When I stopped in Dolores as part of my By The People Tour, I came to learn directly from the people who live here about what is working, what isn't, and what they need from Washington D.C. and their representative.
Like many of the communities I visited across Colorado's 3rd District, people in Dolores started by talking about what they love about where they live.
They talked about the Dolores River, the surrounding public lands, the small-town character of Montezuma County, and the strong sense of independence that comes from living in rural Colorado. They talked about knowing their neighbors, supporting local businesses, and being part of a community where people still show up for one another.
But they also talked about a growing frustration with a political system that feels increasingly disconnected from them.
The conversation in Dolores centered on government accountability, campaign finance reform, congressional term limits, and restoring trust in public institutions. Many people expressed concern that ordinary citizens have less influence in Washington than wealthy donors, special interests, and political insiders. They talked about the amount of money flowing into elections and questioned whether elected officials are spending enough time listening to constituents and enough time solving problems.
After traveling more than 3,300 miles across Colorado's 3rd Congressional District and holding 17 community workshops, I heard versions of that same frustration nearly everywhere I went. People may disagree on policy, but they increasingly agree that the political system is not functioning the way it should.
Residents told me they are tired of partisan gridlock and endless campaign fundraising. They want elected officials who are accountable to voters, not special interests. They want transparency. They want ethical leadership. Most importantly, they want confidence that their voices still matter. That came through particularly clearly in Dolores.
The people I met were simply asking for a government they can trust and that follows the same rules it expects everyone else to follow. It’s a simple expectation.
I left Dolores encouraged by the thoughtful conversation and civic engagement I saw there. The ideas shared in Montezuma County became part of a districtwide road map shaped by thousands of miles on the road and conversations with people across Western and Southern Colorado.
More importantly, the conversation reminded me that restoring trust in government does not begin with a new slogan or a new political strategy. It begins when elected officials spend more time listening to the people they represent and less time listening to the people funding the next campaign. That's what I heard in Dolores, and it's a lesson Washington would be wise to remember.
Alex Kelloff is a Democratic candidate for Colorado's 3rd Congressional District.
