Shawn Bennett
Do you have a photo that could go here? Click here to submit it for this profile!
Shawn Bennett (unaffiliated) is running for election for Governor of Colorado. He declared candidacy for the general election scheduled on November 3, 2026.
Bennett was an at-large member of the Westville Community Unit School District 2 school board in Illinois. He assumed office in 1988.
Bennett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Shawn Bennett was born in Greeley, Colorado. He served in the U.S. Navy from 2004 to 2014. He earned a high school diploma from Valley High School. His career experience includes working in law enforcement and life insurance, as well as working in kitchens and as a lumber yard worker, mechanic, and janitor.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Colorado gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2026
General election
The primary will occur on June 30, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for Governor of Colorado
The following candidates are running in the general election for Governor of Colorado on November 3, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Stephen Hamilton (American Constitution Party)  | |
| Kelsey Heikkinen (No Labels Party) | ||
 | Abass Yaya Bamba (No Labels Party) | |
| Shawn Bennett (Unaffiliated) | ||
 | Willow Collamer (Unaffiliated) | |
 | Charles Evanson (Unaffiliated) | |
 | Marla Fernandez (Unaffiliated) | |
| Justin Ganoe (Unaffiliated) | ||
 | Chante Jones (Unaffiliated) | |
| Marcus Marte (Unaffiliated) | ||
| Jarvis Ray (Unaffiliated) | ||
 | Bradley Wall (Unaffiliated) | |
| Matthew Yearous (Unaffiliated) | ||
| ||||
| = 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 Governor of Colorado
The following candidates are running in the Democratic primary for Governor of Colorado on June 30, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Michael Bennet | |
 | Carmen Broesder | |
 | David Hughes | |
| Anthony Martinez | ||
 | William Moses | |
| Daniel Thomas | ||
 | Phil Weiser | |
| ||||
| = 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 Governor of Colorado
The following candidates are running in the Republican primary for Governor of Colorado on June 30, 2026.
| ||||
| = 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
- Robin Jones (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Shawn Bennett completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bennett's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
I’m running for governor because I believe Colorado deserves leadership that puts people before parties. My campaign is built on accountability, transparency, and common sense: protecting TABOR and taxpayers, raising teacher pay and modernizing schools, addressing crime and homelessness with real accountability, defending the Second Amendment while expanding training, and lowering healthcare costs without raising taxes.
I’m an independent candidate because I believe Coloradans are tired of partisan games. I’m not running for Democrats or Republicans, I’m running for the people of Colorado.- Put People Before Parties I’m running as an independent because both Democrats and Republicans have failed Colorado. It’s time for leaders who work for families, not political machines or special interests.
- Accountability and Transparency Through my Colorado Clarity Act, every taxpayer will be able to see exactly where their money is spent. No more backroom deals, no more waste, just real accountability.
- Safer, Stronger, Affordable Colorado From protecting TABOR and cutting waste, to raising teacher pay, fixing roads, tackling homelessness with accountability, and lowering healthcare costs. My focus is building a Colorado where families can afford to live and feel safe again.
That example is one I try to follow in my own life and in this campaign: lead with accountability, serve with humility, and remember that leadership isn’t about titles, it’s about responsibility. I believe Colorado needs more leaders who embody those values, people who work for their communities, not for political gain.
Accountability means taking responsibility for decisions and ensuring that government dollars are used wisely. Transparency means showing taxpayers exactly where their money is going and earning trust through honesty, not spin. These two principles are at the core of my campaign, because without them, government loses legitimacy.
Courage is also critical. It takes courage to stand up to special interests, to push back against both parties when they are wrong, and to make decisions that may not be politically popular but are right for the people you serve.
Elected officials must also value fairness and respect. That means ensuring that every Coloradan, regardless of background, zip code, or income, is treated with dignity and has an opportunity to succeed. It also means applying the law evenly and balancing compassion with responsibility.
