More than a dozen Western Slope candidates running for state and federal office in the upcoming General Election took part in debates for their races during a forum in Grand Junction on Saturday, Sept. 21. 

The event, hosted by the nonprofit Club 20 — an advocacy group representing 22 Western Slope counties — featured candidates for state house and senate, the state board of education and Congress. The debates, most lasting around a half-hour each, provided candidates an opportunity to introduce themselves to voters while responding to questions about their campaigns and community issues. 

Of the 13 races represented during the Club 20 debate, 10 are contested. Below are links to the recordings for those debates, which can be viewed on Club 20’s YouTube channel (* denotes an incumbent): 

• House District 13: Julie McCluskie* (D) vs. Dave Williams (R) 
• House District 26: Meghan Lukens* (D) vs. Nathan Butler (R) (Lukens was not present but did provide a statement that was read aloud) 
• House District 57: Elizabeth Velasco* (D) vs. Caleb Waller (R) 
• House District 58: Kathleen Curry (D) vs. Larry Don Suckla (R) 
• House District 59: Katie Stewart (D) vs. Clark Craig (R) 
• Senate District 5: Cole Buerger (D) vs. Marc Catlin (R) 
• Senate District 6: Cleave Simpson* (R) vs. Vivian Smotherman (D) 
• State Board of Education District 3: Ellen Angeles (D) vs. Sherri M. Wright (R) 
• Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District: Joe Neguse* (D) vs. Marshall Dawson (R) (Neguse was not present) 
• Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District: Adam Frisch (D) vs. Jeff Hurd (R) 

Below are recordings of candidates running in uncontested races: 

• House District 54: Matt Soper* (R) 
• House District 55: Rick Taggart* (R) 
• State Board of Education District 2: Kathy Gebhardt (D)