Michael Pierson (Colorado)

Michael Pierson (Democratic Party) is running for election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 22. He declared candidacy for the Democratic primary scheduled on June 30, 2026.^[source]

Pierson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Michael Pierson served in the U.S. Air Force from 1989 to 2009. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Cincinnati and a graduate degree from The Ohio State University. His career experience includes working as a public relations professional.^[1]

Pierson has been affiliated with the following organizations:^[2]

Toastmasters International
Air and Space Force Association
Veterans of Foreign Wars
Disabled American Veterans

Elections

2026

General election

The primary will occur on June 30, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Michael Pierson is running in the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22 on June 30, 2026.

		Candidate
		Michael Pierson

	There are no incumbents in this race.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.

2024

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Incumbent Kenneth DeGraaf defeated Michael Pierson and Daniel Campaña in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 22 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kenneth DeGraaf (R)	56.6	25,890
		Michael Pierson (D)	38.6	17,665
	Submit photo	Daniel Campaña (Unaffiliated)	4.7	2,170

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 45,725
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Daniel Schinsky (L)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Michael Pierson advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michael Pierson	100.0	4,635

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 4,635
= 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 22

Incumbent Kenneth DeGraaf advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22 on June 25, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Kenneth DeGraaf	100.0	9,538

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,538
= 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.

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Pierson in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

Michael Pierson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pierson'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’m running to represent House District 22 because I believe our community deserves a voice in Denver that puts people ahead of politics. Elected officials should focus on making government work for everyone—not on personal egos or agendas.

My family and I have called this district home since 2005. My wife and I raised our kids here, and they attended Jenkins Middle School and Doherty High. Like so many of you, I understand the challenges families face—working hard to pay the mortgage or rent, keeping our neighborhoods safe, and making sure our children get the education they need to succeed.

Service has been the constant in my life. I served as an Air Force officer, then as a civil servant, and now as a volunteer with Care and Share Food Bank and the Space Foundation. Public service isn’t just a career for me—it’s who I am.

If elected, I’ll listen to your concerns, fight for our district’s priorities, and work every day to make you proud to have me as your representative in the Colorado Legislature.

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?

Real Results, Not Just Speeches I’m committed to delivering for the people of House District 22. That means pushing CDOT to prioritize long-overdue improvements to Powers Boulevard, fully funding our public schools, and creating a citizen-led commission to cut red tape so our laws work for today’s Colorado.
Service First I know how to get things done while keeping public service at the heart of every decision. From my years as an Air Force officer to my career as a civil servant and now as a volunteer with Care and Share Food Bank and the Space Foundation, I’ve built a lifetime of serving others.
A Patient Progressive Approach I want Colorado to be a safer, cleaner, and more welcoming place. But we have to be smart—moving forward without piling more costs onto working families. I’ll fight for progress that strengthens our communities without making it harder to afford to live here.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about making government work for everyone, not just the wealthy or well-connected. We live in the richest country in history, and we should be able to provide the basics that every family depends on—strong public schools, safe and reliable roads, and affordable healthcare. These aren’t luxuries; they’re necessities that give people the foundation to build better lives.

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

My go-to leadership example is General Colin Powell. His Servant-Leader style and his “13 rules of Leadership” have guided me for decades.

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

I think elected officials are responsible for making government work for everyone, leaving their egos at the door.

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

First and foremost, a Representative must be a strong voice for the people of their district—speaking up and fighting for policies that make a real difference in their lives.

Equally important is how that work gets done. Representatives should act with professionalism and help create a respectful, productive environment where the people’s business comes first.

Finally, an effective Representative must be willing to work across differences—finding common ground with colleagues from all backgrounds and viewpoints to craft policies that benefit not just one district, but the entire state of Colorado.

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

President Richard Nixon's resignation. I was only 7, but I remember the impact it seemed to have on the country at the time. I've been fascinated by historic accounts of that time; it impacted generations of Americans.

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

My dad managed a city park and got me a job cleaning bathrooms and picking up trash. That lasted two summers in High School.

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

The Governor as the chief executive should have a professional, working relationship with the legislature, bringing to them issues of importance to make the state run better for its people. The Governor should be open to conversations with legislators and honest about how she/he feels about pending legislation.

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

Population growth is driving the most important changes for Colorado. Our beauty and opportunity are attracting more people, driving up housing prices, driving down housing availability, and taking a toll on our infrastructure.

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

Yes and no. I think the people who best represent their district should be elected to office. Experience can be gained through experienced mentors if they need to learn the processes.

My professional experience in the Federal Government put me in direct contact with State, County and Local officials. It was my job to facilitate cooperation between these levels of government and the Air Force.

Within my Air Force experience, I have been part of massive organizations with multi-billion-dollar budgets. I've seen how planning is done and how government agencies are forces to make and carry out hard decisions.

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

Yes—it’s absolutely vital. A legislature brings together people from every corner of the state, each representing different communities and perspectives. To get meaningful work done for the people of Colorado, everyone’s voice needs to be heard, and compromises need to be made. That requires building strong, professional relationships, even with those we may not always agree with personally. Respectful collaboration is the only way to move good ideas forward and make sure the legislature delivers results for all Coloradans.

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?

During my 2024 campaign, I spoke with hundreds of residents in House District 22, and a common theme stood out: the rising cost of living in Colorado. Many people told me they worry they’ll have to leave our state—even though they love their jobs, their neighborhoods, and their community. This is heartbreaking, especially here in Colorado Springs, where so many of our families are military veterans or currently serving. These are hard-working people who make our community strong, and we risk losing them if Colorado becomes unaffordable. That’s why I’m committed to finding practical ways to bring down costs and keep Colorado a place where people can put down roots and thrive.

