Vivian Smotherman
Vivian Smotherman (Democratic Party) ran for election to the Colorado State Senate to represent District 6. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Smotherman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Vivian Smotherman was born in Detroit, Michigan. She served in the U.S. Navy from 1990 to 1993. She graduated from Thornton High School. She attended Regis College, the University of New Mexico, and earned a bachelor's degree from Fort Lewis College in 2024. Her career experience includes working as a maintenance supervisor in offshore oil, teacher, farmer, and Navy radio operator. Smotherman has been affiliated with the American Anthropological Association and Phi Alpha Theta.[1][2]
Elections
2024
See also: Colorado State Senate elections, 2024
General election
General election for Colorado State Senate District 6
Incumbent Cleave Simpson Jr. defeated Vivian Smotherman in the general election for Colorado State Senate District 6 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Cleave Simpson Jr. (R)  | 55.9 | 52,131 |
 | Vivian Smotherman (D) | 44.1 | 41,108 | |
| Total votes: 93,239 | |||
| = 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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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Frederick Williams (L)
- Lucas Mize (L)
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Colorado State Senate District 6
Vivian Smotherman advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado State Senate District 6 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Vivian Smotherman | 100.0 | 13,010 |
| Total votes: 13,010 | |||
| = 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 State Senate District 6
Incumbent Cleave Simpson Jr. advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado State Senate District 6 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Cleave Simpson Jr. | 100.0 | 14,620 |
| Total votes: 14,620 | |||
| = 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
To view Smotherman's endorsements as published by their campaign, click here. Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Smotherman in this election.
Pledges
Smotherman signed the following pledges.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Vivian Smotherman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Smotherman's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I’ve served in leadership positions my entire life and I’m truly adept at finding solutions that work for everyone while avoiding unintended consequences. I’m skilled at forming alliances of mutual benefit, and using those relationships to further the success of my crew and my company.
Finally, I’m a working class candidate that understands what it’s like to live paycheck to paycheck, understands what it means to choose between rent and food, and knows the fear of being evicted. Yes, I’ve had my fair share of struggles, but I’ve overcome them and learned valuable lessons along the way. Lessons that keep me grounded in the needs of the people of Colorado’s SD6. lessons that inform my votes through compassion and understanding through shared experience.- SD6 is a large and diverse district. We are culturally diverse as well as economically diverse. Our representation in Denver must reflect that diversity in order to truly serve the needs of all the people within this district. As noted, my life experience has taught me the value of culture, the value of diversity, and the importance of recognizing that similar problems may need different solutions for different communities. I’m a candidate that is committed to serving my community, committed to bringing hope and prosperity, higher wages, lower home prices, and greater access to healthcare to everyone in Southern and Southwest Colorado. Representation requires empathy and the ability to listen. I bring both those qualities and more.
- Rural Colorado is repeatedly neglected and left outside of critical legislative negotiations. My experience around the globe, navigating foreign regulations while balancing corporate interests against my crews needs has taught me how to raise my voice higher, speak with more authority, and command more respect during negotiations. I do not, and will not, allow our colleagues on the front range to continue to dictate legislation that does not serve rural Colorado equally and equitably. I have the integrity to stand on my principals and defend the needs of rural Colorado and its diverse population. by listening, and learning, I serve my districts needs, never my own.
- Colorado does not need extremism, in any form. I’m offering pragmatic leadership that uses scholarly research practices to find workable solutions to the varied problems facing our state. Furthermore, we are tired of being divided by hate, lies, and fear. I’ve made it a point to campaign on issues and issues alone, not on personal attacks or false narratives. Colorado needs representation that respects the law and the constitution, that protects our rights as well as our freedoms, and strives to ensure all Americans are protected equally. I do not live with hate, I do not live in fear, and I recognize that everyone has a right to live their lives to the fullest. I’m a moderate democrat who is committed to serving everyone.
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.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Colorado State Senate District 6 |
Personal |
Footnotes
