Issues & Priorities
Making Colorado Affordable. Restoring Balance. Common Sense.
Making Colorado Affordable
As your State Senator, John Carson has worked hard to make life more affordable for Colorado families by fighting to lower taxes, make government more efficient, and oppose unnecessary legislation and regulations. John pledges to continue to focus on cost-of-living issues like housing, health care, energy, insurance, and lowering taxes and fees.
-
In 2025, John received the Legislative Excellence Award from the Independent Community Bankers of Colorado because Colorado small businesses are significant job creators but face many challenges in securing capital, complying with regulations, and paying taxes. John sponsored legislation to redirect certain economic development funds to the Small Business Development Centers (SBDCs) in Colorado that help business startups grow and prosper (HB26-1416).
-
Over John’s career he spent eight years as Legislative Counsel to Colorado’s former United States Senator Wayne Allard who championed a federal Balanced Budget Amendment and John served on the staff of the Senate Banking Committee and House Budget Committee.
-
John also spent eight years on the Douglas County Board of Education, including four as Board President, and delivered on high academic standards and parental choice in education while cutting administrative bloat and unnecessary government spending.
-
John has been a practicing Colorado attorney for 38 years. In 2025 John was awarded the “Common Sense in the Courtroom Award” by the Colorado Civil Justice League, a nonprofit dedicated exclusively to tort reform and limiting what it deems "unreasonable" or frivolous lawsuits within the state of Colorado.
-
Fighting for Taxpayers
John is committed to lowering taxes and fees by protecting the Taxpayers Bill of Rights (TABOR) and ensuring voters are heard on every tax issue before it is implemented. John will fight against the “fee” loophole that politicians are using to raise costs on families without having their voice heard or their vote counted.
-
John brings deep expertise in tax law with an LL.M. in Taxation, from Georgetown University. John will fight to reduce property taxes and focus on responsible Colorado budgeting while advocating to reduce government overreach, regulation, and fight costly litigation to strengthen Colorado's economy.
-
Coloradans want leaders who recognize the cost of living and the burden of high taxes on families. John fought hard against legislation that unfortunately passed the legislature in 2026 to claw-back $300 million in previous tax refunds under the Taxpayer Bill of Rights (TABOR) (SB26-115). We should not be balancing the budget on the back of taxpayers when families already face higher costs for gasoline, health care, and groceries.
-
John is committed to fighting unfair government tax-grabs. Selected as one of only two Senators to receive the “Guardian of the Taxpayer Award” from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers for votes in 2025 against higher taxes and more regulation.
-
Senator Carson was the sponsor of SB25-138, to reduce and phase out the Colorado state income tax over 10 years. With this bill Colorado would join nine other states that do not have a state income tax and would help address the affordability crisis faced by families and restore Colorado’s competitiveness in attracting new businesses and employees. While the bill was defeated on a party line vote, Senator Carson will continue to fight for low taxes on Colorado families and small businesses.
Common
Sense
Solutions
Coloradans want leaders who focus on real solutions on issues like road safety, tax benefits for families, affordable health care, and common-sense measures that help children grow. This year Colorado celebrates 150 years as a state, and John will work to ensure a brighter future, by rolling up his sleeves and getting work done that ignores the partisan yelling and fighting and gets real solutions for today’s families.
-
That's why this year John sponsored bi-partisan legislation (HB26-1263), signed by the governor, to require social media companies to do more to protect children from dangerous on-line content, protect children's privacy online, and encourage programs to help prevent teen suicide and greater parental involvement.
-
John sponsored bi-partisan legislation (SB26-072), signed by the governor to increase penalties against dangerous drivers on our roads, and prevent impaired drivers from endangering other lives by increasing the use of interlock devices that prevent them from driving their vehicles when they have consumed alcohol (HB26-1242). In both 2025 and 2026, John received the Legislative Champions Award from Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD).
-
John also sponsored SB25-085 to ensure that dogs and cats used in medical research in Colorado are offered for adoption rather than euthanized when the research projects conclude. This passed the General Assembly and was signed by the Governor in 2025.
-
Senate sponsor of HB25-1184 to assist seniors by amending the law to permit life care centers to provide continuing care services for seniors while they are on the waiting list for admission to the facility. This bill passed the General Assembly and was signed by the Governor in 2025.
-
During the 2026 session John sponsored legislation to strengthen crime victim rights (HB26-1052). As a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee John knows that far too often, we pay more attention to the offenders than to the victims of crimes. Which is why John has worked hard to make sure we remember the victims and our system delivers proper punishment to perpetrators. John sponsored legislation that directed the Colorado Department of Corrections to conduct a full review and audit of parole eligibility calculations for prisoners and report back to the General Assembly. This follows media reports that some prisoners are being granted parole early and prior to their eligibility (HB26-1315).
-
John worked on legislation to create a 25% Colorado Tax Credit for Heath Savings Account contributions to boost Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) for Colorado families. (SB26-029)
-
Senator Carson will keep fighting to make sure tax dollars are spent to fix our roads to make them safe for all drivers. John unsuccessfully led the fight against and voted no on HB26-1430 which negated ballot Initiative 175 that mandated more spending on roads. Partisanship has trumped common sense, but roads are critical to the health of successful neighborhoods.
Prioritizing
Public Safety
Having served six years in the United States Marine Corps Reserve, John Carson supports strong law enforcement partnerships to keep Douglas County families safe. John is honored to be endorsed in this race by both Dougco Sheriff Darren Weekly and District Attorney George Brauchler.
-
He is committed to increasing penalties for violent crimes and improving safety for families. In 2026, John sponsored legislation to increase penalties for negligent driving that would result in death and serious bodily injuries. (SB26-072)
-
John will continue to support law enforcement's efforts to investigate online criminal activity against children by requiring social media companies to respond to judicial search warrants within 72 hours (SB26-011), legislation John co-sponsored.
-
John was the Senate sponsor of legislation to update and streamline the state government's emergency response system, this legislation makes clear which agency and personnel are in charge during emergencies, this is particularly important with the ongoing wildfire dangers we face in our state (HB26-1252).
-
Sponsor of SB25-281 concerning Careless Driving Resulting in Death. Prior to this bill a driver who killed multiple persons due to careless driving could only be charged with one offense. The bill changed the law to provide for a separate offense for each person killed and also provided that victim’s families are now included in the Crime Victim’s Assistance Program. The bill passed the General Assembly and was signed by the Governor in 2025.
Champion
for Education
A former elected University of Colorado Regent with a strong record supporting academic excellence and parental involvement, John also served on the Douglas County School Board prior to becoming a State Senator. John will protect education and expand education choices for parents and students!
-
Six years as University of Colorado Regent. He started the program for CU students to study the U.S. Constitution and had oversight of a multi-billion-dollar budget and four university campuses.
-
Named Education Thinker of the Year by the Denver Post in 2012. Supports public education and expanded education choices for students & parents.
-
Sponsored successful legislation to secure a fund at History Colorado to refurbish and upgrade the various veterans memorials on the State Capitol grounds (SB26-088). This ensures the memorials will be in top shape this summer for the celebration of Colorado's 150th anniversary as a state by transferring the care and maintenance of the monuments and statues to History Colorado. Passed the Senate.