Michael GuzmanCandidate

Michael Guzman

State SenateDemocrat

CO-SD34 State Senate

Age 43·Latino·RTD Board Director, District C (2023-present)

Why This Race Matters

Michael Guzman is running against Andres Carrera (D, former Johnston political director); Graciela Garcia Irlando (D, CO Democratic Latino Caucus ED); Olivia Miller (D, Zayo Group director).

Open seat primary with four Latino candidates competing to succeed Julie Gonzales, who is running for U.S. Senate. SD-34 covers downtown Denver with ~166,000 residents in an overwhelmingly Democratic district (Gonzales won 83% in 2018, ran unopposed in 2022). Guzman is the only candidate with elected experience, having served on the RTD Board since 2023.

Crowded primary field: Andres Carrera leads fundraising with $80K raised (former political director for Mayor Mike Johnston), Graciela Garcia Irlando raised $29K (Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus Executive Director), and Olivia Miller also running. Guzman has raised $3,449 as of Dec 2025. All top candidates have Latino heritage, ensuring continued Latino representation in this seat.

Key dates to watch: Primary on June 30, 2026 and General Election on November 3, 2026.

About

Michael Guzman is a Denver native and lifelong RTD rider running for Colorado State Senate District 34. He learned to ride RTD with his grandmother and mother, running barefoot on the sandstone sidewalks of the west side during summers. Growing up in and around the Historic Baker Neighborhood and now residing in Sunnyside, he brings two decades of retail customer service experience and a deep understanding of regional transportation needs. Elected to the RTD Board in 2022 as a write-in candidate, he served as Board Secretary in 2024 and chairs both the Finance & Planning and Performance committees.

Family & Heritage

Denver native who grew up in and around the Historic Baker Neighborhood, currently residing in Sunnyside. Learned to ride RTD with his grandmother and mother as a child. Ran barefoot on the sandstone sidewalks during summers on the west side. Fluent in English, Spanish, and Portuguese with strong competence in other Romance Languages; actively learning ASL.

Political Career

Before Politics

Shift Supervisor at Starbucks (51st Ave & Federal Blvd location); Former General Manager at Chipotle; United States Postal Service Postal Support Employee; Spanish Teacher Assistant at St. John's University (2001-2002); Multicultural Student Office Assistant (2000-2001); Dining Service Crew Member (1998-2000)

Education

B.A. in Spanish from St. John's University, Collegeville, MN (2003); Harvard Kennedy School State and Local Leadership Certification as Gates Family Foundation Fellow (2024); Latinos In Transit Leadership Academy Director Track (2024); DRCOG Civic Academy (2023); National Transit Institute certifications in public engagement and transit operator safety

Key Issues & Priorities

*Public transit expansion and service restoration
*Affordable housing and preventing neighborhood displacement
*Transit accessibility and regional equity
*Worker-centered economic policy
*Spanish-language communication for RTD riders
*Safety improvements on public transit

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