River Gassen
River Gassen (Democratic Party) is running for election to the U.S. House to represent Colorado's 5th Congressional District. She is on the ballot in the Democratic primary on June 25, 2024.[source]
Gassen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
River Gassen graduated from Arapahoe High School. She earned an associate degree from Arapahoe Community College in 2017 and a bachelor's degree from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs in 2020. As of the 2023 election, Gassen was attending University of Colorado, Colorado Springs for a master's degree, with an expected completion date in May 2024. Her career experience includes working as a research scientist.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Colorado's 5th Congressional District election, 2024
Colorado's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Republican primary)
Colorado's 5th Congressional District election, 2024 (June 25 Democratic primary)
General election
The primary will occur on June 25, 2024. The general election will occur on November 5, 2024. Additional general election candidates will be added here following the primary.
General election for U.S. House Colorado District 5
Christopher Mitchell, Michael Vance, Calil Yarbrough, Joseph O. Gaye, and Katrina Nguyen are running in the general election for U.S. House Colorado District 5 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | Christopher Mitchell (Constitutional Party) | |
 | Michael Vance (L) | |
| Calil Yarbrough (No Party Affiliation) | |
 | Joseph O. Gaye (Independent)  | |
 | Katrina Nguyen (Independent) | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for U.S. House Colorado District 5
River Gassen and Joe Reagan are running in the Democratic primary for U.S. House Colorado District 5 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | ||
 | River Gassen | |
| Joe Reagan | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- John Edgar (D)
- Orlondo Avion (D)
- David Torres (D)
- Adam Gillard (D)
Republican primary election
Republican primary for U.S. House Colorado District 5
Jeff Crank and Dave Williams are running in the Republican primary for U.S. House Colorado District 5 on June 25, 2024.
Candidate | ||
| Jeff Crank | |
 | Dave Williams | |
| ||||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
| If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Withdrawn or disqualified candidates
- Doug Lamborn (R)
- Rose Pugliese (R)
- Daryl Lopes (R)
- Bob Gardner (R)
- Joshua Griffin (R)
- Douglas Bruce (R)
- Cory Parella (R)
Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
River Gassen completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2023. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Gassen's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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Earning a master’s degree Physics from UCCS, I am currently teach astronomy and solar energy science labs, and I am a researcher for Biofronters. We need a voice of science in the House of Representatives. I studied physics and energy science to help the world, but while many solutions to the climate crisis exist, our politicians are not listening! I’m jumping into politics to get things done. On a personal level of who I am, I’m also a hiker and distance runner. I’ve submitted numerous 14er mountains, have raced up Pikes Peak, and have camped out within the beauty of our great state. I want to ensure that everyone has the ability to enjoy the outdoors and thrive within their environment as well.
Here in the Springs, we are tough, ambitious, and resilient, let’s have this represented in D.C. I fear too often people are running for power and respect more than they are to be a part of the change for a better future. Too often, politicians fight to prevent change, rather than aim for it. We need change.
- Financial independence and aid for working students, to better grow our working class, and empower the next generation.
- Justice and standing up for the LGBT+ community. Everyone deserves to feel safe, healthy, happy.
- Prioritizing what's important for younger students in k12, ending standardize testing, ending no child left behind, and encouraging growth into Concurrent Enrollment Programs for all High School students
1. Everyone deserves opportunities to better their lives, their education, and to be able to academically challenge themselves. Concurrent enrollment programs gave me a significant head start into college when I was younger, and every high school student should have this opportunity.
Higher education should be obtainable to everyone as well. Education is the most important thing a person can have. I want Americans to be able to use academics to empower themselves.
2. Reproductive freedom is also critical. For many women, this is a matter of our well being, and can be the difference between life or death in grim situations. With pregnancy being such a critical and vulnerable period of time for a woman, their access to health care should not be impeded. Women must be able to have the rights to their own bodies, health, and financial independence. We must always have the ability to choose.
3. LGBT+ individuals should have every right to participate in sports, go into public spaces and feel safe, and be allowed to exist without fear. I will always vote to protect LGBT+ rights.
4. Everyone deserves access to clean drinking water. Our water must be protected and conserved. Fracking, corporate pollution, and property expansion all threaten this and must be more regulated.
5. Our military service members deserve better quality housing. They should also be able to move with their families timely and without frustration. I will look out for our military families.
People I look up to and examples I would like to follow:
Angela Merkel, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
I was a science camp counselor briefly in high school and was also working at Star Bucks as a Barista in the last year or so of my high school, and throughout my time at Arapahoe Community College as well. But I did not transfer to a new location when I moved to Colorado Springs, where I would finish my bachelor's in physics and Energy Science, and then my master's in physics.
My first non-internship job, and my first post-bachelor's degree job, was as a research assistant for BioFrontiers and the UCCS Physics department. I've been working there since I was an undergraduate student, and I'm still there today.
I want to represent my district and my community, as well as the United States.
The U.S. House of Representatives represents our nation as well as the communities of each congressional representative. The House of Representatives possesses the power to make changes at the federal level to better serve our nation and our community.
The House of Representatives has transformed over the years, to better represent all backgrounds that make up the diversity of the United States. If elected, I would be the youngest woman elected and would be able to bring representation from a newly progressive Colorado District 5.
Not necessarily. While elected officials should have knowledge of the issues discussed, to best represent a democracy, we need a wide diversity of experiences.
The United States is more than a country, we are a global power and have a responsibility to our allies and to our very own democracy as well.
Politically we are divided. But we are also becoming more aware and politically active. I want to see everyone get involved in their communities, to share their experiences, and to vote.
Too many people don't feel empowered. Too many people do not think they can make a difference. Our greatest weakness is the threat to our democracy and the powerlessness that many people feel.
Our strength comes from the empowerment of our people.
Yes. Voters should always have the right and ability to replace their representative if they feel I no longer represent them.
Term limits are essential for a healthy democracy. If elected I would not remain in this position for more than 10 years.
Without compromise, nothing can get done. It's important to protect our rights moving forward. The rights of women, people of color, or the LGBTQ+ community, are not up for negotiation.
I will compromise to ensure the progression of our nation, but I will not compromise on human rights.
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.
Campaign finance summary
Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on November 5, 2023
