The Ballot Brief
Fremont County, Colorado

Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District

3 candidates are tracked for Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Karla Esser, Steve Barton and Ross Klopf. Candidate information follows official Fremont County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Karla Esser (Democratic), Steve Barton (Republican), Ross Klopf (Libertarian) are on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District, per the Colorado Secretary of State's certified 2026 general election candidate list, which flags no candidate as an incumbent for this seat. This board district follows Colorado's congressional district boundaries and covers a multi-county area, not just this county; only the counties squarely inside the district are listed here.

What this office does

State board of education member. A state board of education sets statewide academic standards, approves graduation requirements and teacher-licensing rules, adopts the state's school accountability system and, in many states, hires the state superintendent. Members represent districts drawn across the state. Local school boards still run the schools day to day. A regional superintendent of schools handles teacher certification, school safety inspections and other state-mandated services for the school districts in a multi-county region.

Colorado › Fremont County › Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District

Karla Esser

Democratic

Top priorities
  • Increase funding and resources for Colorado schools
  • Establish measurable accountability standards for schools
  • Take a multilateral approach to school safety and opposes arming teachers

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Karla Esser is a teacher with 20 years of classroom experience and is a candidate for the Colorado State Board of Education, District 7, per her campaign site.

Steve Barton

Republican

Top priorities
  • Support parents' role in schools
  • Protect student data privacy
  • Audit school districts for spending accuracy

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Steve Barton holds degrees including a B.A., a master's degree in electrical engineering, a J.D., an M.D. and an M.B.A., and describes a science, technology, engineering, math and medicine background, per his campaign site.

Ross Klopf

Libertarian

Biography

Ross Klopf is on the November 3, 2026 ballot for Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District, per the Colorado Secretary of State's certified 2026 general election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 23, 2026.

Next on your ballotMember, University of Colorado Board of Regents, 7th Congressional District

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Karla Esser, Steve Barton and Ross Klopf. Candidate information follows official Fremont County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Member, Colorado State Board of Education, 7th Congressional District election in Colorado?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Colorado are on the Colorado election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Fremont County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Fremont County and state election office filings. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Colorado election office, or see the full Fremont County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Fremont County ballot

4 tracked races in Fremont County, Colorado. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Colorado Senate District 4Colorado House District 60See all 4 Fremont County races
Candidate profiles
Karla Esser, full profileSteve Barton, full profileRoss Klopf, full profileOfficial Colorado election office