STATE HOUSE DISTRICT 36: Carter vs Nelson vs Gibson
AURORA | In the election for Colorado House District 36, incumbent Democratic Rep. Michael Carter is facing Republican Paul E. Nelson and Libertarian Andrew Gibson.
Carter, who was elected to represent the district in 2024, is an attorney and Army veteran who previously served on the board for Aurora Public Schools.
Some of the priorities listed on Carter’s campaign website include increasing affordable housing, supporting workers’ rights and unions, protecting the environment and supporting public education. Carter is endorsed by the Colorado Chamber of Commerce, Moms Demand Action, VoteVets, the Denver Pipefitters Union and more.
In the 2026 legislative session, Carter sponsored and passed bills to require licenses for substance abuse recovery facilities and expand parole options for juvenile offenders who completed rehabilitative programming.
Nelson, who has lived in Colorado for 33 years, has a background in food service, landscaping and warehouse jobs. His campaign priorities include lowering the cost of living, improving housing affordability and addressing public safety concerns.
On his campaign website, Nelson says he supports measures on this year’s ballot to increase penalties for child sex trafficking (Proposition 133), ban trans students from competing on certain sports teams (Proposition 134) and prohibit gender-affirming surgeries for minors (Proposition 135). Nelson opposes Proposition NN, which would raise the TABOR cap to fund public education.
Nelson would support legislation to protect TABOR and bolster parents’ rights in education and school choice, while opposing efforts to decriminalize prostitution and policies that increase government spending.
Gibson is running on the slogan “Yes, we can do less” to highlight his support for fewer regulations, less spending, smaller government and fewer taxes. He is a Navy veteran who has lived in Colorado for 16 years and works as a safety coordinator.
Gibson’s campaign priorities include opposing tax increases, defending TABOR, reducing regulations and protecting Second Amendment rights.