Erik
Underwood
Erik Underwood is an Approval Voting Party candidate for Colorado Governor in the 2026 general election.
- sources
- 12
- positions
- 9
- endorsements
- 1
Background
Erik Underwood is a candidate for Governor of Colorado in the November 3, 2026 general election, running on the Approval Voting Party line while describing himself as an independent Democrat. 1512 He was born and raised in York, Pennsylvania, and was raised by a single mother in public housing. He holds a B.S. in political science with an international-relations focus and attended law school, though specific institutions are not specified in available sources. 5111910
Underwood's professional background includes work as a staffer in the U.S. Senate for Senator George Voinovich and as a junior prosecutor in Atlanta's City Solicitor's Office. He later founded technology ventures and currently serves as chairman of Illmatic Ventures and CEO of Vurbil and My24HourNews.com. His campaign biography also notes he spent eight years pursuing federal court claims related to Bank of America. 1510
Underwood previously ran for Colorado governor in 2018, but has not held elected office. The 2026 race is an open seat, as incumbent Governor Jared Polis is term-limited. 54 Underwood has published opinion pieces outlining his policy positions on housing, water, wildfire, and other issues. 10
At a glance
- Party
- Approval Voting Party
- Running for
- Governor, Colorado
- Election
- Nov 3, 2026
- Current office
- Founder/CEO of Vurbil and Chairman of Illmatic Ventures
- Website
- erikunderwood.com(opens in a new tab)
Where they stand
Each position links to the page it was drawn from. Quotes are verbatim.
Timeline
- Oct 8newsUnderwood publishes opinion piece in Summit Daily News detailing housing loan, rail, water and wildfire proposals
Underwood described a proposed state-backed 2.75% loan program for workforce housing, support for high-speed rail linking Grand Junction, Denver, Fort Collins and Colorado Springs, and positions on water and wildfire policy.
Underwood: My plan for housing, wolves, water, wildfire and more, if elected · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 8newsSummit Daily News publishes Q&A with Underwood as Approval Voting Party governor candidate
The Summit Daily News ran a candidate Q&A with Erik Underwood, identifying him as the Approval Voting Party candidate for Colorado governor and covering his background and policy positions.
Q&A: Meet Erik Underwood, an Approval Voting Party candidate ... · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 3newsUnderwood outlines housing, cost of living, data center and other policy proposals in Denver Post Q&A
In a Denver Post candidate questionnaire, Underwood named housing, cost of living and data centers as priorities. He proposed declaring a housing emergency, directing state land and pension-backed capital toward permanently affordable housing, a statewide rent freeze, universal child care, free college and trade school, a path to universal health care funded by a 'Wealth Gap Surcharge,' and an executive moratorium on new AI data centers.
Colorado Governor candidate Q&A · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 3newsUnderwood describes plans for Medicaid funding and limiting state cooperation with federal immigration enforcement
In the same Denver Post questionnaire, Underwood said he would use the proposed Wealth Gap Surcharge to help address a Medicaid funding shortfall and described steps to limit state cooperation with federal civil immigration enforcement.
Colorado Governor candidate Q&A · Oct 3, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Oct 2newsColorado ballots begin mailing to voters, with Underwood on ballot as Approval Voting Party gubernatorial candidate
According to the Summit Daily News Q&A published October 8, ballots began being mailed to Colorado voters on October 2, with Underwood appearing as the Approval Voting Party candidate for governor.
Q&A: Meet Erik Underwood, an Approval Voting Party candidate ... · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 25newsColorado Public Radio includes Underwood in third-party gubernatorial candidate voter guide
CPR's voter guide for Colorado governor's third-party candidates lists Erik Underwood as the Approval Voting Party candidate.
Voter guide for Colorado Governor's third-party candidates · Sep 25, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Sep 22newsUnderwood listed on sample ballots for Colorado governor race
Sample ballot records available by late September show Erik Underwood listed as a candidate for Colorado governor on the November 3 ballot.
81004 Sample Ballot: Pueblo County, CO 2026 | The Ballot Brief · Sep 22, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Aug 3filingSeparate TRACER summary reports $2,297.61 in contributions and $4,500 in non-monetary contributions as of August 3 filing
A Smarter.Vote election-data summary reports $2,297.61 in contributions, $4,500 in non-monetary contributions, and no expenditures as of an August 3 filing. This figure differs from the other TRACER summary; sources do not explain the discrepancy.
Erik Underwood — 2026 Colorado Governor Election · Oct 9, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Jul 3filingUnderwood campaign reports $6,797.61 from 15 contributions, no expenditures, through July 3
A Colorado voter guide drawing on TRACER records lists $6,797.61 from 15 contributions for 'Underwood For Colorado Governor' covering February 28 through July 3, 2026, with no expenditures reported.
Colorado Governor and Lieutenant Governor Candidates 2026 · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Apr 1newsUnderwood runs in Democratic assembly, finishes second, falls short of threshold
In his October 8 Summit Daily News opinion piece, Underwood stated he ran in the Democratic assembly, finished second, and did not meet the threshold to advance, after which he pursued the Approval Voting Party line for governor.
Underwood: My plan for housing, wolves, water, wildfire and more, if elected · Oct 8, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - Feb 28filingUnderwood for Colorado Governor campaign committee begins accepting contributions
Colorado Secretary of State TRACER records show the 'Underwood For Colorado Governor' committee's contribution period beginning February 28, 2026.
Colorado Governor and Lieutenant Governor Candidates 2026 · Oct 1, 2026 (opens in a new tab)
Endorsements
- Approval Voting Party organizationListed as the one recommending group for Underwood on an endorsement-tracking page; this reflects his party affiliation and may not constitute a separately named outside endorsement. sway.co · Oct 8, 2026
Sources 12
- [1] Erik Underwood — 2026 Colorado Governor Election(opens in a new tab) Oct 9, 2026
- [2] 2026 Governor of Colorado endorsements | Sway(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [3] Q&A: Meet Erik Underwood, an Approval Voting Party candidate ...(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [4] Underwood: My plan for housing, wolves, water, wildfire and more, if elected(opens in a new tab) Oct 8, 2026
- [5] Colorado Governor candidate Q&A(opens in a new tab) Oct 3, 2026
- [6] Colorado Governor and Lieutenant Governor Candidates 2026(opens in a new tab) Oct 1, 2026
- [7] Voter guide for Colorado Governor's third-party candidates(opens in a new tab) Sep 25, 2026
- [8] 81004 Sample Ballot: Pueblo County, CO 2026 | The Ballot Brief(opens in a new tab) Sep 22, 2026
- [9] erikunderwood.com(opens in a new tab) Jun 13, 2026
- [10] Issues(opens in a new tab) Jun 13, 2026
- [11] Mental Health Policy & Plan - Erik Underwood(opens in a new tab) Jun 13, 2026
- [12] Youth Voting(opens in a new tab) Feb 24, 2026