Meet Wanda James
We need warriors in Washington who fight for people, not just hold a seat.
Democracy in the United States is under strain. Social safety nets are being cut, political violence is rising, and inequality is deepening.
Democracy cannot thrive when families cannot pay their bills. Rent is out of reach, home ownership feels impossible, and essentials like food and child care keep climbing while wages stay flat and billionaires collect bigger tax breaks. People work harder than ever and still fall behind.
Real change will not come from the same politicians who built this broken system. Denver deserves leadership that delivers results and puts working families first. I am running to fight for affordable housing, fair wages, and an economy where every family has a chance to build a secure life. Washington needs bold leadership with lived experience and the courage to challenge entrenched power.
Rooted In Family, Guided By Service
I was raised in Colorado by a single father, an Air Force Vietnam veteran who taught me strength, service, and the duty to fight for what is right. My mother was a British woman whose childhood was shattered by war as Nazi bombs fell on her city and left her often hungry, took away her opportunity for education, and stole her sense of safety. That lifelong trauma shaped her world and left a mark she always carried.
Their very different lives, one forged in military discipline and the other scarred by war, taught me resilience, compassion, and the determination to build a better future.
A Life of Service and Leadership
I am a first-generation graduate of the University of Colorado Boulder and the first Black woman commissioned through its Naval ROTC Battalion, a place I still proudly call home. My service as a Navy officer gave me discipline and courage that continue to guide me today. I am a warrior, forged by the best leaders and strengthened by the love of a caring family.
Together with my husband, chef and entrepreneur Scott Durrah, we not only built Simply Pure, the nation’s first Black-owned cannabis dispensary, during a time when historic numbers of Americans were being arrested and exploited through the failed war on drugs, but I was also part of the historic team that changed laws to protect millions of Americans from unjust arrests and the destruction of their communities.
We also opened six restaurants across Colorado that have created jobs and served the people of Denver. Building these businesses meant creating opportunity, mentoring young leaders, and breaking barriers in industries that too often shut out communities of color.
I know what it’s like to meet payroll. I know what it’s like to face barriers designed to hold people back. And I know what it takes to succeed anyway.
Champion for Justice and Education
Beyond business, I have spent my life fighting for justice. I have never stopped demanding equity for communities of color and opportunity for working families. As a Regent for the University of Colorado, I became the first Black woman elected to the board in over 43 years and opened doors that had been closed for generations. I have mentored students, stood up for fair wages, and worked to ensure that education is accessible to all, not just the privileged few.
I reformed the one billion dollar procurement system at Colorado’s flagship university to make it more accessible and equitable so local, women, and minority-owned businesses can finally claim a seat at the table.
I deliver real results.
Why I’m Running
Politics is not about titles or positions, and I have proved that everyday. It is about people and about using power to help families who are struggling and to create opportunity where there is none.
These are difficult days. But together, we can change them.
This campaign is not about one office. It’s about all of us stepping forward, working together, and bringing the light of bold leadership to our communities and our country.
This is our moment to lead.
This is our moment to light the way.
This is our moment to rise.