
John Szemler
CO-08 Democratic nominee?
Primary Election
Party selects its nominee.
Overview
Current roleProcess improvement consultant
PartyDemocratic
Political ideologyModerate Democrat
LocationColorado
BackgroundProcess improvement consultant
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EducationLoyola University Chicago — B.A., Political Science
Notable personal detailsJohn Francis Szemler is a Democratic candidate for the U.S. House in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District in the 2026 cycle. He has worked as a process improvement and manufacturing strategy consultant implementing Microsoft Dynamics 365 Finance & Operations. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Loyola University Chicago and an M.B.A. from the University of San Diego. He is a resident of Thornton, Colorado.
SourcesShowHide
Positions
Economy & Taxes
Supports targeted government investment in clean energy and infrastructure, proposes a national carbon price with revenues reinvested for worker transition, and favors reforms that shift economic burden away from borrowers and reduce concentration of wealth at the top. Emphasizes that prosperity has been concentrated at the top and advocates policy choices to make the economy work for more people.
Climate & Energy
Supports major clean-energy investment and grid modernization, establishment of a national carbon price with revenues used for worker transition assistance, and policies to expand solar, wind, and battery storage while funding reforestation and other climate mitigation projects.
News
John Szemler is in the news because he is among the Democratic candidates in Colorado's 8th Congressional District who signed an anti-corruption pledge ahead of the 2026 House race. The pledge calls for rejecting corporate PAC money, banning stock trading by officeholders, and backing measures against dark money in elections. The move comes as corruption is a major issue for voters in battleground districts, even though many do not trust either party to fix it.
New updates coming soon
We're monitoring and will update when new data impacts the race.
- Polls
- Endorsements
- Fundraising



