Who is running for Colorado House District 36 in 2026?
Here are the candidates for Colorado House District 36 on the November 3, 2026 ballot. This race is on the ballot for voters in Colorado House District 36.
Positions come only from each candidate's own votes, official actions, statements and questionnaire answers, never from party labels. Every item links to its source.
Side by side
Each candidate's position on the issues this office handles, from their own record. Details and sources are in each profile below.
| Issue | Paul E. NelsonRepublican | Michael CarterDemocrat | Andrew GibsonLibertarian |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abortion | No public position | Legal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)Said · low | No public position |
| Guns | No public position | All of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazinesVoted · high | No public position |
| School choice | Yes, universal school choice for every familySaid · low | No public position | No public position |
| Curriculum and books | Parents, including the right to remove material they object toSaid · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Housing and growth | No public position | Allow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downVoted · medium | No public position |
| Policing and crime | More police, with a focus on repeat offendersSaid · medium | No public position | No public position |
| Drug prices | No public position | Set legal price limits on all prescription drugs for every buyerSaid · medium | No public position |
Paul E. Nelson
RepublicanCandidate for Colorado House District 36
Paul E. Nelson is the Republican nominee for Colorado House District 36 in Aurora. His campaign site lists TABOR, school choice, parental rights and property tax relief among his priorities1.
Where they stand 3 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
Curriculum and booksParents, including the right to remove material they object tomedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says parents, not the government, should decide what their children learn. (2026) source
Policing and crimeMore police, with a focus on repeat offendersmedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says he will back full funding for police and tough consequences for repeat offenders. (2026) source
School choiceYes, universal school choice for every familylow
Said · low confidence- His campaign site says he will expand school choice. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, Housing and growth, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Michael Carter
Democrat · IncumbentColorado State Representative, District 36
Michael Carter is the Democratic incumbent for Colorado House District 36. His campaign site says he is a former member of the U.S. Army and has worked as a defense attorney5, and describes his work on the Aurora School Board2.
Where they stand 4 issues · tap any issue for the evidence
GunsAll of that, plus ban assault-style weapons and high-capacity magazineshigh
Voted · high confidence- His campaign site lists a plan to create an assault weapon ban. (2026) source
- Voted yes on SB25-003, which bans selling or buying specified semiautomatic firearms with detachable magazines from August 1, 2026, except for buyers who meet training requirements (House third reading, 36 to 28). (2025-03-24) source
Housing and growthAllow townhomes and apartments in more places to bring prices downmedium
Voted · medium confidence- Voted yes on HB26-1001, the HOME Act, which requires larger local governments to allow qualifying organizations to build housing on their land regardless of zoning (House third reading, 35 to 24). (2026-02-06) source
Drug pricesSet legal price limits on all prescription drugs for every buyermedium
Said · medium confidence- His campaign site says to create statewide requirements to cap the price of prescription medications. (2026) source
AbortionLegal in most cases up to viability (about 24 weeks)low
Said · low confidence- His campaign site says Colorado must solidify abortion rights so everyone who needs an abortion can get safe and affordable care. (2026) source
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Andrew Gibson
LibertarianNavy veteran
Andrew Gibson is the Libertarian nominee for Colorado House District 36. His campaign site says he is a Navy veteran and a Colorado resident since January 2010 with a career in safety and field operations, and that the Libertarian Party of Colorado asked him to run1.
No public position found on: Safety net programs, Minimum wage, Business regulation, Healthcare, Abortion, Guns, Immigration, Energy and climate, School choice, Curriculum and books, Housing and growth, Policing and crime, Election rules, Judges, Politicians trading stocks, Marijuana, Gender care for minors, Redistricting, Term limits, Campaign finance, Electoral College, Ranked-choice voting, Death penalty, Qualified immunity, Mandatory minimums, Drug prices, Childcare and pre-K, Paid leave, Student loans, AI regulation, Kids online, School vaccines, Nuclear power, E-Verify mandate, Transgender athletes, DEI programs, Religion in schools, China policy.
Last reviewed 2026-10-08. Spotted something wrong? Every claim links to its source so you can check it yourself.