Campaign Honors Women’s History Month, Highlights Polis-Primavera Administration’s Record on Breaking Down Barriers for Women
Denver – The Polis for Colorado campaign today introduced its women-led campaign team in honor of Women’s History Month. Strong, committed Colorado women are leading Governor Jared Polis’s grassroots re-election campaign leveraging their 40 years of collective experience and service to our beloved home.
- Campaign Manager Sarah Andrews is a Democratic political strategist who helped run Jared Polis’s first campaign for Governor in 2018 and has led strong teams in campaigns and government including on Hillary Clinton’s 2016 Presidential campaign and the Colorado Governor’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade.
- Senior Political Advisor Alexis Menocal Harrigan is a well-respected Latina leader who has committed her career to better outcomes for children and families, advising governors, members of Congress, and other key policy makers.
- Communications Director Amber Miller is a seasoned communications professional with wide ranging experience working at the federal, state and local levels, including serving in Denver Mayor Michael Hancock’s administration for two terms.
Bringing additional female power, a deep knowledge of the state and Colorado values, the Polis for Colorado campaign is fueled by experienced staff, including Hayley Drapkin, Digital Director, Emily Haddaway, Operations Director, Julia Martinez Harrington, Outreach and Political Partnerships Director, Laura Warren, Finance Advisor, and Danielle Young-Kombo, Deputy Political Director.
“I am proud to work side-by-side with strong, smart Colorado women who have helped the state weather some of our darkest days, ensuring our recovery reaches every corner and person in the state,” Governor Polis said. “Due to this leadership, we have been able to do what’s right for Colorado, no matter the challenges that come our way. We have more work to do and that includes fighting for women’s access to every opportunity to succeed. When women succeed, we all succeed.”
The campaign kicked off last month and Governor Polis has amassed more than 100 endorsements from Colorado women business leaders, community leaders and elected officials.
“Governor Polis and the Polis for Colorado campaign recognize the vital role of women in American and Colorado history, and honor all the women who are working hard everyday to build their businesses, lead their communities, raise their families and grow their futures,” Sarah Andrews said. “Together, we are building a stronger Colorado.”
Colorado women have been experiencing a historically challenging time due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a disproportionate impact on women – especially women of color. The Polis-Primavera Administration has been and will continue to break down barriers for women while ensuring that opportunities are open to them at every stage of their lives.
Governor Polis has spent his career fighting for equality and women’s rights. And we have made significant progress:
Women in leadership – Colorado’s Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera is the third woman to be elected to the position, Colorado proudly has one of only two majority female legislatures, the Governor’s cabinet and senior staff has a majority of women, and the leadership of the Governor’s reelection campaign are all women.
Women in the workforce – Governor Polis has moved significant resources to women and minority-owned small businesses for pandemic recovery. The state has strengthened women-dominated career paths such as nursing, teaching and caregiving. In addition, the administration has made critical progress towards pay equity, providing paid family and sick leave, and childcare so Colorado’s women workforce can confidently work. Today, it is no secret why Colorado has the most women-led start-ups in the country.
Women as mothers – Colorado is creating one of the strongest early childhood education (“ECE”) systems in the country for our families. This includes free preschool and kindergarten, more childcare facilities, and more teachers and trained professionals to teach our children, and a new cabinet-level agency focused on streamlining ECE services. Every step of the way, Gov. Polis is lowering the cost of childcare for parents, including offering childcare tax credits.
Women’s health – In the past three years, Colorado has made major strides to make affordable health care coverage more accessible for women-owned small businesses and individuals and their families not covered by their employers. Further, Governor Polis has spent his elected career fighting for women’s access to high quality health care, including passing and protecting the Affordable Care Act, defending Medicare, and reproductive care, access to abortions and fending off attacks from Republicans on women’s access to health care, which continues today.
Opportunity for Women – Governor Polis has continued to offer more educational opportunities across the state starting with better funding and increased innovation for K-12 schools and breaking down barriers, especially for women and mothers to access higher education, post-secondary credentials, and employment certifications.
