Secretary of State of Colorado · Election November 3, 2026 · Updated
Who should I vote for in the Colorado secretary of state race?
No candidate in the Colorado secretary of state race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Amanda Campbell (2 of 15 criteria), Amanda Gonzalez (7 of 15 criteria), Celeste Landry (4 of 15 criteria), Sean Vadney (2 of 15 criteria) and James Wiley (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
American Constitution Party
Amanda Campbell
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Democratic
Amanda Gonzalez
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 7 of 15 criteria
- Character
- 50
- Qualifications
- 75
- Performance
- NR
Forward Party
Celeste Landry
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Libertarian
Sean Vadney
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 2 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
Republican
James Wiley
Not enough public record for a score
Public evidence on 4 of 15 criteria
- Character
- NR
- Qualifications
- 50
- Performance
- NR
The good, the bad and the unresolved
The record
The notable facts of each candidate's public life, each tied to a source and confirmed to be this person. Unresolved matters are labeled with where they stand and do not move a score.
Amanda Campbell
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Amanda Gonzalez
- On the record2026-10-07
Told the Colorado Sun that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
Source: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
- On the record2022
Elected Jefferson County clerk and recorder in 2022; she runs elections for nearly half a million voters.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amanda Gonzalez (Colorado), Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
- On the record2018-2021
Led Colorado Common Cause from 2018 to 2021 and advocated for automatic voter registration and the independent redistricting commission.
Sources: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026, CPR News voter guide, Sept. 25, 2026
Celeste Landry
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
Sean Vadney
No notable items confirmed in news archives or public documents.
James Wiley
- On the record2026-10-07
Told the Colorado Sun he does not know who won the 2020 presidential election.
Source: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
- On the record2024-11-05
Was part of a Libertarian lawsuit against Secretary of State Jena Griswold over the 2024 voting-system password leak, which a Denver District Court judge dismissed.
- On the record2024
Ran for the 3rd Congressional District as a Libertarian in 2024 and was a Libertarian until 2025.
Sources: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026, CPR News voter guide, Sept. 25, 2026
Who they are
Character
Integrity
Tells the truth, keeps their word, and takes no private gain from public office.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Courage
Takes a stand that costs them something, including telling their own side no.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Accountability
Owns mistakes, answers hard questions, and works in the open.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Temperament and judgment
Steady under pressure, decides on evidence, and treats opponents and staff with respect.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. Jefferson County clerk and recorder since 2023 and earlier led Colorado Common Cause (2018 to 2021). No censure, reprimand or conduct finding found.
Source: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Fidelity to the oath
Uses power inside its limits: accepts certified results, obeys court rulings, follows the rules of the office.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. Has held the sworn office of Jefferson County clerk and recorder since 2023, running county elections. No misuse-of-office finding found; says Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Sources: Ballotpedia, Amanda Gonzalez (Colorado), The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
What they bring
Qualifications
Relevant experience
Has done work that prepares them for this specific office.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. Elected Jefferson County clerk and recorder in 2022, running elections for nearly half a million voters; earlier an election attorney and executive director of Colorado Common Cause.
Sources: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Amanda Gonzalez (Colorado)
Celeste Landry. Longtime volunteer election lobbyist, including with the League of Women Voters, with a background as a manufacturing scheduler and teacher; has not held public office.
Sources: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, CPR News, third-party candidates guide, Sept. 25, 2026
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. Small business owner, legal assistant and political consultant who has led election advocacy groups; has not held public office.
Sources: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026, Ballotpedia, James Wiley
Command of the job
Knows the issues and knows what the office can and cannot do.
Amanda Campbell. Campaign pledges strict adherence to constitutional values and a more active constitutional role for the office, in general terms.
Source: CPR News, third-party candidates guide, Sept. 25, 2026
Amanda Gonzalez. Publishes specific plans within the office's powers, including language and disability access, election worker protections and simpler business and campaign finance services.
Source: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
Celeste Landry. Proposes specific election changes, such as primary voting by 17-year-olds who will be 18 by the general election and proportional representation, some needing legislation.
Source: CPR News, third-party candidates guide, Sept. 25, 2026
Sean Vadney. Lists priorities on election security, cheaper business registration and polling access for voters with disabilities, in general terms.
