PLATFORM
"I’m running for Governor because, like you, I’m fed up with Colorado heading in the wrong direction. I began this fight to figure out why real problems never get solved. After listening and learning from Coloradans across our state, one thing is clear: it’s time to Reinvent Colorado.
I will fight for YOU every single day and work tirelessly to return power to the people with a bold New Vision for our future." — Joshua Rodriguez
LIST OF ISSUES
Education for a New Era
Colorado's future depends on preparing students for high-demand careers in science, technology, healthcare, and skilled trades—while also safeguarding their mental health. With more than 60% of skilled workers nearing retirement, clinging to an outdated system is no longer an option. One-size-fits-all models fail to prepare students for real-world opportunities.
Declining birth rates threaten school funding, even as Latinx enrollment rises. Persistent achievement gaps confirm that systemic change is overdue. Standardized tests are not a full measure of achievement. Colorado must adopt state-driven programs that are faster, sharper, and workforce-aligned, using AI-powered learning to personalize progress.
That's why I've drafted Initiative 2025-2026 #187: "Colorado Personalized AI-Driven Education Act," a comprehensive ballot initiative that authorizes optional, district-approved AI-powered instructional models within existing public school infrastructure. This is not a mandate—it's an innovation framework that empowers local boards of education and charter authorizers to integrate adaptive learning technology while maintaining local control of instruction under Colorado's constitution.
Here's how it works: AI-powered elements—adaptive software that personalizes practice, feedback, and tutoring—can be integrated into existing classrooms for up to 60% of core academic instructional time. Licensed teachers retain full instructional responsibility, grading authority, and oversight. New staff called "Guides" provide non-instructional support—goal-setting, motivation, attendance tracking, and social-emotional support—but do not teach, assign grades, or replace licensed educators. Guides must complete criminal background checks and training in social-emotional learning, cultural competency, bias recognition, and mental health referral protocols.
Participation is entirely voluntary. Families must provide informed consent, and students can opt out without penalty. Mixed classrooms allow opt-in and opt-out students to learn side by side, with teachers responsible for all students and Guides supporting only those who opt in.
Students who complete graduation requirements early—as young as age 16—can continue their education through age 18 in a Continuing Education Pathway. This includes concurrent enrollment at Colorado colleges, area technical colleges, registered apprenticeships, career and technical education programs, or extended advanced learning. Per-pupil funding follows the student through the end of the semester or school year they graduate, or until their 18th birthday, whichever comes first, covering tuition, fees, materials, certifications, and related supports like transportation and mentoring.
Strict safeguards protect students: Student data cannot be used for commercial purposes, advertising, or training general-purpose AI models without explicit parental consent. Annual privacy audits are required. Algorithmic bias monitoring, accessibility safeguards for students with disabilities, and human oversight are mandatory. The Department must conduct independent evaluations every three years and publish annual public reports with disaggregated demographic data. An annual student well-being survey tracks mental health, social-emotional impacts, and satisfaction.
This initiative prioritizes equity and rural access. Before implementation, the Department conducts device and broadband audits, with targeted subsidies from the state education fund to close access gaps—prioritizing low-income, rural, and underserved districts. At least 50% of pilot program slots are reserved for sites serving low-income or rural populations.
Teen mental health is now a crisis. Rising depression and suicide often stem from pressures tied to social media and online exploitation. AI-powered schools must include age-appropriate AI literacy instruction addressing data privacy, ethical AI use, digital citizenship, algorithmic bias, and critical thinking about AI outputs—equipping students to navigate safe digital environments.
Implementation occurs through redirection of existing resources—no new taxes. Local education providers can use existing per-pupil funding for AI licenses, device upgrades, professional development, and infrastructure. The Department may award priority grants from the state education fund, subject to available appropriations, for documented infrastructure gaps.
By keeping innovation in education at the state level, Colorado can adapt quickly to local economic needs. We will expand career pathways, integrate AI into classrooms with existing infrastructure, and ensure students can graduate early while continuing tuition-free into college, trades, or apprenticeships—preparing them for the high-demand careers that will define Colorado's future.
