Several new faces will be seated on the Colorado State Board of Education, with three Republicans and one unopposed Democrat winning the elections on Tuesday.

The District 2 seat was decided in the primary election, with Democrat Kathy Gebhardt defeating her intra-party opponents. She did not face a general election contest.

In District 8, it appears Republican Yazmin Navarro is headed to victory over Democrat Rhonda Solis, the only incumbent running for the state’s four open seats. Navarro’s victory is narrow, as she currently leads Solis by three points.

“I am deeply humbled by the trust that has been placed upon me,” Navarro said in an email. “I look forward to working across the table with all board members to ensure the successful future of the Coloradan education system. I will continue to strive to support school choice, parental rights, academic excellence, and teacher empowerment.” 

Navarro’s victory would give Republicans one more seat, starting in 2025.

Currently, the nine-member board has six Democrats and three Republicans. If Navarro took the seat, the board’s partisan makeup will shift slightly, with five Democrats and four Republicans.

Colorado’s 8th District stretches along Interstate 25 and encompasses sections of Adams County, Larimer County, and Weld County. Brighton, Commerce City, Greeley, Johnstown, Northglenn, and Thornton are the largest population centers.

Before the election, Navarro said she decided to run after her daughter was taught in schools internationally. Navarro said her family travels as part of a military family. The first-time state candidate said she has been surprised with how far behind American schools are falling and that she wants to focus on improving academics, teacher pay and classroom discipline.

In District 3, Republican Sherri Wright — who wants the board to focus on more discipline and better pay for teachers in the classroom — defeated Democrat Ellen Angeles.

Wright, a retired seventh-grade teacher, has already taken a temporary board position. On Oct. 28, Wright was sworn in to replace board member Stephen Varela, who resigned to take another school-based position. Wright will serve the remainder of Varela’s position and will be sworn in for a new term in January.

State Board of Education members served staggered six-year terms.

The 3rd District covers most of Colorado’s Western Slope and parts of Southern Colorado, including Pueblo County and the San Luis Valley. Its major cities are Grand Junction, Pueblo, Durango and Aspen.

In District 4, Republican Kristi Burton Brown defeated Democrat Krista Holtzmann. Burton Brown won by nearly 19 points.

Colorado’s District 4 covers Adams, Arapahoe, Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Larimer, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld and Yuma counties.

The State Board of Education is comprised of nine elected board members. The district boundaries align with the state’s eight congressional districts, with one at-large seat created in redistricting in 2022.

The State Board of Education provides educational leadership for the state, including appointing key personnel, approving the Department of Education budget, and setting rules, regulations and policies governing education levels between kindergarten and 12 grade.

The Colorado Department of Education serves as the administrative arm of the State Board of Education. It implements state and federal education laws, disburses funds, and holds schools and districts accountable. The department is also tasked with licensing educators and providing transparency in public performance and financial data.