Why Julie Is Running for U.S. Senate

Ana and Deep host Colorado State Senator Julie Gonzales to discuss her U.S. Senate campaign challenging incumbent John Hickenlooper, arguing Colorado needs stronger leadership on affordability, worker power, and civil liberties. Gonzales shares her background growing up on an Apache reservation and on the South Texas border, her path from organizing to the state senate, and her focus on policies like universal child and elder care and Medicare for All while rejecting corporate PAC money. The episode highlights reports of nine secret ICE “holding rooms” in Colorado used to detain people far beyond intended limits, including children and the elderly, and connects immigration detention to for-profit incentives and surveillance. They also discuss U.S. escalation with Iran without congressional authorization, potential regional expansion, and impacts on working-class people. The episode ends with a call to contact Senators Hickenlooper and Bennet to oppose Markwayne Mullin for DHS.

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Colorado Times Reporter: Secret ICE Detention Facilities Exist Around Colorado, Data Shows https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2026/03/exclusive-secret-ice-detention-facilities-exist-around-colorado-data-shows/76983/ 

5 Calls: Oppose Markwayne Mullin as DHS Secretary: https://5calls.org/issue/markwayne-mullin-dhs-secretary/ 

Casa De Paz: https://www.casadepazcolorado.org/ 

Confirmers are trained volunteers who respond to possible ICE activity and gather accurate info to keep our community safe and informed. Colorado Rapid Response Network hosts Confirmer trainings for registered members: https://coloradorapidresponsenetwork.com/event/ 

Julie Gonzales website: https://www.julieforcolorado.com/ 

00:00 Welcome and Topics

00:20 Snow Day and Socks

02:32 Meet Julie Gonzalez

03:53 Julie Origin Story

07:28 Senate Race Breakdown

09:16 Why Challenge Hickenlooper

14:11 Colorado Caucus Explained

19:07 Campaign Priorities and Endorsements

21:55 Secret ICE Holding Rooms

22:39 Secret ICE Holding Sites

23:06 Inside the Detention Pipeline

23:50 Profit Driven Detention

26:28 Oversight Blocked in Aurora

28:53 Big Bill and DHS Cash

31:08 War With Iran Expands

35:05 Who Pays the Price

38:30 Surveillance Comes Home

40:38 Purges and Extremism

45:10 Oath to Constitution

45:40 Call to Action DHS Vote

47:42 Campaign Pitch and History

49:54 Wrap Up and Aftershow

Meet Your Hosts

Ana Mitchell, Ph.D., is a former CDC scientist who was swept up in federal cuts and is now reinventing herself as a civic coach and creator. After a decade reducing disparities in health and education, she’s building Civically Fit (see civicallyfit.org) to make civic engagement accessible, authentic, and sustainable. A proud Latina and Colorado native, Ana is focused on helping people build community and power through everyday civic action. 

Deep Singh Badhesha is an attorney, political strategist, and government affairs professional with over a decade of experience shaping political campaigns and policy in Colorado. A former public school math teacher, Colorado Supreme Court clerk, and senior policy analyst, he now works across campaigns, ballot initiatives, and legislative fights. He’s South Asian, a new dad, and a longtime organizer who believes community—not saviors—will rebuild the Left. He also has way too many hot takes on everything stemming from food and sports to politics.  

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Voicemail: (303) 416-2846