Protecting Children
Justice in Colorado must focus on the most urgent dangers to our communities — and nothing is more urgent than protecting children from exploitation. Online platforms, social media, and hidden networks have fueled a crisis that is destroying young lives. This is not a secondary issue; it must be the highest moral and legal priority for our state.
That's why I've drafted "Joshua Blackledge's Bill," a comprehensive ballot initiative to protect minors from digital sexual exploitation. This legislation creates new criminal offenses for online grooming and sextortion under Colorado's sexual exploitation statute, making it a Class 4 felony to use digital communications to establish predatory relationships with children or to coerce them through threats and blackmail. These crimes will be prosecuted even when no physical meeting occurs — because the harm to children is real from the first message.
The initiative establishes strict Digital Platform Child Safety Requirements for any website, app, or online service operating in Colorado. Platforms must verify user age and obtain parental consent for minor accounts, provide screenshot alerts and geo-masking to protect children's privacy, offer end-to-end encryption for minors' communications, and remove reported exploitative content within 24 hours. Platforms that fail to comply face civil liability as a deceptive trade practice, with penalties funding a new Digital Child Safety Fund dedicated to education, victim services, and law enforcement support.
Victims gain a private right of action to sue perpetrators and negligent platforms for compensatory damages, attorney fees, and disgorgement of profits — no criminal conviction required.
As governor, I will launch a Child Safety & Digital Protection Task Force to coordinate law enforcement, prosecutors, and victim advocates. This means expanding digital forensics units, dismantling trafficking rings, and ensuring technology companies are held accountable when they enable exploitation networks. Law enforcement resources will be prioritized for crimes that endanger children, not wasted on low-level offenses that do little to protect the public.
I support ending qualified immunity to ensure accountability when officials fail to act or cause harm. At the same time, specialized units will receive funding, training, and modern tools to investigate predators, while victims receive the protection, housing, and care they deserve.
Our justice system should not spend energy on victimless crimes when children's lives are at stake. Colorado will lead the nation by putting child safety first — rising above bureaucracy, politics, and outdated priorities to defend its most vulnerable.
Colorado Energy Independence Platform
Colorado’s energy future should be built in Colorado, financed in Colorado, and designed to serve Colorado first. Reliable and affordable power is no longer just a utility issue. It is a jobs issue, an industrial growth issue, and a long-term competitiveness issue. If Colorado wants to expand manufacturing, support data centers, strengthen rural economies, and maintain a modern electric grid, the state cannot sit back and wait for Washington, D.C., or private capital markets to solve the problem on their own. Colorado needs a practical strategy that focuses on what can actually be built, how it can be financed, and who will do the work.
My energy platform is built around four connected priorities: faster permitting, in-state manufacturing of grid equipment, financing through a self-sustaining public enterprise rather than taxpayer-backed debt, and workforce development tied directly to job placement. These are not separate ideas. They are parts of the same system. Permitting reform alone will not build power infrastructure if critical equipment still takes years to arrive. Financing alone will not solve the problem if no trained workforce exists to install and maintain what is built. Colorado needs all four pieces working together.
One of the least discussed barriers to energy expansion is not generation, but hardware. Large power transformers in the United States can take well over two years to obtain. That means substation upgrades, transmission expansion, renewable interconnections, and grid modernization projects can all be delayed even when the policy approvals are in place. Colorado cannot build an energy-secure future while depending entirely on national supply chains that are already overloaded. The state should pursue a phased manufacturing strategy that begins with medium-voltage switchgear assembly, then expands into distribution and mid-power transformers as utility demand and purchase commitments become more certain. Large power transformers should be part of the long-term plan only when supported by strong private-sector partners and multi-utility demand. The state’s role is not to become the manufacturer. Its role is to make investment possible through predictable permitting, coordinated demand, and targeted financing.