Finally, humility is essential. Public service is not about titles or power; it’s about listening to the people, learning from them, and earning their trust every day. No one person has all the answers, but an honest leader will work tirelessly to find solutions, admit mistakes, and never forget who they represent.
Public safety is another core responsibility. Colorado families deserve safe neighborhoods, accountable policing, and justice policies that put victims and communities first while cracking down on repeat offenders and fentanyl traffickers.
Education is central to Colorado’s future, so a governor must ensure teachers are supported, schools are modernized, and students are prepared for real-world jobs. That includes raising teacher pay, reducing administrative waste, and expanding opportunities beyond college to trades, technology, and entrepreneurship.
The governor also has a duty to make Colorado affordable. That means growing our economy without raising taxes by expanding industries like technology, tourism, and cannabis innovation, what I call the Freedom Economy. It also means tackling healthcare costs, which are bankrupting families, by demanding transparency from insurers and hospitals, expanding rural access, and banning surprise billing.
I want my legacy to show that government can be honest, that through transparency, like the Colorado Clarity Act, we proved every dollar could be tracked and every decision explained. I also want to leave behind safer communities, stronger schools, and a state where families can afford to stay and thrive.
I value it because politics today is often shouting matches and one-liners, but real leadership requires being able to calm situations, gain trust, and persuade through respect. The lessons from that book are skills I use every day, and they’re principles I want to carry into leading Colorado.
I think those traits matter in leadership, the ability to take hits, keep your sense of humor, and stay focused on the mission no matter what obstacles come your way. Politics can be messy, but staying resilient and never losing sight of the people you serve is what really counts.
There were times when balancing work, family, and service felt overwhelming, but those struggles shaped who I am. They taught me the value of discipline, resilience, and accountability. They also gave me a deep respect for everyday Coloradans who face their own struggles to make ends meet, raise families, and build a better future.
Colorado families are taxed heavily, yet they see little return because of waste and backroom deals. The governor is the steward of the state budget, and I believe the most important responsibility is making sure every dollar is spent wisely and transparently. That’s why I’ve proposed the Colorado Clarity Act, so taxpayers can see exactly where their money goes.
Public safety is another top responsibility. As someone in law enforcement, I know firsthand how policy decisions impact crime, fentanyl, and repeat offenders. The governor must ensure laws are enforced fairly, communities are safe, and accountability is restored to a system that too often fails families.
Finally, affordability is at the heart of Colorado’s future. From housing and healthcare to roads and education, the governor’s job is to cut waste, protect TABOR, and grow the economy in a way that strengthens opportunity without raising taxes.
The governor’s job should be to set clear priorities, public safety, schools, infrastructure, and affordability, and then hold agencies accountable for staying within those priorities. That requires being directly involved in crafting the budget, not leaving it solely to legislators or bureaucrats.
At the same time, the governor must respect the limits of power. The budget should never be a tool for political games or rewarding friends. That’s why I believe every line item should be transparent to the public. Through my Colorado Clarity Act, taxpayers would be able to track where every dollar goes in real time. This ensures the governor’s involvement strengthens trust rather than concentrating power in the shadows.
If a budget funds priorities like schools, roads, law enforcement, and healthcare access, those should be protected. But when politicians slip in spending that benefits special interests, lobbyists, or pet projects unrelated to Colorado’s needs, that’s where the line-item veto is essential.
I would also commit to full transparency when using this power. If I strike something from the budget, the people deserve to know what I cut and why. That’s consistent with my Colorado Clarity Act, which would allow every taxpayer to see where every dollar goes in real time.
That said, respect does not mean rubber-stamping. Too often, legislatures pass bloated bills filled with favors for special interests, and governors either go along to avoid conflict or fight simply for partisan gain. I believe the governor’s role is to hold the legislature accountable, work with them when they are serving the people, and oppose them when they are serving themselves.
The best relationship is one where both sides debate honestly, compromise when it benefits Coloradans, and stand firm when principles are at stake. As governor, I will work with legislators of both parties, but I will also use every tool available, from veto power to the Clarity Act, to ensure transparency, cut waste, and protect taxpayers.
