would have proposed, the Democratic leadership, and thus the Democratic legislators would all denounce it and fight against it. The exact same holds true in reverse. This problem has been ongoing for some time in this state - and nation, but it has risen to epic proportions. If enough 3rd party candidates were to get elected, both Democrats and Republicans would have no other choice but to work with these legislators, and by default, with one another. You can see this in action during the elections. In a "2-party" system, negative campaigning is highly effective. Spreading fear gets one elected. When was the last time that our population voted "for" a candidate for President? Most voters will admit that they vote "to keep the other guy from getting elected." Just watch the political ads this season and count the number of negative ads vs the positive uplifting ads. This negativity and attacking does not work when there are more than 2 viable candidates. Nations with governments with multi-party systems do not suffer this same level of negativity and partisan bickering. The same holds true in professional, and personal relationships. This same advantage will play out in the legislature. If you wish to see a more cooperative and productive legislature, you must vote to end the political duopoly and help elect 3rd party candidates.

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

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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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Joe Johnson campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2022	Colorado House of Representatives District 19	Lost general	$0	$0
2018	Colorado House of Representatives District 63	Lost general	$0	N/A**
Grand total			$0	N/A**
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
** Data on expenditures is not available for this election cycle
Note: Totals above reflect only available data.

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Colorado House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Julie McCluskie

Majority Leader:Monica Duran

Representatives

District 1

Javier Mabrey (D)

District 2

Steven Woodrow (D)

District 3

Meg Froelich (D)

District 4

Cecelia Espenoza (D)

District 5

Alex Valdez (D)

District 6

Sean Camacho (D)

District 7

Jennifer Bacon (D)

District 8

Lindsay Gilchrist (D)

District 9

Emily Sirota (D)

District 10

Junie Joseph (D)

District 11

Karen McCormick (D)

District 12

Kyle Brown (D)

District 13

Julie McCluskie (D)

District 14

Vacant

District 15

Scott Bottoms (R)

District 16

Rebecca Keltie (R)

District 17

Regina English (D)

District 18

Amy Paschal (D)

District 19

Dan Woog (R)

District 20

Jarvis Caldwell (R)

District 21

Mary Bradfield (R)

District 22

Kenneth DeGraaf (R)

District 23

Monica Duran (D)

District 24

Lisa Feret (D)

District 25

Tammy Story (D)

District 26

Meghan Lukens (D)

District 27

Brianna Titone (D)

District 28

Sheila Lieder (D)

District 29

Shannon Bird (D)

District 30

Rebekah Stewart (D)

District 31

Jacque Phillips (D)

District 32

Manny Rutinel (D)

District 33

William Lindstedt (D)

District 34

Jenny Willford (D)

District 35

Lorena Garcia (D)

District 36

Michael Carter (D)

District 37

Chad Clifford (D)

District 38

Gretchen Rydin (D)

District 39

Brandi Bradley (R)

District 40

Naquetta Ricks (D)

District 41

Jamie Jackson (D)

District 42

Mandy Lindsay (D)

District 43

Robert Marshall (D)

District 44

Anthony Hartsook (R)

District 45

Max Brooks (R)

District 46

Tisha Mauro (D)

District 47

Ty Winter (R)

District 48

Carlos Barron (R)

District 49

Lesley Smith (D)

District 50

Ryan Gonzalez (R)

District 51

Ron Weinberg (R)

District 52

Yara Zokaie (D)

District 53

Andrew Boesenecker (D)

District 54

Matt Soper (R)

District 55

Rick Taggart (R)

District 56

Chris Richardson (R)

District 57

Elizabeth Velasco (D)

District 58

Larry Suckla (R)

District 59

Katie Stewart (D)

District 60

Stephanie Luck (R)

District 61

Eliza Hamrick (D)

District 62

Matthew Martinez (D)

District 63

Dusty Johnson (R)

District 64

Scott Slaugh (R)

District 65

Lori Sander (R)

Democratic Party (43)

Republican Party (21)

Vacancies (1)