Permitting must also become more disciplined and accountable. Colorado already has legal deadlines for energy permitting, but too often those deadlines exist only on paper. My administration would publicly track every major application against the statutory timeline and require agencies to explain delays. Transparency matters because timelines that are not enforced are not real timelines. Where projects can remain within state jurisdiction, they should. Where federal review is unavoidable, Colorado should use every lawful tool available to reduce delay and keep projects moving. At the same time, an honest energy policy must recognize the limits of state power on federal land. A governor cannot simply ignore federal jurisdiction. The better approach is to support long-term land transfer reform, coordinate with other western states, and pursue interim solutions that protect Colorado’s interests while larger structural issues are addressed.
Financing is the next major piece. Colorado should not rely on general fund guarantees or ask taxpayers to absorb open-ended risk. Initiative #166, the Colorado Public Enterprise Act, provides a more durable model by creating a TABOR-compliant public enterprise structure that can issue revenue bonds backed by enterprise income rather than state credit. That matters because it allows Colorado to finance manufacturing expansion, equipment purchases, and infrastructure support without converting every major project into a taxpayer liability. Under this model, capital can be directed toward energy and industrial development while maintaining constitutional and fiscal discipline. It also creates a stronger pathway for rural investment, where private capital often underinvests without some coordinated support.
Finally, none of this works without workers. Colorado’s grid expansion and manufacturing growth will require lineworkers, technicians, machinists, welders, testing specialists, and other skilled trades. These are not jobs that appear automatically once a project is announced. They require apprenticeship pipelines, real training partnerships, and performance-based funding. My approach is simple: pay for outcomes, not enrollment. Training providers that receive state or enterprise support should be measured by job placement and retention, not classroom headcount. Existing apprenticeship sponsors should be expanded rather than replaced by a new government bureaucracy. Voluntary pre-apprenticeship pathways, including opportunities for people reentering society after incarceration, can also help fill workforce gaps while reducing barriers to productive employment.
Colorado does not need permission to build a stronger energy future. It needs leadership willing to use the laws already on the books, invest in the equipment the grid actually depends on, finance growth without burdening taxpayers, and train workers for the jobs that expansion creates. That is how Colorado builds energy independence on Colorado’s timeline.
If you want, I can also turn this into a tighter campaign-style version or a ballot-issue/policy-paper version.
No More State & property Taxes
Colorado families are paying enough. State and property taxes — combined with federal taxes, fees, and hidden costs — are eating into the budgets of working families and small businesses. It's time to stop treating Colorado taxpayers as an endless source of revenue and start managing our state with fiscal discipline.
That's why I've drafted two complementary ballot initiatives to fundamentally reform Colorado's tax system. The first, Initiative 2025-2026 #166: "Colorado Income Tax Repeal," phases out the state income tax on individuals, estates, and trusts over nine years, starting at 3.96% in 2027 and reaching zero by 2036. The reduction happens automatically each year, declining by 0.44 percentage points, with no further legislative action required. Corporate taxes and local government authority remain unaffected.
The second initiative, the "Colorado Public Enterprise Act," phases out property taxes over the same ten-year period while guaranteeing stable funding for essential services and returning prosperity to Colorado families. This legislation creates a statewide public enterprise that consolidates existing revenue-generating state entities — including the High-Performance Transportation Enterprise, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Clean Transit Enterprise, and the Colorado Housing and Finance Authority — into a coordinated system that operates on voluntary user fees, not mandatory taxes.
Here's how the Enterprise works: It generates revenue through voluntary fees for services like tolls, hunting and fishing permits, and expanded offerings. After covering operating costs and prudent reserves, net earnings are split equally: 50% goes to stabilization grants for K-12 education, public safety, and rural health — with 30% of that portion reserved for rural jurisdictions — and 50% is returned directly to Colorado residents as per-capita prosperity dividends.Every eligible resident receives an equal share, and minors receive dividends deposited into interest-bearing accounts accessible at age 18.
