Analysis of Questions and Topics from Governor Jared Polis’ Reddit AMA (r/Boulder & r/Denver)
Summary of Topics and Frequency
The most discussed topic across both AMAs was Jared Polis’ comments about RFK Jr. and vaccines, asked 16 times in total. COVID vaccine access was next, with 4 mentions. Redistricting, Medicaid/CHP+, and ICE/surveillance each came up 4 or more times. Commuter rail, homelessness, union rights, wildfires, road congestion, National Guard deployments, and ride-share safety veto each appeared in at least 2 questions. Other single-ask topics included public lands, insider trading in Congress, startup/tech support, kratom regulation, psychedelics legalization, bike path cost, Megan Trussell case, values/integrity, and Kei trucks legalization.
RFK Jr. / HHS endorsement and vaccines
Asked 6 times in r/boulder, 10 times in r/Denver
Polis responded that he did not support Trump, that he is critical of RFK Jr.’s anti-vaccine positions, and that media amplified a single nice comment he made.
Responses:
COVID vaccine access (prescription issue)
Asked 2 times in r/boulder, 2 times in r/Denver
Polis said the issue would be fixed “within the next few days” and later posted the official press release.
Responses:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1n4b3f1/comment/nbjyk3v/
https://www.colorado.gov/governor/news/governor-polis-cdphe-take-swift-action-ensure-easy-access-covid-19-vaccines-coloradans-fall
Commuter rail (Denver–Boulder–FoCo)
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis said target is 2028/2029, 70+ MPH, using existing track.
Response: https://www.reddit.com/r/boulder/comments/1n4b3m1/comment/nbj8whh/
Redistricting / “fight back”
Asked 2 times in r/boulder, 2 times in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Public lands / Roadless Rule
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis said he opposed land sell-offs and urged vigilance.
Response: https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1n4b3f1/comment/nbk1ifm/
Insider trading in Congress
Asked 1 time in r/Denver
Polis said he did not trade, cited Chris Collins’ conviction, and supports investigations.
Response: https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1n4b3f1/comment/nbk1ifm/
Medicaid cuts / CHP+ early intervention
Asked 2 times in r/boulder, 3 times in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Wildfires / propane fire pits / codes
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Homelessness and housing policy
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 2 times in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Roads / CDOT / congestion
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Union bills / labor rights
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 2 times in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Ride-share safety veto / Uber assaults
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
National Guard federalization / troops in Colorado
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 2 times in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
ICE / surveillance / ALPR
Asked 2 times in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis said he toured Aurora ICE facility three times. He did not commit on banning Flock ALPR.
Response: https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1n4b3f1/comment/nbk8x4j/
Startup and tech support for bootstrappers
Asked 1 time in r/boulder
Polis did not respond.
Kratom regulation
Asked 1 time in r/boulder
Polis did not respond.
Psychedelics legalization beyond decrim
Asked 1 time in r/boulder
Polis did not respond.
Bike path (Boulder–Longmont) cost
Asked 1 time in r/boulder
Polis did not respond.
Megan Trussell case
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 1 time in r/Denver
Polis did not respond.
Values / integrity / general stance
Asked 1 time in r/boulder, 2 times in r/Denver
Polis said he sticks to his core values.
Response: https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1n4b3f1/comment/nbjqj3d/
Kei trucks legality
Asked 1 time in r/Denver
Polis replied “DONE” and linked confirmation of legalization.
Response: https://www.reddit.com/r/Denver/comments/1n4b3f1/comment/nbkz46o/
Overall Observations
Engagement differences. The Boulder thread saw more upvotes but leaned polite, with questions framed as clarifications. Denver was harsher, piling on RFK Jr. and Medicaid with repeated “second this” comments. Redistricting was raised in both, showing it resonates across communities.
Selective responses. Polis answered lower-upvote, safer questions (public lands, Pueblo chiles, commuter rail) but skipped the highest-engagement ones — RFK Jr., Medicaid, and every redistricting question. This shows a clear pattern of avoiding politically sensitive issues.
Missed opportunity. With ~742 comments, Polis replied to only a fraction, often on side topics. When citizens asked directly about fair maps, those concerns were ignored. For our movement, this silence underscores why Colorado can’t wait — leaders won’t act on redistricting unless pushed.
