Jennifer Bacon
2021 - Present
2027
4
Jennifer Bacon (Democratic Party) is a member of the Colorado House of Representatives, representing District 7. She assumed office on January 13, 2021. Her current term ends on January 12, 2027.
Bacon (Democratic Party) ran for re-election to the Colorado House of Representatives to represent District 7. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Biography
Jennifer Bacon was born in Miami, Florida. She earned a bachelor's degree from Tulane University in 2004. She earned a graduate degree from Florida International University in 2006. She earned a J.D. from College of William & Mary Marshall Wythe School of Law in 2009. Bacon's career experience includes working as an educator.[1][2]
Committee assignments
Note: This membership information was last updated in September 2023. Ballotpedia completes biannual updates of committee membership. If you would like to send us an update, email us at:editor@ballotpedia.org.
2023-2024
Bacon was assigned to the following committees:
- House Education Committee
- House Judiciary Committee, Vice Chair
2021-2022
Bacon was assigned to the following committees:
Sponsored legislation
The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.
Elections
2024
See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2024
General election
General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Jennifer Bacon defeated Tom Swift, Raymon Doane, and Ben Pope in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Bacon (D) | 73.1 | 22,078 | |
| Tom Swift (R) | 23.9 | 7,206 | ||
| Raymon Doane (L) | 3.0 | 907 | ||
| Ben Pope (D) (Write-in) | 0.0 | 9 | ||
| Total votes: 30,200 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Jennifer Bacon advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Bacon | 100.0 | 5,337 | |
| Total votes: 5,337 | ||||
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Republican primary election
Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Tom Swift advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Tom Swift | 100.0 | 821 | |
| Total votes: 821 | ||||
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Campaign finance
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Bacon in this election.
2022
See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2022
General election
General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Jennifer Bacon won election in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on November 8, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Bacon (D) | 100.0 | 16,765 | |
| Total votes: 16,765 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Incumbent Jennifer Bacon advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on June 28, 2022.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Bacon | 100.0 | 6,377 | |
| Total votes: 6,377 | ||||
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2020
See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2020
General election
General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Jennifer Bacon won election in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on November 3, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Bacon (D) | 100.0 | 38,938 | |
| Total votes: 38,938 | ||||
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Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7
Jennifer Bacon advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 7 on June 30, 2020.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Jennifer Bacon | 100.0 | 18,805 | |
| Total votes: 18,805 | ||||
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Terrence Hughes (D)
- Simon Maghakyan (D)
- Bernard Douthit (D)
2017
- See also: Denver Public Schools elections (2017)
Four of the seven seats on the Denver Public Schools Board of Education in Colorado were up for nonpartisan general election on November 7, 2017. In her bid for re-election, at-large incumbent Barbara O'Brien defeated challengers Julie Banuelos and Robert Speth. The open District 2 race included Angela Cobian and Xochitl "Sochi" Gaytan, and Cobian won the seat. District 3 incumbent Mike Johnson was defeated by Carrie Olson. District 4 incumbent Rachele Espiritu ran against Tay Anderson and Jennifer Bacon, and Bacon won the seat.[3][4]
Results
| Denver Public Schools, District 4 General Election, 4-year term, 2017 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Jennifer Bacon |
41.88% | 10,471 |
| Rachele Espiritu Incumbent | 32.99% | 8,248 |
| Tay Anderson | 25.13% | 6,282 |
| Total Votes | 25,001 | |
| Source: Denver Elections Division, "Coordinated Election November 7, 2017 Final Official Results," accessed November 27, 2017 | ||
Funding
Bacon reported $68,967.25 in contributions and $67,943.11 in expenditures to the Colorado Secretary of State, which left her campaign with $1,024.14 on hand in the election.[5]
Endorsements
Bacon was endorsed by the following organizations:[6][7]
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Bacon was also endorsed by community members. Click here for a list of her supporters.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jennifer Bacon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2024 Candidate Connection survey.
2022
Jennifer Bacon completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Bacon's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
| Collapse all
As an African American woman, I recognized from an early age my duty to fight for the success of young people despite their zip code, skin color, or aspirations in life.
Because of this, I sought to educate in the classroom, build power with students and families as a community organizer, and partner with neighbors as a school board member. Now I am running to serve as your next State Representative.
- Educational Impact
- Social and Environmental Justice
- Living wages, affordable housing, and affordable healthcare
Public education
Dismantling systems and practices that have lead to disparate outcomes for marginalized people in the criminal justice, housing, and financial systems.