Property taxes will be reduced by one-tenth each year, from 2027 through 2036, until they reach zero. During this transition, the General Assembly must maintain stable funding for essential services at pre-phase-out levels, adjusted annually for inflation. This ensures schools, public safety, and local services continue without disruption. After 2036, property taxes are prohibited except for voter-approved bonds.
Together, these initiatives eliminate both state income tax and property tax — the two largest tax burdens on Colorado families — while ensuring education, public safety, and local services remain fully funded through voluntary enterprise revenues and fiscal discipline. Colorado's economy thrives when people keep more of what they earn, reinvesting it in their families, businesses, and communities.
The Enterprise guarantees fiscal transparency and rural prioritization: at least 20% of annual capital investment must go to rural areas, and 10% of net earnings from energy and broadband operations funds rural infrastructure. An independent nine-member review committee issues annual reports, and the enterprise holds quarterly public forums to ensure accountability.
This is not about cutting services — it's about replacing outdated taxes with smarter, fairer revenue streams that respect TABOR and put money back in your pocket. We will evaluate spending from the ground up, eliminate programs that don't deliver value, and focus resources where they are most effective.
By eliminating state income tax, phasing out property taxes, and creating a prosperity dividend for every Coloradan, we will make Colorado a magnet for investment, entrepreneurship, and opportunity. A low-tax, high-growth state benefits everyone — from young families to retirees — ensuring Colorado remains competitive, free, and prosperous for generations to come.
Voting Rights age 16
Colorado's democracy is strongest when every citizen has a voice. Voting is more than a civic duty — it is the foundation of our freedom. That's why our campaign has taken the first official step toward a 2026 Colorado ballot measure, Initiative 2025-2026 #165: "Universal Voting Rights for Citizens Sixteen and Older Amendment," submitted to the Legislative Council Staff on September 26, 2025.
This proposal strengthens the rights of Coloradans in three key ways. It lowers the voting age to sixteen, empowering engaged young citizens to help shape their future in all elections — federal, state, county, municipal, school district, and special district. It protects the right to vote for incarcerated citizens, repealing Section 10 of Article VII and eliminating disenfranchisement based on incarceration, parole, probation, or criminal conviction. And it guarantees fair, consistent ballot access for all U.S. citizens living in Colorado, removing barriers based on homelessness, lack of a fixed address, mental competence determinations, or unpaid fines and fees.
Initiative #165 establishes voting as a fundamental, inherent, and inalienable right under strict scrutiny review, placing the burden on the state to prove any restriction is the least restrictive means to achieve a compelling governmental interest. It requires the General Assembly to ensure secure, universal access to voter registration and ballots, including for citizens in detention facilities.
Citizen‑led initiatives are a cornerstone of our political process. They allow the people — not career politicians — to bring important issues directly to a public vote. As Governor, I will defend this process from political interference and unnecessary barriers.
Our government must be responsive, transparent, and accountable. Ballot measures must be presented in clear language, with honest information for voters. This 2026 initiative is only the beginning of my vision: a Colorado where laws, priorities, and our future remain in the hands of Coloradans — free, informed, and empowered.
Balance in Public Safety and Justice Act
Initiative 2025–2026 #152, titled the “Balance in Public Safety and Justice Act,” presents a comprehensive restructuring of Colorado’s criminal justice framework with the explicit goal of reducing violent crime while preserving individual liberty and avoiding a return to mass incarceration. The initiative is grounded in the observation that declining prison populations have coincided with rising violent crime rates in Colorado since 2012, signaling that simply reducing incarceration without strengthening other parts of the system is insufficient. Instead, the measure proposes a balanced, systems-level approach that integrates prevention, supervision, victim support, and accountability into a unified policy structure.
At a high level, the initiative operates across five primary pillars: community-based violence intervention, probation and parole reform, reentry support, expanded victim restitution, and transparency through data reporting. Each component is designed to reinforce the others, forming a closed-loop system where reduced incarceration is offset by stronger preventative measures and more effective supervision, while victims receive enhanced support and outcomes are continuously measured.
