GET OUT THE VOTE

Neal Walia runs for U.S. Congress to “DO DENVER BETTER”

Learn more about Neal Walia’s campaign, the issues he will work to address, and sign up to volunteer at: nealwaliaforcongress.com

Neal Walia, is running for Congress in Colorado’s First Congressional District (CD-1) which is based primarily in the city of Denver.

On June 28, 2022, the Democratic primary election results will determine if Walia advances to the general election in November and if the city of Denver will have its first person of color in this seat in U.S. Congress, as no Republican candidates have registered for this year’s general election.

A son of Indian immigrants, Walia was born in Seattle, Washington and moved to Denver at the age of 11. He would later attend CU-Boulder for undergrad CU-Denver for a dual master’s degree in criminal justice and public administration.

“I am running because I want to be a champion for our most vulnerable communities,” said Walia. “I want our communities to have a representative who lives their struggles and will fight to fix them, as if their lives depended on it, because my life does.”

Walia is running against incumbent Diana DeGette, who is the longest-serving member of the Colorado Delegation. She has been been representing the Denver area in Congress since 1997 and would be seeking her 14th term in Congress.

Walia has said that Denver needs “a new generation of leadership,” as he has received numerous endorsements from Colorado elected officials including PK Kaiser, Arapahoe County Assessor; Obi Ezeadi, Westminster City Councilor, and Joe Salazer, former Colorado State Representative.

Walia previously worked for the National Governors Association and Governor John Hickenlooper’s Office of Community Partnerships. As a progressive candidate, he will work to establish a green economy, create a system with housing for all, and ensure a commitment to small business.

He said: “Small business ownership has been one of the most meaningful pathways that have allowed our communities to build a better life for our families. Denver’s small business community, in particular the AAPI small business community, has been instrumental in moving this campaign forward and creating this historic moment. I’m incredibly grateful for the support we have received and am committed now more than ever to champion our people in the halls of Congress.”

Growing up in an immigrant family, he saw the journey of his parents from their beginnings as service industry workers to their current careers as educators, which taught him what is possible when all people are given the opportunity to succeed.

“Immigrants from around the world, especially Asian Americans, have long been a key player in the building of this country: socially, economically and politically. And whether you are in immigrant, a refugee or asylum seeker it is a key priority for me to build specific pathways for our families and communities to gain permanent citizenships.”

If you are a registered Democrat in Denver (CD-1), you will have the opportunity to vote for Neal Walia in the June 28 primary election! Look for his name on the ballot!

COLORADO IS READY TO ELECT ITS FIRST VIETNAMESE ELECTED OFFICIAL

JOHNNIE NGUYEN, a practicing attorney in Colorado, is running for the University of Colorado’s Board of Regents in Congressional District 1 (Denver). As a Vietnamese American, he will advocate for firstgeneration and diverse students across the state.

A Dedication to Public Service

Johnnie Nguyen, 26, is deeply dedicated to public service. He has worked as a legislative aide in the Colorado House of Representatives, has taught for the “Colorado I Have a Dream Foundation” (which focuses on underserved students in Metro Denver), taught constitutional law to diverse high schoolers to ensure awareness of their rights as they prepared for adulthood, worked as a Constituent Advocate for US Senator John W. Hickenlooper, and so much more. Additionally, Johnnie served in national leadership roles, such as the Board of Governors of the American Bar Association. There, he oversaw the organization’s $84M budget and general operations.

Coming to the US as Vietnamese Refugees

During the Vietnam War, Johnnie Nguyen’s grandfather fought alongside Americans as the Chief of Police for the Southern Republic Army of Vietnam. After the Fall of Saigon, he became a prisoner of war, and his parents fled to the US as refugees. Upon arrival, they worked as factory laborers, dishwashers, and in nail salons to put food on the table.

Eventually, they started their own landscaping business in Denver were able to provide for Nguyen and his sisters. The stories of adversity his family shared with him over the dinner table taught him the privileges he had by being born in the US States as a citizen.

Growing up, despite facing issues with racism, having English as his second language, and being in terribly underfunded schools, through the empowerment of his parent’s resilience the resources provided at the University of Colorado (“CU”), Nguyen became the first in his family to graduate high school, college, and law school.

He attended CU Denver for his undergraduate and CU Boulder for law school. Nguyen said: “I had to make the most out of an opportunity that my ancestors would have dreamed of. Now, I’m in a position of privilege to give back to the communities that have given me everything.”

Campaign Priorities

Nguyen’s campaign for CU Regent focuses on ensuring that all Coloradans have access to a quality education at CU. CU Regents oversee roughly a $5.2 billion-dollar economic impact while making fundamental policy decisions on behalf of all CU campuses. CU is also the third largest employer in Colorado. Nguyen’s top priorities are to create a health insurance plan for CU Denver students, to support gun safety measures, supporting diverse and first-generation students, to prioritize mental health issues, and to support CU athletics.

Making History

If elected, Johnnie will be the first Vietnamese American to hold elected office in Colorado and will become the first openly gay member of the CU Board of Regents. Johnnie’s campaign has been endorsed by over 40+ elected officials. Just recently, he made the Democratic primary ballot with the most support amongst all candidates running.

Learn more about his campaign at JohnnieForCU.com. Connect with him via e-mail at Johnnie@JohnnieForCU.com.