Source: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
James Wiley. Proposes changes such as automatic renewal of business registrations, a friendlier TRACER system, precinct voting and limits on mail voting, some of which need legislation.
Sources: CPR News voter guide, Sept. 25, 2026, The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
Communication
Explains plainly, persuades, and listens.
Amanda Campbell. Publishes a campaign website. Did not return the Denver Post questionnaire.
Sources: CPR News, third-party candidates guide, Sept. 25, 2026, Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
Amanda Gonzalez. Answered the Denver Post questionnaire and Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey (2025) and gave interviews to CPR and the Colorado Sun.
Sources: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Amanda Gonzalez (Colorado), CPR News voter guide, Sept. 25, 2026
Celeste Landry. Answered the Denver Post questionnaire and Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Celeste Landry
Sean Vadney. Answered the Denver Post questionnaire and Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.
Sources: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, Ballotpedia, Sean Vadney
James Wiley. Completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey and gave interviews to CPR and the Colorado Sun. Did not return the Denver Post questionnaire.
Sources: Ballotpedia, James Wiley, Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
Roots in the constituency
Lives there, knows the people, and is funded by them.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. Lives in Arvada and serves as the elected Jefferson County clerk and recorder.
Sources: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026, The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
Celeste Landry. Lives in Boulder.
Source: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. Lives in Holyoke; born in Colorado Springs.
Source: The Colorado Sun, Oct. 7, 2026
Management
Can build and run an organization.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. Heads the Jefferson County Clerk and Recorder's office, which runs elections for nearly half a million voters. No official finding about the office found.
Source: Denver Post secretary of state candidate Q&A, Oct. 3, 2026
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
What they deliver
Performance
Results
Turns ideas into outcomes.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Showing up
Does the basic work of the job.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Constituent service
Solves problems for the people they represent.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Coalition building
Wins support beyond their own faction.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
Stewardship of public money
Treats tax dollars as someone else's money.
Amanda Campbell. No public record found.
Amanda Gonzalez. No public record found.
Celeste Landry. No public record found.
Sean Vadney. No public record found.
James Wiley. No public record found.
How to read this
Each criterion is scored 0 to 4 against the written rubric in the Ballot Standard. NR means no record: there is no reliable public evidence either way, so the criterion is left out and never counts against the candidate. A total is published when at least 8 of 15 criteria have evidence.
A sitting officeholder has a longer public record than a first-time candidate, so the two totals rest on different amounts of evidence. Read the count of criteria beside each score. Low marks require an official finding or a primary record. Allegations and opinion are not used.
No policy position is scored. Evidence checked October 9, 2026. Campaigns and readers can send a correction with a public source to tpg@thepoliticalgroup.com.
Questions
Who should I vote for in the Colorado secretary of state race?
No candidate in the Colorado secretary of state race has enough public record yet for a Ballot Standard score, as of October 9, 2026. Amanda Campbell (2 of 15 criteria), Amanda Gonzalez (7 of 15 criteria), Celeste Landry (4 of 15 criteria), Sean Vadney (2 of 15 criteria) and James Wiley (4 of 15 criteria) have too little public record to score. Every score comes from public records on character, qualifications and performance, the same way for every party.
Who is running in the Colorado secretary of state race in 2026?
Amanda Campbell (American Constitution Party), Amanda Gonzalez (Democratic), Celeste Landry (Forward Party), Sean Vadney (Libertarian), James Wiley (Republican). The general election is November 3, 2026.
Is Amanda Campbell a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Amanda Campbell has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Amanda Gonzalez a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Amanda Gonzalez has public evidence on 7 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Celeste Landry a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Celeste Landry has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is Sean Vadney a good candidate for Secretary of State?
Sean Vadney has public evidence on 2 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
Is James Wiley a good candidate for Secretary of State?
James Wiley has public evidence on 4 of the 15 Ballot Standard criteria, short of the 8 needed for a score. The evidence that exists is shown on the scorecard. No record never counts against a candidate.
How is the strongest record decided?
The candidate with the highest Ballot Standard score has the strongest record. Each of 15 criteria on character, qualifications and performance is scored 0 to 4 from public records and established reporting, the same way for every party. No policy position is scored, and unresolved accusations never move a score.
More on this race: every Colorado race scored, and the Colorado 2026 election guide. Independent scorecard by The Political Group, not affiliated with any candidate or party.