AURORA | Aurora Public Schools board member Anne Keke has qualified for the Democratic primary ballot to challenge State Rep. Jamie Jackson for Colorado’s State House District 41, according to state election officials.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said Keke’s campaign submitted 1,133 valid signatures, surpassing the requirement of at least 1,000, to petition onto the primary ballot. Keke’s campaign submitted a total of 1,327 signatures, but 239 were rejected by the Secretary of State’s Office.
In a statement to the Sentinel, Keke said she is grateful to her supporters and doesn’t take the duty as an elected official for granted.
“I sought the nomination of the constituents of House District 41 through the petition process because, as imperfect as this process is, reaching out to the voters and earning their support directly is the democratic approach to governing that I hold dear,” Keke said.
At a March 7 county assembly, Keke failed to win a spot on the primary ballot when she received less than the threshold of 33% of delegate votes. Keke logged 23% of the delegate votes. Jackson logged 50% of the vote. Local activist and community activist Aly DeWills-Marcano won 27% of delegates voting that day.
Jackson was appointed to represent the district last year when state Sen. Iman Jodeh was appointed to her current position, creating a HD 41 vacancy.
Keke said she is proud to have earned voter support and believes it’s important for voters to have choices on the ballot.
“I am excited to move on to the next phase of the campaign and to prove to voters why I am the best choice to represent us in Denver,” she said.
Keke said her campaign is focused on issues of affordability, housing and education. She has served on the Aurora Public Schools board since 2021 and was re-elected last year.
Jackson said she is focused on community-driven leadership and tackling issues of immigration enforcement, health care accessibility and criminal justice reform. She said that her campaign is distinguished by her dedication to her constituents.
“My mind isn’t divided, my attention and time aren’t divided,” Jackson said. “I am really focused on continuing to deliver results to the community and live up to the responsibility and trust that my community has put in me. I don’t take this job lightly at all.”
House District 41 encompasses much of central Aurora between East Mississippi and East Hampden avenues.
Colorado’s primary election is June 30 and the general election is Nov. 3.