Lora Thomas

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Lora Thomas

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Republican Party

Elections and appointments
Last election

June 25, 2024

Education

Associate

Arapahoe Community College, 1990

Bachelor's

Regis University, 1997

Graduate

Regis University, 2000

Personal
Birthplace
Walsenburg, Colo.
Religion
Catholic
Profession
Government
Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Twitter

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Lora Thomas (Republican Party) ran for election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 43. She lost in the Republican primary on June 25, 2024.

Thomas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Lora Thomas was born in Walsenburg, Colorado. Thomas' career experience includes working in government. She earned an associate degree from Arapahoe Community College in 1990, a bachelor's degree from Regis University in 1997, and a graduate degree from Regis University in 2000. Thomas has been affiliated with Colorado Counties Inc.[1]

Elections

2024

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 43

Incumbent Robert Marshall defeated Matt Burcham in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 43 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Robert Marshall
Robert Marshall (D) Candidate Connection
 
51.3
 
27,915
Image of Matt Burcham
Matt Burcham (R) Candidate Connection
 
48.7
 
26,542

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 54,457
Candidate Connection = 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 43

Incumbent Robert Marshall advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 43 on June 25, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Robert Marshall
Robert Marshall Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
8,013

Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 8,013
Candidate Connection = 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 43

Matt Burcham defeated Lora Thomas in the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 43 on June 25, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
✔
Image of Matt Burcham
Matt Burcham Candidate Connection
 
53.4
 
6,606
Silhouette Placeholder Image.png
Submit photo
Lora Thomas Candidate Connection
 
46.6
 
5,756

There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source

Total votes: 12,362
Candidate Connection = 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 Thomas in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Candidate Connection

Lora Thomas completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Thomas' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

I am a third-generation Colorado native who grew up in Denver and have lived in Highlands Ranch for 32 years. My story is about overcoming personal challenges as a single mother while forging a lifelong public service career, first in the Colorado State Patrol (first woman captain and major) and then as Douglas County Coroner and later as County Commissioner. As County Commissioner, I have sought to bring effective, results-oriented leadership to Douglas County, and residents know that I am always available, accessible and responsive. I know that leaders do not solve problems by dictating, but through ACTION!

I have always been guided by two basic core values--supporting our state and federal Constitutions and my Christian faith. I have always been a strong supporter of individual rights—including free speech and worship anthe right to keep and bear arms—and am an active member of St. Thomas More Catholic Church.