Environmental justice
Wealth building for disenfranchised communities
Fannie Lou Hamer
Thurgood Marshall
Rodney King 11
Hurricane Andrew 11
OJ Simpson Verdict 13
Elian Gonzales 17
Church daycare center 3 months
Eckerd Drugstore 3 years
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
2020
Jennifer Bacon did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
2017
Candidate website
Bacon highlighted the following issues on her campaign website:
| “ | Dear neighbors,
The last conversation I had with my grandfather was over black eyed peas and collards in his hometown of Lexington, Mississippi. I asked him how he ended up leaving the South. He said that his father got into a fight with a white man who was doing him wrong, and the next day he and his family were on the train north. This story reminds me of the sacrifices made by those who came before me, and of my responsibility to pay it forward. It’s why I became an educator, a lawyer, and a community organizer. From diversifying Denver’s teacher workforce, to limiting the number of children arrested in schools, I have a track record of improving the education of Denver’s students at every turn. I’m running for school board because Denver students and families need that experienced advocate now. Every day I talk to my neighbors, former students, and DPS teachers. Parents in Stapleton and Green Valley Ranch ask “Will there be enough seats in a good neighborhood school for my daughter?” While leading student workshops, students in Montbello say “I’ve been to four different schools that closed down - how can I succeed without stability?” Teachers and principals across the district ask me what to do about the turnover in staff that keeps them from reaching their school’s potential. These are tough questions, but we can answer them together in this campaign. If we put people and processes first, have real conversations about transparency and equity, and work to stabilize our schools, we can find a new way forward for Denver schools. This November, I ask for your vote. This campaign is about not just our students, but us as a community. I vow to knock on the most doors to collect stories and be your best advocate. I will solve problems by building bridges. I will lead with values: people and community first. Humbly, Jennifer[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[9] | ||
Chalkbeat Colorado survey
Bacon participated in the following survey conducted by Chalkbeat Colorado. The survey questions appear bolded, and Bacon's responses follow below.
Tell us a bit about yourself. How long have you lived in the school district? What do you do for a living?
| “ | I started my career as a public elementary school teacher in New Orleans. Two days into the school year in 2005, Hurricane Katrina hit and I was displaced to Miami. Seeing the devastation set upon my neighbors - both natural and man made - led me to law school so I could become an advocate for those who need protection. I’ve now been a teacher, school administrator, and a lawyer defending civil rights of the elderly and students with special needs. After moving to Denver in 2010, I bought a home in Montbello and started working with local community groups, including Padres y Jovenes Unidos where I serve as the board chair.
I currently work for Leadership for Educational Equity, where I train teachers on how to make change civically - with the core belief that the best decisions are those made by those most impacted. It is this belief that drives the way I am running my campaign and how I will lead on the Denver School Board.[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
Tell us about your connection to the school district.
| “ | I’m running for Denver School Board because I’m deeply connected with our students, parents, teachers, and community leaders. I worked as a Dean of Students at DSST Green Valley Ranch. As the board chair of Padres y Jovenes Unidos, I’ve supported Denver parents as they advocate for the needs of their families. I’ve worked both professionally and civically to improve the recruitment and retention of teachers of color within DPS. I find myself consistently visiting schools, helping parents get the services they need for their special needs student, or connecting great teachers with resources or a job opening at a school that fits their style. My passion is creating opportunities for kids and families through a great education.[8] | ” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
The school board adopted a policy that calls for closing or replacing low-performing schools. Do you agree with it? Is there anything you’d change?
| “ | No one wants our students in academically under-performing or unsafe schools. I believe DPS is currently underutilizing the community as a resource to support schools showing signs of distress. DPS must innovatively engage with a community before a school is put up for closure. DPS has the capacity to do this - we’ve seen them give power to a community committee to choose the model for a restart at John Amesse. We have data like enrollment projections and academics to identify the schools where something must change. We have community resources that we could be leveraging to help the school succeed. The Board needs to lead in connecting these assets so we can minimize the trauma of our current school closure process.[8] | ” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
There are over 200 public schools in Denver. More than half are charter and innovation schools, which operate with increased autonomy. What are your thoughts about the district’s “portfolio” approach?
| “ | When I speak with families in Denver, they want to be able to find schools that meets their students’ multifaceted needs and they welcome the ability to choose magnets or charters with specialized programming (e.g., dual-language program, a school that specializes in special education push-in models, the performing arts, etc.). That said, too many families in District 4 face a false choice: attend a struggling neighborhood school or drive across town for a seat. For choice to really work, all schools must be great options and families must be able to access them. That’s why I want DPS to invest in stabilizing its neighborhood schools.
Another potential benefit of this system could be ensuring better integrated schools within enrollment zones. Theoretically, enrollment zones are strong tools to combat segregation in schools, but in practice DPS hasn’t done enough to ensure that our schools are inclusive and representative of the great diversity of our city.[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
How should DPS rate schools? What factors should be taken into account and how much weight should they be given? Do you agree with adding an “equity indicator” that bases ratings partly on how well schools are educating traditionally underserved students?
| “ | Our current definition of quality is based primarily on tests. This is an important piece; we always need to know if students are at grade level or if there are gaps in performance among different student groups. However, test data is only one measure of success. DPS can become a leader in broadening a definition of quality with innovative thinking like measuring community engagement with metrics like completed home visits or strengthening our survey data of parents and students on the culture of a school.
