A blue wave that saw conservatives nationwide lose governors’ races, ballot initiatives and even school board elections appeared to have affected Colorado, as well. It was a setback in our state for candidates running on student academic growth against the union machine.
But there was a bright spot — El Paso County — where reform-minded candidates swept Academy District 20’s three seats, won two of three contested seats in the ultra-competitive Colorado Springs School District 11, and won at least one of two seats up for grabs in School District 49. The second race in D49 remains too close to call.
All three El Paso County districts preserved their pro-education reform majorities. These victories, hard-fought and locally grounded, reiterate the same mandate for desperately needed academic improvement that local voters gave D-11, D-20 and D-49 when they elected reform slates in 2021 and then again in 2023…