The faces of people saying: do I believe it happened? Can I really believe again? 

This sentiment is what I saw reflected back at me by the hundreds of supporters and friends on primary night, reveling in our movement’s historic come-from-behind victory. I’ve seen that same emotion over and over since then—in those excited to join us and others giving us a look for the first time. 

I am charged by the result and what it means for our state and our democracy—climbing from 30 points down to 14 points up. And I felt that momentum building on the ground in the campaign every day. But, most importantly, our team and I are heartened by how it happened.

People are hungry for what our movement has sparked. And we are inspired, ready to learn, and eager to tackle the hard work ahead—to win the general election and govern in a way that honors what I said at the end of my speech on election night—we will lead with “all belief and no cynicism.”

How did we keep our focus and energy alive? We lived and were led by this north star: Show Up. Listen. Deliver. And we’ll continue to do just that. We saw how this tapped into and unlocked belief—in our ability, together, to meet this moment.

Show Up and Listen.

To build trust, we showed up, literally. And we showed up with an open mind—in homes, on main streets, at local businesses, at churches, at Sikh Temples, and more. And we listened, with curiosity and humility, hearing and absorbing how others saw the world, for themselves and their families.  

That listening translated into people offering us their trust with their vote. That trust, like our vote, is sacred. And it’s something I will work hard, day in and day out, to honor—through the general election and, if the people of Colorado will grant us their faith, as we govern.

As we structured our campaign, it was always about showing up for the people of Colorado and building a base of support through authentic connection (which this Denver Post article captured well). That’s why:

• We earned our place on the ballot by showing up and making our case at the caucus and state assembly process—not by paying firms to gather signatures for us. At the state assembly, we earned over 90% of support because we wanted to earn the support of the grassroots. 
• We showed up for 30 public forums we were invited to because we value meeting people where they are and answering tough questions. 
• We focused on grassroots-driven fundraising based on local relationships, with 300 people opening their homes to their neighbors for me to meet them because I wanted to hear diverse perspectives and benefit from listening to their ideas, frustrations, and hopes.  

Our campaign’s unwavering decision to show up everywhere was noticed—and needed—at a time when Coloradans wanted to be heard. In their endorsement, the Durango Herald highlighted how we “criss crossed all 64 counties with uncommon regularity, and the relationships it has produced are real”. 

Deliver.  

We have and will continue to work hard to give voters evidence that their trust and vote will be well placed. That means doing our utmost to serve them, to find solutions, and to deliver results for the challenges ahead.

First up, I stayed focused on delivering as your Attorney General—fighting for our freedoms and the rule of law, filing 70 lawsuits to date against the Trump administration’s unlawful acts. Moreover, we have stood up to those who break the law and harm Coloradans, bringing back over $900 million to respond to the opioid crisis, helping to stop a harmful grocery store merger, taking on abusive tactics by corporate landlords, and returning over $550 million to consumers harmed by irresponsible actors. 

Second, as our campaign kicked off, we delivered our 109 page Colorado Blueprint, which sets out our plans to deliver for Colorado, for people to see exactly what we will stand for and how we will lead. That meant that we led this campaign with specifics on how we will lead Colorado. And the way we did it mattered. The Blueprint is the product of hundreds of people volunteering hundreds of hours to come together to debate and refine solutions to our most vexing challenges–from building our economy and jobs, to making housing, healthcare, and childcare more available and affordable, to protecting our land, air and water, to defending our freedoms. 

Our Colorado Blueprint is the product of countless meetups and conversations over a year’s time throughout Colorado in which we engaged citizens and leaders in community listening sessions—from ranchers and educators in northern Colorado, to a citizen coalition focused on child care in Montrose, to entrepreneurs in Durango, to leaders in different sectors from restaurants to aerospace, and many more. (For an example of such conversations, see this blog post.)

Third, we know that, to deliver results for Colorado, we must bring people together and come with a “learning mindset”—an open mind, never assuming we know all the answers. We will always ask—what can I learn from you and how can we work together to find a solution? With curiosity and an open mind, we will find new ways forward, together. 

We are well aware that we live in a time of rising distrust–in our institutions, the establishment, our political system, and more. People see what hills we have to climb, and want leaders who will do what’s right even when it’s hard. They demand authenticity and reject posturing. To honor that demand, we will work hard to admit when we are wrong or don’t know, laying the groundwork for continuous learning and a commitment to continuous improvement. And we will put in the work on a grassroots level to be accessible, operate transparently, and earn the trust of the people of Colorado.

Finally, to really deliver, we must not be afraid to fail. 

I love sports—in fact if law school had not beckoned, I might well have pursued a fulfilling career as a sportscaster. Like many Coloradans, I’m a diehard Nuggets fan. And like many, I watched how the Knicks’ fairy tale win in the NBA playoffs ignited New York City—neighbors of every stripe, celebrating together in the streets, basking in the pure joy of it. 

In the lead up to the primary election day, I read this article about Jalen Brunson, the Knicks’ star point guard. He said: “I’ve always told myself and always been taught by my parents to never be afraid to fail.”

We have challenges and opportunities ahead. I promise this—we will show up, we will listen, and we will deliver, working together. I know it will not be easy and not everything we try will work as envisioned. But I know that we will work together to listen, learn, innovate, and find new ways forward. 

Can we really believe again? Yes we can, we will, and we must. Let’s get to work.