Travis Nelson

Travis Nelson is an unaffiliated candidate for Colorado State Senate District 35 in the November 3, 2026 general election.[1][3] He works in agriculture and was the Democratic candidate for the same seat in 2022.[1]

Travis Nelson earned a high school diploma from John Mall High School and a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University Pueblo in 2002.[1] In his 2026 Ballotpedia survey, he said he was born and raised in rural southern Colorado, comes from a ranch family, and is a father and small-business owner.[2]

Nelson was the Democratic candidate for Colorado State Senate District 35 in 2022 and lost the general election to Rodney Pelton, 74.3 percent to 25.7 percent.[1] In 2026 he is running without a party affiliation; he said in his survey that he believes a state senator should not answer first to a political party.[1][2]

Nelson's key campaign messages, as he listed them, were people before party, relentless representation and rural Colorado priorities.[2] He named water, agriculture, healthcare, public safety, education, infrastructure, affordable housing, small business and jobs among the issues he would focus on.[2]

Researched from the cited sources on 2026-10-21. Not yet independently fact-checked.