AURORA | Aurora activist and business owner Maya Wheeler has secured a place on the 2026 Democratic primary ballot for Arapahoe County commissioner in District 4, setting up a challenge to incumbent Leslie Summey in the race that will ultimately be decided in the November general election.
Wheeler announced this week that she collected enough petition signatures to qualify for the ballot, calling the milestone the result of sustained community support and engagement.
“I’m excited to share that I am officially on the ballot for Arapahoe County Commissioner, District 4,” Wheeler said in a statement. “Your support made this possible, and we are building real momentum.”
The Democratic primary will determine who advances to the general election, where the winner will face off with Republican challenger, Sonda “Sunny” Banka, a longtime and prominent real estate broker based in Greenwood Village, according to the Arapahoe County Republican Party.
Wheeler, a longtime healthcare equity activist, previously ran unsuccessfully in a Democratic vacancy committee contest last year for a state Senate seat representing Aurora. She has also been a candidate for Aurora City Council and House District 41.
Her background includes work with the Colorado Health Benefit Exchange and Aurora Health Alliance, where she has advocated for expanding access to affordable healthcare. Wheeler has also served as chairperson of the Aurora Human Relations Commission and has held leadership roles with the African American Initiative of the Colorado Democratic Party, the Colorado Black Leadership Coalition and the Good Shepherd Organization. She is the founder of the Wezesha Dada Center, which provides education and career resources for women and youth of color.
In her campaign announcement, Wheeler emphasized local issues she said residents consistently raise, including affordability, infrastructure and environmental concerns.
“As I talk with people across District 4, I keep hearing the same thing: Things feel harder than they should,” she said.
Among the priorities she outlined are affordable housing, reliable public safety, infrastructure improvements to keep pace with growth, environmental protections and support for seniors seeking to remain in their communities.
Wheeler pointed to what she described as gaps in coordination among existing county programs, saying housing, job access and business support systems are not sufficiently connected and can be difficult for residents to navigate.
“We cannot afford to keep doing things the same way,” she said.
Summey, a Democrat, is seeking re-election as she finishes her first term on the board. A U.S. Navy veteran and mother of five, she has highlighted her work on criminal justice and public safety issues, including chairing a county subcommittee focused on racial equity in the justice system and serving as vice-chair of the county’s Justice Coordinating Committee.
Summey has also cited collaboration with local partners, including the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department and the 18th Judicial District, to organize warrant-clearing events aimed at helping individuals resolve low-level, nonviolent offenses without arrest.
The District 4 race is expected to focus on how the county addresses growth, affordability and service delivery as its population continues to expand, candidates say.
The Democratic primary election is June 30.
As a challenger to the Chair of the Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners, it is Ms. Wheeler’s responsibility to explain the failings of the incumbent — how her priorities are more in line with that of the public. And more importantly, how as a County Commissioner she plans to implement these priorities. I do not see any of this in her announcement or her campaign. Is she simply seeking a taxpayer supported job?