I believe equity within a school is a critical metric of a school’s success. Our current equity metric within DPS is a start in its measurement of gaps in the performance of different student populations. However, DPS could be much more innovative here and rework the indicator to reward the closing of gaps within a school, or rethink how to measure equity for schools that have more homogenous student populations. Finally, measuring how all kids are doing is just the start. As we seek to create inclusive schools where all students thrive, we need to do more to support teachers with the resources that will allow them to create a culturally responsive environment.[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
Denver is gentrifying, and the district has formed a committee to investigate how those changes are impacting schools. What policies would you consider to combat the segregation and decreasing enrollment occurring in some schools?
| “ | Segregation is a problem across our country and down to the school level. Our country has a long history of segregation that has systematically led us to where we are today. This is an issue worth addressing; all students benefit from attending a racially and socioeconomically diverse school.
In a rapidly changing city like Denver, DPS should be working with the City to intentionally map out housing plans to naturally diversify our schools. As we draw attendance zones, we can consider the diversity of neighborhoods zoned to the same school. Denver has great programs within its magnet schools, like Denver School of the Arts; DPS could do more to ensure that those who want to pursue that program come from every part of the city. DPS must also recognize its role in the strength of communities. At the core of every strong neighborhood is a strong school, one that families want to live by and might be a good option for the needs of their students. To achieve that, the district needs to do more to support neighborhood schools which will draw in families and encourage fewer families to opt out of neighborhood schools.[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
What is DPS doing particularly well right now?
| “ | As a teacher, I’m heartened by the investment in the Teacher Leadership and Collaboration program in the District. Teachers are at the heart of the success of our district and should be treated as such. A program like this, which invests in the professionalization of our teachers and includes them in decisions and processes across the district, has a lot of promise. We still have ways to continue improving, both in how we reward and compensate teachers and how they are engaged in decision-making processes.
Additionally, the board has recently approved the recommendations of the African American Equity Task force, which focus on implementation of culturally responsive practices in schools and investment in proven interventions like the Opportunity Centers. I’m running because while I deeply believe in these policies, Denver needs an advocate on the board to ensure they are implemented with fidelity and high quality.[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
What is the most pressing thing the board should change?
| “ | Transparency and inclusion of the community in decision-making. The board makes a number of critical decisions that impact the lives of kids and communities, and yet those communities are rarely engaged in the process to share how those decisions will impact them. This disconnect between policymakers and the people who are most impacted needs to close. Not only is it a fundamental value of mine that the public should have a voice in public education, the district is losing out on the resources our communities could bring to bear to support our schools. I promise to be a leader who will not just talk, but listen to the community to ensure all voices are at the table.[8] | ” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
What are the most pressing issues in the geographic area you’re seeking to represent and what policy changes would you suggest to address them?
| “ | District 4 has been the epicenter of so much change in Denver and education over the past decade: the challenges of schools facing increasing and declining enrollment, the opening and closing of schools. In order for our schools and our students to realize their full potential, the District needs to work to provide a stable foundation - in its expectations of schools, in the resources it provides, and in its forward looking vision for schools.
DPS policies approved by the Board do not do enough to help district-run schools turn around their academic performance in the face of these changes. For example, schools that are seeing enrollment declines end up with smaller budgets in our per-pupil budgeting system, but are often charged the same amount for supports or curriculum for central office. In order to balance budgets, schools are faced with choices like cutting library positions or even closing the library. Instead of providing enough resources and flexibility to the school to improve the performance of the school, district policies are allowing the school to continue on a path towards closure.[8] |
” |
| —Jennifer Bacon (2017)[10] | ||
Campaign finance summary
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Scorecards
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2024
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2024, click [show]. |
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In 2024, the Colorado State Legislature was in session from January 10 to May 8.
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2023
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2023, click [show]. |
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In 2023, the Colorado State Legislature was in session from January 9 to May 8.
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2022
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2022, click [show]. |
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In 2022, the Colorado State Legislature was in session from January 12 to May 11.
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2021
| To view all the scorecards we found for this legislator in 2021, click [show]. |
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In 2021, the Colorado State Legislature was in session from January 13 to June 8.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Colorado House of Representatives District 7 |
Officeholder Colorado House of Representatives District 7 |
Personal |
Footnotes
- ↑ Bacon for Colorado, "Priorities," accessed December 28, 2020
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 9, 2022
- ↑ Denver Public Schools, "Running For School Board: Candidate Tracking," accessed September 2, 2017
- ↑ Denver Elections Division, "Election Summary Report," accessed November 7, 2017
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "TRACER: Candidate Search," accessed December 15, 2017
- ↑ Denver Classroom Teachers Association, "DCTA School Board Endorsement: Jennifer Bacon," accessed October 23, 2017
- ↑ Jennifer Bacon Denver School Board District 4, "Community Support," accessed October 23, 2017
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 8.8 8.9 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Jennifer Bacon Denver School Board District 4, "Why I'm Running," accessed October 23, 2017
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 10.4 10.5 10.6 10.7 10.8 Chalkbeat Colorado, "We sent surveys to all the 2017 Denver school board candidates. Read their answers here." October 5, 2017
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by James Coleman (D) |
Colorado House of Representatives District 7 2021-Present |
Succeeded by - |
| Preceded by - |
Denver Public Schools Board of Education District 4 2017-2021 |
Succeeded by - |