I love that you can meet people from all walks of life who may disagree politically, yet still share the same pride in our outdoors, our communities, and our way of life. We value freedom, but we also value fairness. We love the beauty of our land, but we also know it takes hard work to preserve it.
Affordability: Families are being squeezed by rising housing costs, healthcare bills, and everyday expenses. If we do nothing, Colorado will become a place where only the wealthy can afford to stay. The challenge is to grow our economy in a way that protects TABOR, lowers costs, and creates opportunity without driving families out.
Public Safety: Fentanyl, crime, and soft-on-crime policies have already taken a toll on our communities. Over the next decade, we must restore accountability in our justice system and ensure families feel safe again, or Colorado will continue to see crime erode quality of life and economic stability.
Trust in Government: Perhaps the biggest challenge is that many Coloradans no longer believe their government works for them. Waste, backroom deals, and broken promises have created deep distrust. If we don’t address this, no reform will last. That’s why transparency through measures like my Colorado Clarity Act is critical.
At the same time, emergency powers must never be abused. They should not be used to bypass the legislature, restrict constitutional rights, or impose policies that belong in the hands of voters. Emergency authority should be limited in scope, temporary in duration, and subject to oversight by both the legislature and the public.
In my view, the proper role of emergency powers is to stabilize the situation quickly, get resources where they’re needed, protect families, and save lives, then transition back to normal legislative and democratic processes as soon as possible.
I would support changes that make the process more accessible for genuine grassroots efforts while making it harder for big-money special interests to hijack it. That means requiring more transparency in campaign funding, ensuring voters know exactly who is paying for signature gathering, and keeping the single-subject rule so initiatives are clear and honest.
At the same time, I oppose changes that would make it harder for everyday Coloradans to get an initiative on the ballot, like excessive geographic restrictions or rules designed to favor the political elite.
Executive authority must be exercised with accountability and restraint. It’s not about ruling from the top down, but about representing the people who granted that authority in the first place. To me, it means using every tool available to protect families, keep communities safe, safeguard taxpayers, and create opportunity without overreach.
It also means making hard decisions in times of crisis. Whether it’s wildfires, public safety threats, or economic challenges, a governor must be calm under pressure, courageous enough to take decisive action, and humble enough to listen to experts and everyday citizens alike.
It was a reminder that public service isn’t just about policy, it’s about honoring the people and families who have given so much for our country and our state. Her story reinforced why I am running: to serve people with accountability, respect, and a deep appreciation for those who’ve carried burdens most of us will never fully understand.
I take pride in the fact that I’ve been able to earn the trust of both my colleagues and my community in that role. To me, that trust is the real accomplishment, because it’s something you can’t buy or spin, you have to live it and earn it daily. It’s that same mindset of service and accountability that I want to bring with me as governor.
On the development side, I believe the state should create an environment where AI companies and researchers can thrive. That means reducing red tape, supporting innovation hubs, and encouraging partnerships between universities, startups, and established businesses. Colorado has the talent and the opportunity to be a leader in this field, and the state should help unlock that potential.
On the use side, government must set clear rules for transparency, data privacy, and accountability. Citizens should know how AI is being used in government services, policing, healthcare, and education. AI should never be a tool for hidden surveillance or unchecked decision-making.
I also believe the governor should defend state sovereignty over elections. That means keeping Washington or outside interests from interfering in how Colorado runs its process. At the same time, we must make sure our own systems are secure, auditable, and free from backroom manipulation.
Finally, I would push to make the process easier for citizens while harder for special interests to game. That includes streamlining registration and reporting, cutting bureaucratic red tape, and expanding transparency so every Coloradan can see how votes are counted, how money is spent, and how reforms are implemented.
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
Campaign finance information for this candidate is not yet available from OpenSecrets. That information will be published here once it is available.
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on August 27, 2025