I hold an A.A. in Criminal Justice degree from Arapahoe Community College and both a B.S. in Business (Finance emphasis) and MBA from Regis University. I am also a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, Leadership Douglas County and the Leadership Program of the Rockies. I was also an Arapahoe Community College adjunct professor in the Criminal Justice Program.
  • I have a lifetime of public service and an unmatched record of effective governing experience. I am ready on Day One to get to work for the people of Highlands Ranch to restore the focus of our state government to address the issues our residents have told me are most important: skyrocketing property taxes, public safety and illegal immigration, affordability and cost-of-living, and local control of public education
  • The people of Douglas County and Highlands Ranch know that I ALWAYS SHOW UP--I am the go-to local government elected official people count on to get things done. Our residents know that I am not only accessible, but RESPONSIVE--I answer every inquiry, call and email I receive. I publish a weekly newsletter to let the people of Douglas County know the straight, unvarnished truth on EXACTLY what's going on with their county government. I'm not afraid to take on big money special interests and political cronyism in order to prevent the unnecessary growth of government and waste of taxpayer money. The taxpayers of Douglas County know that Lora Thomas will ALWAYS have their back, even when big-money interests put a target on mine!
  • When I was contacted by friends, neighbors and supporters to run for House District 43, they made it clear to me that the last several sessions of the General Assembly have produced legislation that have served to grow government, raise taxes, and punish the hardest-working of our citizens while promoting a growth in crime and greatly eroding local control of many of our institutions and services. We need to restore political balance under the Gold Dome and bring the focus of state government on addressing the key problems--many of which were created by the serious political imbalance at the State Capitol--facing the people of Highlands Ranch and the rest of the State.
Property taxes, public safety and illegal immigration, affordability and cost-of-living, local control of public education and government services
Margaret Thatcher
Ronald Reagan
To know me and my philosophy on public service, one only has to view the ultra-viral video scene from the series "The Crown" when Queen Elizabeth II expresses concern to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher regarding her penchant for accumulating enemies. Thatcher tells the Queen matter-of-factly that acquiring enemies is part of active political leadership, and recites a poem by Charles Mackay: "You have no enemies, you say? Alas, my friend, the boast is poor. He who has mingled in the fray of duty, that the brave endure, Must have made foes! If you have none, Small is the work that you have done. You've hit no traitor on the hip. You've dashed no cup from perjured lip. You've never turned the wrong to right. You've been a coward in the fight." I am not afraid to stand up and speak out, no matter the foe, no matter the political cost. Moral courage in the face of strong, loud--and even unfair and nasty--opposition is essential in order to engage and succeed in the work of a public servant. The goal isn't popularity, but DOING WHAT IS RIGHT AND GOOD. I have a backbone of titanium and skin of kevlar, developed over a lifetime of public service. I have even been called the "Iron Lady of Douglas County", a title I am humbled to cherish with great honor! I will NEVER ever back down to bullies, no matter how big, powerful or formidable, in order to do the right thing for the people I represent.
Moral courage and independence from big-money special interests, a desire to serve without concern about getting/taking credit, and responsiveness to those you serve
To be receptive and responsive to constituent opinion, but keeping in mind the a public servant's sound/reasonable JUDGMENT must always be her guide regardless of public opinion, which can be poorly informed and influenced by trend/whim.
That I made Colorado a safer and more affordable place to live than when I assumed office
1960 Election...
Waitress
We have separation of powers for a very good reason--no branch of government should control or dictate to another. Unfortunately, we have seen far too much influence from the Governor's Office regarding the type and tenor of legislation being introduced and passed by the General Assembly. This is exactly why we need more political balance under the Golden Dome!
Growth of government and loss of our republic and local control
Absolutely. This is not the time for novices who need on-the-job training. One of the chief problems with much of the legislation being introduced and passed in the General Assembly is a complete lack of understanding by bill sponsors/supports of the effects of their objectives at the local level. Talk about CCI
A "lone wolf" in a body of 65 is not going to have much success, especially when serving in a political minority. Again, talk about CCI and ability to work with Dems
My sole focus at this time is Colorado House District 43, period.
My good friend...
My husband relates a joke President Reagan told at the 1985 Naval Academy graduation ceremony. Reagan related how much he admired and respected Marines and how they had to "tolerate" serving with the Navy. He was reminded of hearing about the famous Revolutionary War naval battle between BON HOMME RICHARD, commanded by John Paul Jones, and the British ship SERAPIS. At the height of the battle, with Jones getting the worst of it, the British captain called for Jones to strike his colors (surrender), to which Jones gave his famous reply of "I HAVE NOT YET BEGUN TO FIGHT!" An American Marine, high in the rigging, upon hearing Jones' reply merely shook his head and muttered "Well, there's always one poor dumb fool who never gets the word!"
Yes
Keep junk cars off the street
Colorado Chamber of Commerce
Judicial, Budget
Simple...they are ABSOLUTELY PARAMOUNT and I will never support anything less than full and complete financial transparency and government accountability always and everywhere. Government works for the people, not the other way around!
All initiatives should require a super-majority of 60% and Constitutional Amendments 67%

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.

Lora Thomas campaign contribution history
YearOfficeStatusContributionsExpenditures
2024* Colorado House of Representatives District 43Lost primary$35,305 $35,032
Grand total$35,305 $35,032
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

See also

2024 Elections

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External links

Candidate

Colorado House of Representatives District 43
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    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on May 24, 2024


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