By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
As the wife of a U.S. Marine and a mother, Yazmin Navarro experienced education models in America and abroad.
Those varied experiences as a student and parent, working with at-risk youth and an upbringing with “education at forefront for success” are among the reasons Navarro chose to seek election in Colorado’s 8th District to the state board of education. Navarro, the Republican nominee, is being opposed on the general election ballot by Democrat Rhonda Solis.
The campaign trail has led Navarro to draw some conclusions which she shared Monday, Sept. 23, on a grassroots call headed by former Sen. Kevin Lundberg.
“I’m seeing [Democrats] out there registering voters,” Navarro said. “Why can’t Republicans do more of that? I want to see us out there as well.”
At a Latino festival in Brighton, she witnessed a Democrat booth helping unregistered Coloradans become registered to vote, she said.
“I would like to see we are assisting Republicans, Independents and unaffiliateds with registration and information,” Navarro said.
The Colorado secretary of state’s office last week reported 3,906,892 registered voters, with 23.2% registered as Republicans and 26.0% registered as Democrats. That leaves 1,900,268 unaffiliated registrations, representing 48.6% of the electorate. It also means there are more Coloradans who could be registered to vote, but are not.
On her campaign website, Navarro notes her upbringing in America as an immigrant child and the “unique voice” she may possess as a candidate. She is in one of three contested races for the state board of education.
“I’ve been in education most of adult life,” Navarro said. “I’m not a teacher, but I’ve created curriculums, and I’ve worked with at-risk youth.”
She’s continuing a tradition of valuing education with her daughter, Sadie.
“People want to improve education for their children,” she says.
The campaign trail has introduced Navarro to parents of school-aged children she did not previously know.
“It has been great talking with parents,” she said. “They have a similar mindset on protecting parental rights and on school choice. They want to be empowered.”
In the 8th District, she has often engaged with candidates such as the Republican nominee for the U.S. House, Gabe Evans, who is of a similar background to Navarro. There are other candidates for state seats which she has also engaged with during the campaign.
“If we all share similar values, why not?” she asked.
Both Navarro and Evans are candidates who could engage with Hispanic Coloradans in ways other Republicans may not.
“The barrier is the language,” Navarro said. “It helps to put people who look like them in front of them. They open to me more when they see I’m also Hispanic.”
She is calling for more than just a traditional “Get Out The Vote” effort by Republicans.
“Let’s put things out in laymen’s terms so everyone can understand,” Navarro said. “You have to really figure it out. The wording [of ballot initiatives] is so difficult for people. Even I have some difficulty.”
Read more on where Navarro stands on the issues of the race HERE.