REGENT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO-AT LARGE 

The University of Colorado Board of Regents consists of nine members serving staggered six-year terms, one elected from each of Colorado’s eight congressional districts and one from the state at large. The at-large seat is the only statewide race in the 2024 elections.

Seeking the Democratic nomination this year is Elliott Hood and Charles Johnson. The winner will move on to the general election. The at large seat is currently held by Democrat Lesley Smith, whose term expires in early 2025.

Democrats: 1,008,246; Republican: 904,704; Unaffiliated: 1,867,492; Total active voters: 3,855,705

DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY

Name: Elliott Hood

Phone Number: 312-607-9295

Email: elliott@hoodforcolorado.com

Website: hoodforcolorado.com

Mailing Address: 4800 Baseline Road, Suite E104, #255, Boulder, CO 80303

Education: Bachelor’s degree, University of Colorado Boulder; Juris Doctor, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law

What are your top priorities?

I have dedicated my life to public education and have the experience to hit the ground running as CU Regent. I am a former public school teacher, a former education nonprofit director, and am an education attorney advocating for public school districts and educators across Colorado. I also have served on and helped lead public and nonprofit boards, so I understand how to get things done on a policy governance board like the Regents.

What are your main priorities?

My primary priorities are to make CU more affordable and accessible, to ban concealed carry and get guns out of our classrooms, to push CU to become carbon neutral and more sustainable, to support collective bargaining rights for all CU workers, and to promote diversity, inclusion, and civil discourse on our campuses.

Name: Charles “CJ” Johnson

Email: cj@cj4cu.com

Website: cj4cu.com

Education: Bachelor’s degree in political science, University of Colorado Boulder, 1992

Why should the voters elect you to office? 

Access to quality higher education provides pathways to opportunity and should be accessible to middle-class working class and poor families just as it is to those who can afford the rising cost of tuition. With over 35 years of experience advocating for underrepresented students and employees, I’m committed to enhancing recruitment and retention programs for all Coloradans. A vote for me is knowing I am dedicated to preparing students for an increasingly diverse world.

What are your top priorities if elected and how will it be funded? 

Prioritize financial sustainability: Address funding challenges creatively to uphold education quality, manage tuition costs and boost financial aid accessibility at CU. Foster diversity and inclusion: Promote inclusivity, support underrepresented groups and cultivate a diverse community for a welcoming environment. Advocate mental health and wellbeing: Emphasize student wellbeing by prioritizing services and support to create a healthy campus environment conducive to learning and growth.

Editor’s note: Candidates are listed in the order they appear on ballots. Active voter registration numbers are current as of the Colorado Secretary of State’s update on June 1, 2024.