Dathan Jones announces U.S. Senate run, says he “Can no longer sit on the sidelines”

By Shaina Cole | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice

With housing prices climbing toward half a million dollars, grocery bills stretching household budgets, and energy policy battles intensifying across the state, Colorado’s affordability crisis is emerging as a defining issue of the 2026 U.S. Senate race.

Jones said the direction Colorado is heading made sitting out no longer an option.

“I’m running because I can no longer sit on the sidelines and wait for things to happen,” Jones said. “Somebody’s gotta step up and do something, and my campaign is to serve all the citizens of Colorado and represent them in the U.S. Senate capacity to promote the desires of the people, bring them into a place of  truth, liberty and justice.”

From the Pulpit to Politics

Jones is not entering the race from a legislative background. His resume is rooted in ministry and education.

For 35 years, he has served as a pastor, often founding congregations from the ground up rather than stepping into established roles.

“I have the heart of a servant, a man who has walked with people in all stages of their lives, becoming aware of their needs. I answer to a higher power who establishes truth and justice in all things.”

He emphasized building institutions and then stepping aside when the time was right.

“I didn’t take churches. I started them. I built congregations—literally their buildings in some cases—and then passed them on to other pastors. I know how to let go of what feels familiar and comfortable to take on new challenges.”

Jones says voters should look beyond policy platforms when evaluating candidates.

“Many people are rightfully worried about voter integrity, but they also need to worry about candidate integrity—people who are willing to do what they say.”

Economic Frustration and Fiscal Accountability

Jones repeatedly returned to economic concerns during the interview.

“A strong economy is the number one thing that people are concerned about and that’s not unusual in an election.”

In a written follow-up, he pointed directly to Colorado’s budget shortfall.

“The number one concern people have is for a strong economy. Colorado has a budget crisis right now, and is hoping to use property taxes to cover the deficit. That’s an 850 million dollar shortfall! This is taxation without representation. Sound familiar?”

He said attracting corporations leaving states like California would be part of the solution.

“I would attract large corporations to Colorado that are leaving California by lowering regulations and offering tax incentives. This is primarily a state problem, but also key in the federal government’s lowering of business taxes and providing more support, especially to small businesses. A senator can vote on regulations that free businesses from any cumbersome federal regulations and can work with state leaders to attract higher paying jobs to Colorado.”

Beyond economic growth, Jones also supports expanded federal oversight of how federal funds are used in Colorado.

“I am in full support of regular federal audits of state spending as a stewardship duty of the federal government, safeguarding taxpayers’ investment in their country.”

Energy and Affordability

Energy policy, Jones argues, is directly tied to cost of living.

“We’ve been told that all of our energy needs are going to be through wind and solar, and I will tell you they are lying to us. It is not going to happen if we’re going to grow the economy in Colorado. We are rich in coal, gas and oil. We need to develop those things–not shut down our coal plants…”

In his written response, he added:

“I support Colorado’s resources such as natural gas and coal being used to fuel our needs for energy. Solar and wind power simply does not produce the amount of energy needed and the cost to produce wind power pushes utility bills to double the amount by year 2040 for consumers. This is one reason people cannot afford to live in Colorado. It looks to me like ‘go green means to go broke!’”

He connected affordability concerns to everyday costs.

He referenced what he recalled as a recent affordability ranking. “I think it was WalletHub and they were saying that food in Colorado is relatively cheap, but that is on a median monthly income of $8000.” 

“What about fixed income people and the unemployed?” Jones asked. He said statewide affordability rankings don’t match what those residents experience, and asserted, “I don’t think it’s cost-effective for them.”

On Crimes and Consequences

Jones takes a firm stance on crime and accountability.

“If you do the crime you need to do the time. Fairness is not what you can afford for representation to get you out of trouble. Fairness is liberty and justice for everybody…”

Jones said repeat offenses reflect what he views as uneven enforcement, adding, “if they don’t have to take responsibility for what they do, they’re going to keep on doing it.”

He later carried that same theme into his written remarks on enforcement and policy.

“I am for a strong police force to fight crime and to enforce accountability. The law is for the lawless. Sanctuary cities are unlawful due to their opposition to federal immigration and citizenship processes.”

Homelessness and Responsibility

Jones says homelessness policy must combine compassion with expectations.

“I tell you there are answers, and I was surprised that California actually has some of the answers. There needs to be job training. There’s a great need in the blue collar field…”

He emphasized restoring dignity through work.

“We can’t enable them to stay disabled, and I don’t mean that in a physical capacity, but to stay in a state where they’re constantly taking and not giving them back.”

Character as the Deciding Factor

Whether voters agree with his policy prescriptions or not, Jones is framing his candidacy around what he calls conviction over calculation.

“There are answers for our problems. The problem is we gotta get a good candidate in there. Issues and platforms are extremely important. They’re on my page, but I stress the need for good character in your candidates.”

For Jones, the choice before voters is not simply about energy mandates, budget deficits, or housing costs–but about leadership under pressure.

“And the strength of the people is known by their choices. We need to choose, at this time, the right people to lead our state.”

As Colorado voters weigh rising costs, energy policy debates, and concerns about public safety, Jones says the question ultimately comes down to this:

“Are they real leaders or are they just saying what people want to hear? Or will they develop a platform on the run? They need to have a fire inside of them that drives them to do something, not just to represent the people and tell them what they want to hear.”