The first pillar establishes a statewide violence intervention grant program administered by the Division of Criminal Justice. This program directs funding to local organizations—such as nonprofits, local governments, faith-based entities, and private groups—that provide frontline services including mediation, mentorship, outreach, and counseling. The design of the program emphasizes efficiency and accountability. Grants are awarded annually through a competitive process, with strict timelines for applications and awards, and priority given to communities experiencing above-average violent crime rates. Administrative costs are capped at five percent, ensuring that the majority of funds are used for direct services. Recipients are required to submit annual outcome reports, aligning funding with measurable reductions in violence and community impact.
The second pillar focuses on probation and parole reform, specifically targeting how technical violations are handled. A technical violation—defined as a breach of supervision rules that does not involve a new criminal offense—can no longer result in immediate incarceration for a first offense unless a court determines that the violation poses a clear and immediate risk to public safety. This provision shifts the system away from automatic punitive responses and toward a more proportional, risk-based model. Additionally, the initiative requires the development of a unified system of graduated sanctions and earned compliance credits. Under this system, individuals who consistently comply with supervision requirements can reduce the length of their supervision, creating a structured incentive for rehabilitation and compliance rather than repeated punishment.
The third pillar addresses reentry, recognizing that successful reintegration into society is a critical factor in reducing recidivism. The initiative mandates that every individual released from prison must have a plan in place for housing, employment assistance, and identification. If these elements are not completed prior to release, the state is required to finalize them within thirty days without delaying the individual’s release. To support this requirement, the initiative creates a dedicated reentry support fund within the state treasury. This fund provides up to $2,000 per individual for essential needs such as temporary housing, transportation, and job-related expenses. The funding structure is continuous, allowing unused funds to remain available for future use, thereby ensuring stability and sustained support.
The fourth pillar significantly expands and prioritizes victim restitution. Courts are directed to incorporate restitution and community service into sentencing for non-homicide offenses, and to broaden restitution to include not only direct financial losses but also long-term costs associated with trauma. For serious offenses—including sexual assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, and homicide—restitution must cover counseling, psychiatric treatment, relocation costs, and other necessary support services. The initiative also establishes a restitution enforcement unit within the judicial department to improve the efficiency of collections and ensure that victims receive payments in a timely manner. Funds collected must be distributed within thirty days, addressing longstanding delays that often leave victims without support.
The fifth pillar introduces robust transparency and accountability mechanisms. The initiative requires the creation of a publicly accessible online dashboard that is updated quarterly and tracks key performance indicators across the criminal justice system. These metrics include violent crime rates, prison population trends, probation and parole outcomes, restitution performance, and the effectiveness of violence intervention grants. Data must be disaggregated and standardized, while also protecting individual privacy. In addition to quarterly reporting, annual compliance reports are required from the Department of Corrections, the judicial department, and the Division of Criminal Justice. These reports must include trend analysis, financial accounting of savings and reinvestments, and evaluations of program effectiveness.
Funding for the initiative is structured to comply with constitutional fiscal constraints, including the Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). While the general assembly may appropriate funds annually, a key provision requires that at least fifty percent of savings generated from reduced incarceration be reinvested into violence intervention programs and the reentry support fund. This creates a self-reinforcing financial model in which cost savings from decreased prison use are redirected into preventative and rehabilitative efforts, thereby sustaining the initiative’s long-term impact.
Finally, the initiative includes a sunset provision, requiring repeal by July 1, 2036, unless it is reauthorized following a comprehensive review. This review must evaluate the initiative’s impact on violent crime, prison populations, supervision outcomes, and victim support. By incorporating a built-in evaluation mechanism, the measure ensures that its policies remain subject to performance-based scrutiny rather than becoming permanent regardless of outcomes.
In total, Initiative #152 represents a shift toward a data-driven, prevention-focused justice model. It seeks to reduce reliance on incarceration by strengthening the systems that prevent crime, support victims, and promote successful reintegration. Through structured incentives, targeted funding, and measurable accountability, the initiative aims to deliver a more effective and balanced approach to public safety in Colorado.