2022 CO Governor and Senate Candidate Solution Studio

In 2022, Colorado candidates for Governor and U.S. Senate were invited to engage with MSU Denver students on solving some of the biggest problems facing our state and nation. More than any other Colorado institution of higher education, MSU Denver students represent the next generation of Colorado’s workforce, changemakers, public servants, and leaders.

MSU Denver Institute for Public Service, CLLARO and New Voice Strategies took the lead in creating a new format designed to engage and inspire the voters and leaders of tomorrow. The format provided the 2022 Gubernatorial and U.S. Senate Campaigns with an opportunity to focus on proposed solutions, in a manner viewers find informative and engaging.

The 2022 Solution Studio borrowed from the familiar genre of talent-show TV (e.g. The Voice, American Idol, or America’s Got Talent) that young Coloradans have grown up with. The candidates were invited to “audition” – one at a time – on the strength of their solutions to issues most important to students and young Coloradans, not on the cleverness of their soundbites, before a panel of four students. This was an opportunity for dialogue between a single candidate and real students facing real challenges in 2022 – away from the debate stage, political rally platform, and their opponents. Voter were able to view the videos October 17 and helped voters decide which candidates had what it takes to solve intractable or complicated problems.