Dr. Jenna Preston

District 4 - Democratic Party

How does your experience make you qualified to represent the people?

My personal and professional experiences make me a unique candidate who will represent the people with empathy, compassion, integrity, and transparency.

I did not grow up with wealth or privilege. I grew up watching my single mother work tirelessly and advocate for the resources she needed to raise her three daughters. We relied on our Catholic church and my grandparents to help feed us and provide opportunities for an education. As soon as I was old enough, I started a paper route and worked minimum-wage jobs throughout high school. I remember getting one pair of shoes for the school year and being grateful for uniforms because they hid the fact that we could not afford more clothing. I know what it means to pay for college through campus jobs, grants for low-income students, and student loans.

I want every American to feel they have an advocate in Congress who understands their struggles firsthand and will fight for them every day, just as my mother and grandparents fought for us.

My professional experience also uniquely qualifies me to serve. For the past 30 years, I have sat beside people often during some of the most difficult moments of their lives – listening, earning their trust, and working with them to make life better. I have helped children, adults, and families navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, and stress. I know what keeps Americans up at night because they tell me.

One of the greatest honors of my career is hearing someone say, “Go talk to Dr. Preston. I did, and she helped me.” I want the people I represent in Congress to feel that same confidence in me as their representative.

In addition to being a clinical psychologist, I am a mom, daughter, sister, art therapist, and military spouse. My husband is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, giving me not only professional experience serving military members through my work on a Colorado military base, but also firsthand experience living the military life and understanding the challenges military families face.

I never ask my patients, “Who did you vote for?” I ask, “How can I help?” Public service should never be about left versus right, us versus them, or Democrats versus Republicans. It should be about serving people. I live by the principle of always doing the right thing and leaving things better than I found them. I chose a career in therapy because it is centered on listening, building trust, and improving lives. In many ways, I have been preparing my entire life for this moment. Who better than a clinical psychologist to help lead us through these challenging times?

What are your top policy priorities?

I encourage voters to visit the “Priorities” tab at Preston4Congress.com to learn more. My priorities fall into four areas: healthcare, security, fiscal responsibility, and land usage.

Healthcare is my top priority. As a clinical psychologist who has worked in healthcare for the past 30 years, securing Americans' access to healthcare—including mental and behavioral health services—is not just a passion; it is a calling. Every major policy issue, whether healthcare, education, national security, personal freedoms, or affordability, impacts mental health. Americans experience stress, anxiety, and depression when they struggle to afford housing, groceries, medical care, childcare, or eldercare, or when they fear their children may not have the opportunities they had. Americans deserve a government focused on helping families meet their basic needs and thrive.

Fiscal responsibility is another top priority. That begins with restoring trust in government by ending corruption. I support stronger investigations, penalties, and lifetime bans from public office for elected officials found guilty of corruption. I also believe meaningful campaign finance reform starts with overturning Citizens United and reducing the influence of super PACs and dark money. I firmly believe we will not have another fair election in our lifetime, including this CD4 raise, without more transparency and change in campaign fundraising. We must stop measuring a candidate's worth by how much money they raise. While Americans struggle to afford groceries and everyday expenses, millions of dollars continue to flood political campaigns. Our democracy should belong to voters, not those with deep pockets.

Security is also essential. I oppose illegal border crossings, but I believe we need serious immigration reform that reflects both our laws and our values. I cannot support policies that separate children from their parents, deny due process, or withhold necessary medical care. I will uphold constitutional protections related to naturalization, birthright citizenship, and due process. As the spouse of a retired U.S. Air Force officer and a psychologist serving military members today, I support maintaining a strong military while ensuring it is never used for political purposes and that Congress fulfills its constitutional role in decisions involving war powers.

Finally, I am committed to responsible land use. That means protecting Colorado's public lands, preserving our natural resources, and serving as a strong advocate for landowners, ranchers, and farmers whose livelihoods help sustain our communities and economy.

What is one issue you think is being overlooked in this race, and how would you address it?

I appreciate this question because it highlights an issue that receives far too little attention. Colorado's 4th Congressional District is geographically large and politically diverse, yet a significant amount of influence over election outcomes is concentrated in a relatively small number of highly engaged party activists and organizations.

One concern I have observed throughout this campaign is the extent to which candidate recruitment, fundraising, messaging, and party resources can become concentrated among a select group of individuals. While political parties play an important role in our democracy, voters deserve a process that is transparent, inclusive, and open to new voices and perspectives.

As a write-in candidate who was not recruited or promoted through traditional party channels, I have experienced firsthand the challenges faced by candidates who seek to offer voters an alternative choice. When a small group of individuals has disproportionate influence over who is viewed as a viable candidate, voters are left with fewer choices and less meaningful participation in the democratic process.

As a therapist, I have learned that meaningful change begins with honesty about what is and is not working. I believe our party should welcome constructive criticism, increase transparency, broaden participation, and actively seek diverse viewpoints rather than relying on established networks and familiar voices.

My goal is not to divide Democrats, but to strengthen our party and improve our ability to connect with voters across CD4. The growing number of unaffiliated voters demonstrates that many Americans are looking for leaders who will listen, solve problems, and put people ahead of politics. I have consistently run as a pragmatic, moderate candidate because I believe most Americans have more in common than what divides them. Our challenge is to build a broader coalition by focusing on those shared values rather than the political divisions that too often dominate public discourse and delay meaningful change.

If we want a different outcome, we must be willing to embrace new ideas and new voices. I would be honored to represent all of CD4 and bring a fresh perspective focused on service, transparency, and results. www.preston4congress.com     

Dr. Jenna Preston

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