Jefferson County businesses have a great deal riding on this November’s ballot. Voters will choose a Governor, a Secretary of State, and an Attorney General, decide who runs county government, and weigh in on tax, energy, and transportation measures that will directly affect what it costs to operate here.
The Greater Arvada Chamber, West Metro Chamber, and Jeffco EDC are teaming up this fall to put candidates in front of our business community and give you a straightforward way to understand what is on your ballot. Five forums between September and October, plus a comprehensive voter guide before ballots land in mailboxes.
Each forum focuses on the most pressing challenges facing Jefferson County employers. We develop the questions with input from businesses and chamber partners across the county, so candidates are answering what our members actually need to know.
Here is the lineup:
State Legislature Forum: Arvada Candidates
Wednesday, September 9 | 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Hilton Garden Inn, Arvada
$30 members / $35 non-members
Part of the Leadership Luncheon Series
Hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber
Hear directly from the candidates running to represent Arvada at the State Capitol. Lunch is included.
County and Federal Candidate Forum: County Commissioner, County Offices and Congressional District 7
Friday, September 25 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m
The Bridge at Revive Church
Free Event
Hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber, West Metro Chamber, and Jeffco EDC
The offices that touch your business most directly, all in one morning. Candidates for Jefferson County Commissioner District 3, Adams County Commissioner District 4, and the county offices of Clerk and Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer, Sheriff, Coroner, and Surveyor will respond to questions drawn from the issues Jefferson County employers are facing right now. Federal candidates for U.S. Senate and Congressional District 7 round out the morning.
Statewide Candidate Forum: Governor, Secretary of State and Attorney General
Early October | Date, time, and location to be announced
Hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber, West Metro Chamber, and Jeffco EDC
Colorado’s next Governor will set the tone on taxes, workforce, energy and regulation. Alongside the gubernatorial candidates, we are bringing candidates for Secretary of State and Attorney General to Jefferson County. These offices shape how business actually gets done in Colorado, from business filings and election administration to consumer protection and regulatory enforcement. One conversation, focused squarely on what employers need. Details coming soon.
DETAILS COMING SOON
All About the Ballot
Wednesday, October 7 | 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m
Virtual
Free Event
Hosted by the Greater Arvada Chamber, West Metro Chamber, and Jeffco EDC
A plain-language walkthrough of the measures on your ballot. What each one actually does, what it would cost, and what it means for your business. Join from your desk with a cup of coffee.
Among the questions we will cover:
- Competing income tax measures. One proposal would replace Colorado’s flat rate with graduated brackets. Another would cap individual and corporate rates at 4.4 percent starting in 2027. If both pass, the interaction matters, particularly for C corporations and pass-through owners.
- Proposition NN, which would raise the TABOR cap and direct surplus revenue to K-12 education rather than refunding it to taxpayers.
- The natural gas measure, which would establish a constitutional right for homes and businesses to purchase natural gas for cooking and heating, and for utilities to sell it.
- Road funding, a measure requiring that state revenue collected for road transportation actually be spent on roads, bridges and driver safety.
- Local questions, including proposed sales tax measures from Arvada Fire Protection District and West Metro Fire Protection District, a Jeffco Public Schools mill levy package, and a potential Front Range Passenger Rail District sales tax.
State of the Region: Mayors Roundtable
Friday, October 16 | 8:00 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.
Social Capital Events
$40 per ticket
Hosted by the Jefferson County Business Organizations
Mayors from across Jefferson County come together to talk about where the region is headed. Development, transportation, public safety, and how our cities are working together to keep Jefferson County competitive.
This one is built countywide by design. We are partnering with chambers and economic development organizations across Jefferson County both to fill the room and to shape the questions, so the conversation reflects what employers are running into everywhere from Olde Town to Evergreen.
Stay Tuned for the Jefferson County Voter Guide:
Cannot make it to a forum? We have you covered. The Greater Arvada Chamber, West Metro Chamber, and Jeffco EDC are building a 2026 Voter Guide to help our business community cut through the noise and understand what is actually at stake. It will be published ahead of ballots going out this October.
What will be included:
- Candidate Q&A on business-relevant issues across all major races: Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, State Treasurer, U.S. Senate, Congressional District 7, and the Colorado State Senate and House seats serving Jefferson County
- County and regional races, including Jefferson County Commissioner District 3, Adams County Commissioner District 4, Clerk and Recorder, Assessor, Treasurer, Sheriff, Coroner and Surveyor, plus State Board of Education District 7 and RTD Board Districts L and N
- Ballot question breakdowns covering statewide measures, county questions and local measures, with plain-language explanations of what each one does and what it would cost
- Business community positions taken on ballot measures by the Greater Arvada Chamber, West Metro Chamber and Jeffco EDC, with the reasoning behind each
- Full video replays of every candidate forum in this series
- Voter resources, including registration links, ballot tracking, drop box locations and key election dates
Ensuring our elected leaders effectively represent business interests in legislative and policy matters at the local, regional, state and national levels is a priority of the Greater Arvada Chamber through the B.O.L.D. 2026 initiative. Throughout the year, the Chamber facilitates engagement between local and state elected officials and our business community. Stay up to date on legislative news and impacts by joining the Chamber’s Advocacy Network at arvadachamber.org/networks.
The Greater Arvada Chamber of Commerce does not endorse candidates at any level but is grateful for the participation of all candidates and local officials in further developing critical dialogue within the region to help ensure success for all involved. Each organization takes positions on ballot measures through its established advocacy process. Learn more about the Chamber’s advocacy efforts at arvadachamber.org/advocacy.
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