Matt Johnston was born in Craig, Colorado. He earned a bachelor's degree from Western Colorado University in 2011 and a graduate degree from Gonzaga University in 2015. His career experience includes working as an adjunct professor and varsity football coach for Brighton High School. He previously worked as a coal miner in multiple Colorado power plants and coal mines.[1][2]
Matt Johnston completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Johnston's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
Matt Johnston, a Colorado State Senate candidate, comes from a working-class family, with his father serving as Fire Chief and his mother running a hair salon. He earned a football scholarship to Western Colorado University, worked in coal mines and power plants to pay for school, and completed graduate studies at Gonzaga University. Now a varsity football coach at Brighton High School, he lives with his wife Patricia, a nurse, and their two daughters,
Lowering the Cost of Living and Making Housing Affordable: Matt is dedicated to creating a more affordable Colorado for everyone, especially in addressing the pressing housing crisis. He understands that high housing costs are impacting working families and young people, pushing them out of the communities they love. In the State Senate, Matt will champion policies that promote attainable homeownership, incentivize affordable housing developments, and market based approaches that lower costs to renters to keep housing within reach for all.
Supporting Agriculture and Strengthening Rural Communities: Colorado’s agricultural industry is the backbone of the state’s economy and culture, and Matt is committed to advocating for its growth and sustainability. Coming from a working-class background, he appreciates the hard work that goes into farming, ranching, and maintaining rural livelihoods. Matt will fight for investments in rural infrastructure, support for agricultural innovation, and policies that empower farmers and ranchers to build generational wealth, protecting rural Colorado’s way of life for the future.
Tackling the Politics of Division to Drive Real Progress: In a time when divisive politics often get in the way of real solutions, Matt is determined to bring people together and prioritize what truly matters to Colorado’s communities. He believes in working across the aisle to find common ground, crafting policies that work for everyone, regardless of party. By focusing on collaboration, practical solutions, and community values, Matt will ensure that the State Senate addresses the real issues Coloradans face, setting aside partisanship for genuine progress.
Integrity and Accountability: They should act with honesty, transparency, and responsibility, making decisions that earn and maintain public trust.
Empathy and Inclusivity: An official should genuinely understand and address the diverse needs of their community, ensuring everyone feels represented and supported.
Commitment to Collaboration: Working across political divides to find common ground is essential for creating solutions that benefit the entire community.
Representing Constituents: They must actively listen to their community’s needs, advocate for their interests, and ensure that their voices are heard in policy decisions.
Creating and Supporting Effective Legislation: Crafting policies that address local challenges, from affordability and public safety to economic growth, is essential to improving the lives of residents.
Promoting Transparency and Accountability: Keeping constituents informed and being open to feedback helps maintain trust and demonstrates commitment to serving the public effectively.
Colorado Professional Fire Fighters, Pipefitters Local 208, Plumbers Local 3
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.
Note: Johnston submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on October 26, 2024.
Matt Johnston is currently in his final term serving Ward 1 residents on the Brighton City Council. During his time on council, Matt blew the whistle on fiscal mismanagement of taxpayer dollars, recovering over $70 million in water funds. This led to a historic successful recall effort of the Mayor to hold City Hall accountable. Matt led the charge on council to lower water rates for all residents of Brighton, and lower the metro district fees in his ward saving taxpayers thousands. Matt also served as Mayor Pro-Tem fighting to clean up city government, finish projects and return fiscal responsibility to city hall.
From a working-class background, Matt’s father served as Fire Chief while his mother cut hair. He was blessed to earn a football scholarship out of high school to attend Western Colorado University. While in school, Matt worked in the coal mines and power plants of Trinidad, Craig and Hayden to help pay for his education. Matt completed his graduate studies at Gonzaga University and has taught at multiple higher education institutions in Colorado. In his free time, Matt is a varsity football coach at Brighton High School. Matt’s passion is his family! Matt’s wife Patricia has been a dedicated nurse for over 15 years. They have two daughters they cherish. Olivia Michelle age 7, Maya Marie age 2, and two furry family members, Golden Retriever Luna, and their brand new kitten Aces.
WAGES ARE STAGNANT: Senate District 13 families are living in tough financial times. It is no secret that inflation rates and a lack of wage increases have created major hardships in our communities. In fact, Colorado’s inflation has recently been higher than the national average, leaving many of us struggling to simply make ends meet. Coloradans have been paying thousands more in groceries, rent and utilities since the pre-pandemic era, preventing most of us everyday workers from gaining any ground or even thinking about getting ahead. I’ll work to close the wage gap while advocating for our small businesses, and tell the large corporations to stop raising costs, and instead raise our pay!
WE ARE OVERLY TAXED AND CORPORATE PROFITS RISE: Coloradans work hard but many are living paycheck to paycheck, working multiple jobs and barely able to keep their families afloat. The financial hardships and lack of quality opportunities leave families in Adams and Weld counties with little ability to advance. Providing well-paying jobs, supporting small businesses and strengthening employment support programs must be a priority. Having a growing, strong Colorado economy will cultivate financial security and dependable job growth — which is beneficial to our communities and families.
GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT BE DONE IN THE BACKROOM: We depend on our government to consider, analyze and enact laws and programs that are best for our communities. Governmental transparency is the only approach to uphold accountability and preserve the voice of the people. Transparency is an obligation, not an option; our elected officials represent the people in their communities, not their own interests or the interests of those who line their pockets. Transparency and accountability of our elected officials will reduce corruption and eliminate “slow rolling” information to the media and public, allowing the people to better hold their elected officials accountable for promises made to their communities.
My main goal is to help combat the political extremism that plagues us. We are all much more alike as Coloradans than we are told we are! Democrats, Independents and Republicans all deserve a voice at our State Capitol. We must expand high-quality jobs through apprenticeships and vocational training centered around the “worker”. We must address our housing crisis with homes for renters and home buyers. We need upward mobility that tackles racial disparity and creates generational wealth through homeownership. Medical visits, lifesaving medications and everyday prescriptions shouldn’t be a privilege, they are a human right. We also need to assure healthcare for Women is not handcuffed by politics.
I look up to my wife Patricia more than anybody. Her work ethic as a nurse and the way she balances parenting with her very hard jobs over these years is inspiring. She has battled racism and sexism to become a role model for our children. If we could all be more like her with her self sacrifice for the betterment of others this world would be a much better place
The true meaning of representing others has been lost. While many elected officials believe that their personal views are the answer, to truly be the voice of the people we must take the views of our constituents and be their voice. Partisanship and extremism continually plagues our ability to truly govern. Our core responsibility as representatives in SD 13 must be to combat the way we are dividing each other and instead come together on the things we agree on. Many will continue to divide us by party politics and through the media using personal rhetoric without fact. It is time we stop allowing this divisive behavior from entering our governmental systems.
The legacy I would like to leave is one of true representation. One where the people feel that their voice is not just heard, but enacted in the legislative process.
The first war in Iraq. I was very young in my pre-teens, but I remember watching the bombs dropping in the 'shock and awe' campaign like it was yesterday.
My very first job was as a 16 year old working as a construction laborer between sports and school. I had it for just one year but it taught me the work ethic I carry to this day.
Team of Rivals: The Political Genius of Abraham Lincoln.
It taught me that when assuming power, the worst thing you can do is be surrounded by yes men. The most powerful leadership skill you can have is by having those around you that disagree with you. It is the only way to help those that you might not be aware of that need help.
Jed Bartlett from the show 'The West Wing'. While he had his issues and I disagree with some of his politics, he seemed to have a heart for the people of our country like no other real president in my lifetime.
Fighting against the 'good ole boys' regardless of the consequences. I have not been able to become a part of the upper hierarchy as I will not put the relationships of those I work with over those I represent.
With the recent Labor bills that were vetoed by the Governor, it is obvious that a strong voice is needed to make sure that gubernatorial power is not used to run over the voice of the legislature. The ideal relationship is a more balanced approach as we in the Senate must be heard. The Governor must work with us to make sure that vetoes are attempted only after conversations are held in open formats for the public. While we will not always have agreeance on policy, we must have better behavior involving transparency between the two offices.
It is easy to say what you will do when you are elected if never serving the public. It is a whole other thing to actually govern and be a voice for the people. Previous experience is key to becoming a state legislator. Otherwise the learning curve will be so great that someone learning on the job will do an injustice to those we are charged to represent.
To actually get anything done in the state legislature you must have the ability to garner votes on issues that matter. While relationship building is one way to make things happen, there is also the use of public pressure that can help win votes for the public good.
No. I have worked for legislators on both sides of the political spectrum and have found that I care about those I represent more than I care about modeling myself around past representatives.
After finding out about the $70 million dollars hidden in Brightons utility fund, I went door to door trying to recall the Mayor. One resident I spoke with will always stay with me. They were in a small home and outside in a wheelchair. He was a veteran of the Vietnam war. He explained that the City was threatening him to shut off his water and was scared he would never be able to pay it. I used his exact story to start a program that helps those in need to get a billing break to make sure that the City would not take away water from the citizens we must serve. He put me to tears, but also reminded me of what we are actually supposed to be doing in government.
With the political violence and extremism that we see in todays politics, there might be an occasion when emergency powers must be used to save our state.
Matt doesn't just have views on financial transparency and government accountability. He has proven that he will provide it! In his first months on City Council he was presented with a $70 million dollar fund that had been hidden in the utility department. Matt instantly went public about the money because he truly feels that government money is money owned by the people. Matt was able to recover these funds, force a forensic audit on utility billing, and eventually lower water bills for every single Brighton resident. It is one thing to say you will hold government financially accountable. Matt has! The media covered this issue heavily and his fight to hold City Hall accountable for taxpayer spending continues to this day.
The initiative process should be open to the public, but has been taken over by highly funded special interests. We should look into different approaches but should not take away the ability for the people to change laws on the ballot.
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.
Note: Johnston submitted the above survey responses to Ballotpedia on May 26, 2024.
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.
Matt Johnston campaign contribution history
Year
Office
Status
Contributions
Expenditures
2024*
Colorado State Senate District 13
Lost general
$128,104
$130,035
Grand total
$128,104
$130,035
Sources: OpenSecrets, Federal Elections Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).
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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.
