The Ballot Brief
Gilpin County, Colorado

Colorado House District 49

2 candidates are tracked for Colorado House District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael Sheperek and Lesley Smith. Candidate information follows official Gilpin County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Michael Sheperek (Republican), Lesley Smith (Democratic) are on the November 3 ballot for Colorado House District 49; Lesley Smith is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster (leg.colorado.gov). Major-party nominees were chosen at the June 30 primary; minor-party nominees by assembly or petition and unaffiliated candidates by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Lesley Smith, is on the ballot.

Colorado › Gilpin County › Colorado House District 49

Michael Sheperek

Republican

Top priorities
  • Pursue property tax policy so taxes do not outpace wages
  • Oppose expansion of state surveillance
  • Support an 'all of the above' energy approach determined by market forces

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Michael Sheperek is the Republican candidate for Colorado House District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. Sheperek is a Colorado native who holds degrees in biology and electrical engineering, per Campaign site (sheperekforcolorado.com). Sheperek has worked in analog and digital signal processing, per Campaign site (sheperekforcolorado.com).

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Lesley Smith

Lesley Smith

Democratic Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Protecting Colorado's climate and public lands
  • School funding and strengthening public education
  • Housing affordability and addressing gun violence

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Lesley Smith is the Democratic state representative for House District 49, covering parts of Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin and Larimer counties, per the Colorado General Assembly. A scientist and educator who spent 30 years at the University of Colorado and served on the Boulder Valley School Board, she was also the first woman aquanaut at the Aquarius undersea research facility, per her campaign site, and sponsored 12 bills in the 2026 session on energy, environmental protection and education.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)
Next on your ballotMember, University of Colorado Board of Regents, 2nd Congressional District

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Voting info and more

Voting info and more
Questions about this race

Who is running for Colorado House District 49 in 2026?

2 candidates are tracked for Colorado House District 49 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Michael Sheperek and Lesley Smith. Candidate information follows official Gilpin County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Colorado House District 49 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 Gilpin 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 Gilpin 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 Gilpin County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Gilpin County ballot

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

Also on your ballot
Colorado Senate District 8See all 3 Gilpin County races
Candidate profiles
Michael Sheperek, full profileLesley Smith, full profileOfficial Colorado election office