Daily Inspiration: Meet Amanda Calderon

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Calderon.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started in the real world, not politics. I earned my Bachelor of Science in Nursing and spent years in healthcare leadership, where you learn fast that outcomes matter—when you make decisions, real families live with the results. That experience taught me how to triage what matters most, manage risk, lead under pressure, and work across complicated systems to get things done.

Later, I served as Executive Director of a nonprofit trade school that helped underprivileged communities and foster youth gain construction skills and a path forward. I went on to earn my MBA with advanced studies in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity because I saw how unprepared government is for modern threats and how much policy is being written by people who don’t understand technology or the impacts on everyday Americans. My husband and I also helped build a company focused on solutions in energy, housing, and long-term resilience—work that required real governance, compliance, and execution, including securing a State of Colorado AITC certification through OEDIT. And then, at the start of 2026, after being targeted and blacklisted for our Christian and Republican beliefs, I decided to stop watching from the sidelines and step up. I’m running for U.S. Senate because Colorado deserves leaders who live with the consequences of policy, who can unite people without surrendering truth, and who are willing to fight for safe communities, strong families, and a future we can be proud of.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it hasn’t been a smooth road at all—and that’s actually what pushed me into this race.

At the start of 2026, my husband and I experienced open discrimination because of our Christian faith and Republican beliefs in the community where we lived. We began receiving threatening phone calls telling us to leave the area, warning us that our business would be destroyed. Within a very short time, every client in our construction business canceled their projects, each one telling us—almost word for word—that we were no longer “in alignment with their values.” It wasn’t subtle, and it wasn’t accidental. It was coordinated, and it was devastating both financially and emotionally.

That experience showed me just how toxic and divisive our politics have become in Colorado. We were forced to relocate for the safety of our family, and I realized that if this could happen to us—law-abiding, hardworking people—then it could happen to anyone who dares to think or worship differently. Instead of responding with bitterness, I chose to respond with action. Those struggles are the reason I’m running: to stand up for people who feel silenced, to restore basic fairness and freedom of belief, and to bring leadership that unites without demanding people abandon their values.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My work has always been centered on building real-world systems that protect people and create opportunity. I started in healthcare as a nurse and moved into management and administrative leadership, where I specialized in making high-stakes decisions, improving safety, and coordinating teams across complex environments. That shaped how I lead: disciplined, calm under pressure, and focused on outcomes—not headlines.

I’m also known for workforce development and practical solutions. As Executive Director of a nonprofit trade school, I helped underprivileged communities and foster youth gain construction skills and a path forward. Later, I earned my MBA with advanced studies in AI and cybersecurity because I saw how unprepared government is for modern threats and how often policy is written without real understanding. I’ve helped build a corporation focused on long-term solutions in energy, housing, food resilience, and infrastructure—work that required real governance, compliance, budgeting, and follow-through, including earning the State of Colorado’s OEDIT AITC certification.

What I’m most proud of is that I’ve never been someone who just complains—I build, I lead, and I deliver. What sets me apart is that I’m not a career politician. I’ve worked in environments where mistakes have consequences, where families and futures are on the line, and where you don’t get to hide behind talking points. I’m known for combining compassion with accountability—and I’m bringing that same leadership to this Senate race.

We’d love to hear about how you think about risk taking?
I don’t take risks recklessly—but I do take necessary risks when staying comfortable would mean compromising my values or avoiding responsibility.

Every major step in my life has involved measured risk. I left the safety of predictable roles to move into healthcare leadership, where decisions affect real people and real outcomes. I stepped into nonprofit leadership to build opportunity for underserved youth, knowing the work was hard and the resources limited. I helped build and govern a company focused on complex, long-term solutions in energy, housing, and infrastructure—taking on regulatory, financial, and operational risk because the work mattered and the problems were real.

The biggest risk, without question, has been running for U.S. Senate. At the start of 2026, my husband and I were openly targeted and blacklisted in our community for our Christian faith and Republican beliefs. We lost our business income, faced threats, and were forced to relocate for our family’s safety. Running for office in that moment wasn’t safe or convenient—but it was necessary. I could either accept that kind of intimidation as the new normal, or I could stand up and say it ends here.

My view on risk is simple: the greatest risk is doing nothing when leadership is required. I assess risk carefully, I plan thoroughly, and then I act decisively. That’s how I’ve lived my life, and it’s how I intend to serve Colorado—by taking responsibility when others step back, and by choosing courage over comfort every time.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.calderon4colorado.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/calderon4colorado/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandacalderon4colorado/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandacalderonhcc/
• Twitter: https://x.com/calderon4co
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Calderon4Colorado

Image Credits
Amanda Calderon U.S. Senate Campaign