AURORA | Democrat Sarah Woodson, an Aurora resident, business owner and community advocate, has announced her candidacy for the Colorado House of Representatives in House District 42, adding another contender to an already crowded Democratic primary.
Woodson said she is running to bring people-centered, service-driven leadership to a district she described as challenging and diverse, with communities facing issues tied to affordability, growth and representation.
“House District 42 is a tough district, and it requires leadership that can truly show up,” Woodson said in a statement announcing her campaign. “As a business owner, I understand how policy decisions affect people in real and practical ways. I’m running because this district needs leadership with a clear vision—someone who understands how to build coalitions, values stakeholder and community engagement, and leads from a place of service.”
Woodson is the founder and executive director of The Color of Cannabis, an organization focused on education, advocacy and policy initiatives related to social equity, small-business access and stakeholder engagement across Colorado. Through that work, she said she has collaborated with legislators, city councils and community leaders throughout the metro region, an experience she says has shaped her approach to public service.
In her announcement, Woodson emphasized that she views holding office as a responsibility rather than a milestone.
“Leadership should be people-focused, service-based, and grounded in integrity,” she said. “Holding office is not about title or recognition — it’s about accountability, listening, and making sure communities are included before decisions are made.”
House District 42 includes parts of Aurora and surrounding areas, with residents navigating the pressures of growth alongside concerns about economic opportunity and meaningful representation. Woodson said her campaign will focus on transparency, expanding economic opportunity and ensuring that residents have a consistent voice in the policymaking process.
“I believe representation means showing up, doing the work, and putting people first,” she said. “That’s the responsibility I take seriously, and that’s the leadership I intend to bring to the State House.”
With Woodson’s entry, the Democratic primary for House District 42 is now a four-way race. She joins incumbent Democratic Rep. Mandy Lindsay, challenger Megan Siffring and former Aurora Public Schools board member Eric Nelson, all seeking the party’s nomination.
I think folks in Aurora would certainly want to know which candidates are unwilling to stand up to party leadership and which candidates are unafraid to confront the grotesque inequity that is the Denver Scientific and Cultural Facilities District. The Denver SCFD is coming up for reauthorization in 2028 across most of seven counties and the legislature will draft the fine print we’ll be voting on.
The Denver SCFD collects over $8 million/year in Aurora while we continue to watch the evolving blight around the Fox Theater– a prestigous SCFD Tier 2 grantee. Also note that the SCFD deliberately hides what it collects in Aurora and other cities. You get to the $8 million figure by extrapolating from the ratio between the city’s tax rate and SCFD’s rate. No transparancy. Serious inequity in where SCFD funds go — FOR FOUR DECADES! And our current city and state lawmakers remain SILENT while the Governor arranges for a $35 million grant so his hometown can host a snooty film festival one week per year?!?!?
I believe the Colorado GOP and Democratic Party both hold the firm position that Aurora should remain a sh__hole and efforts to illuminate the Ponzi scheme known as the Denver SCFD shall be quashed by the party faithful — precisely what Aurora doesn’t need.
Speaking as one of the 51% PLURALITY who does not give a rodent’s gluteus about offending party leadership, we’re done being played for fools. Over $8 million/year collected per year in Aurora for cultural facilities, and after ~40 years, we have the Fox and surrounding sh__hole?!?!. Ponzi fits. Only Democrats and GOP to blame.
So which candidates have the political courage to rescue Aurora from further inequity and economic sodomy by Denver and party leadership? Speak up. No vague answers if you want my vote.