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

The legislature should define clear limits on the scope and duration of emergency powers in advance, through legislation passed before a crisis arises. This ensures accountability and prevents overreach while still allowing government to act quickly when needed. At the same time, the legislature must remain flexible and responsive to new or unforeseen threats—whether that’s a public health emergency, a natural disaster, or challenges to our democracy. Striking the right balance between preparedness and adaptability is essential to protecting both public safety and individual freedoms.

What is the first bill you would introduce if elected?

The first bill I would introduce would eliminate the “second vote” requirement in Colorado law that makes it harder for workers to organize a union. Right now, employees not only have to vote to unionize, but then face a second vote before the union is allowed to operate.

This outdated rule gives corporations the upper hand. They can stall negotiations after the first vote, bring in teams of lawyers, and undercut workers’ efforts before a union even gets started. It’s a relic of old-fashioned union-busting tactics, and it doesn’t belong in a modern economy.

Workers deserve a fair process to organize and advocate for themselves. By updating this law, we can level the playing field and ensure Colorado’s workforce is protected in the 21st century.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

(2024) VoteVets, American Federation of Teachers-CO, Colorado AFL-CIO. Ceasefire Colorado.

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

I support state-wide ballot initiatives. They offer voters a Direct-Democracy alternative to the Legislature. We need to do more, however, to prevent out-of-state corporate and PAC money from overwhelming the system. So far, Colorado voters have seen through the smokescreens these PAC's have laid down. Funding must be transparent.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

I'm proud of raising a happy, healthy, productive family, despite the turmoil of a 20-year military service to my county.

What legislation would you enact related to election administration in your state?

I think our state and local elections are as fair, safe and accurate as humanly possible. Technology advances and lessons learned from previous elections will help us make our elections even more secure.

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.

2024

Michael Pierson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Pierson'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'm running to represent HD-22 because I believe my district needs a representative to represent all of us in Denver. I think elected officials are responsible for making government work for everyone, leaving their egos at the door.

I've lived in this district since 2005. My wife and I raised our children here; they attended Jenkins Middle School and Doherty High School. I know our district is full of hard-working individuals with families to support and mortgages or rent to pay. We want government that works for us; fixing the roads, keeping us safe from crime and educating our children to be productive citizens who care.

I've spent a lifetime in service to my country, first as an Air Force officer, then as a government civil servant and now as a volunteer for Care and Share Foodbank and the Space Foundation. I want to continue to serve you by representing you in the Colorado Legislature. I promise I'll listen to your concerns, I'll prioritize this district, and I'll make you proud that I'm speaking for you.

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?

Elected officials are responsible for making government work for everyone, leaving their egos at the door.
I've spent a lifetime in service to my country, first as an Air Force officer, then as a government civil servant and now as a volunteer for Care and Share Foodbank and the Space Foundation.
I'll prioritize this district, and I'll make you proud that I'm speaking for you.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I'm passionate about making government work for everyone. We're the richest country in the history of the world and should be able to afford great schools, good roads and decent healthcare for all.

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

I think elected officials are responsible for making government work for everyone, leaving their egos at the door.

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

I served my country for more than 30 years. I believe that my "servant leader" attitude would make me successful as an office holder. I'm also an accomplished public speaker and interpersonal communicator. I have no trouble talking to anyone, but I also pride myself on listening.

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

Speaking up and fighting for the issues that impact the people of their district and not becoming distracted with generating publicity.

What legacy would you like to leave?

Someone who put himself out there to serve his fellow citizens.

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

Richard Nixon's resignation. I was only 6, but I remember the impact it seemed to have on the country at the time. I've been fascinated by historic accounts of that time; it impacted generations of Americans.

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

My dad ran a city park in Cincinnati. He got me a summer job on the cleaning crew. I had that job for two summers and made some great friends from different backgrounds.

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

"Keeping the Faith" by Billy Joel. It's about living in the present and not getting stuck in the past.

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

The Governor as the chief executive should have a professional, working relationship with the legislature, bringing to them issues of importance to make the state run better for its people. The Governor should be open to conversations with legislators and honest about how she/he feels about pending legislation.

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

Population growth is driving the most important changes for Colorado. Our beauty and opportunity are attracting more people, driving up housing prices, driving down housing availability, and taking a toll on our infrastructure.

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

Yes and no. I think the people who best represent their district should be elected to office. They can find experienced mentors if they need to learn the processes.

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

It's VITAL. A legislature is a gathering of people representing all sorts of citizens. Everyone's voice needs to be heard and compromises have to be made to get work done for the people of the state. Legislators need to work together professionally, for the good of everyone, even if they don't like each other personally.

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

I admire legislators who stand by their principles, yet still find a way to get things done. Sam Nunn of Georgia, John McCain of Arizona, and Bob Dole of Kansas are my models.

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

I'll go where I'm called to serve.

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

The legislature should limit the scope and term of emergency powers in legislation enacted BEFORE an emergency.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

El Paso County Democratic Party

What committees interest you?

Transportation, environmental, military/veterans affairs, budget

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

The government is responsible to the people, so transparency helps ensure accountability. I understand that some wheeling and dealing has to go on behind the scenes for work to get done for the people, but there needs to be an easy way for citizens to see who has been involved in the process.

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.

Michael Pierson campaign contribution history
Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024*	Colorado House of Representatives District 22	Lost general	$8,291	$7,191
Grand total			$8,291	$7,191
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

Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Personal

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 28, 2024
↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 22, 2025

[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)

[1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 28, 2024

[2] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 22, 2025

[1]

[2]

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Michael Pierson (Colorado)

Contents

Biography

Elections

2026

General election

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Endorsements

2024

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 22

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

2024

Campaign finance summary

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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