This year, when we think of politics, it’s hard to feel anything other than underwhelmed — at least on the national level. According to polls and surveys from across the country, most Americans feel like neither of the presumptive candidates topping the November ballots are a good choice. Both parties have their fanatical supporters, but many in the middle are yearning for someone to feel excited about, a leader to galvanize them — and the nation.

But in Boulder, our choices honestly couldn’t be better — at least when it comes to the Democratic primary. Just like in last year’s local election, we truly are spoiled for choice.

And, considering the fact that whoever wins the Democratic primary is likely to win a landslide victory in November, having such a strong group of candidates means that Boulder is guaranteed to have good leadership at the Capitol come January.

After speaking with each candidate in our contested Democratic primaries for seats at the Capitol — Senate District 18 and House Districts 10 and 49 — we can safely say that each person running for office brings a unique perspective, interesting ideas and a desire to serve. It speaks volumes about our community to have such an impressive cast of candidates. It also says a lot about our shared vision for the future.

The candidates selected here for our endorsements were not always those who ideologically aligned with the views of this board. Nor will their names align with any particular slate. Put simply, these are the candidates who struck us as having the true ability to lead — the experience, the practical knowledge and the dedication to public service.

For Senate District 18, our choice is Judy Amabile.

Filling the shoes of SD 18’s Sen. Steve Fenberg is no small task. As Senate president, Fenberg proved an effective lawmaker, strong leader and a voice of reason in our heated, partisan times. Amabile is the best candidate to take over for Sen. Fenberg.

As the representative for House District 49, Amabile proved just the sort of leader she is — pragmatic, energetic and truly invested in issues critical to our community.

The most obvious examples of Amabile’s dedication is her work on criminal justice reform and mental and behavioral health issues, where she has proved to be the leader our state needs to address these concerns. But Amabile’s record shows she is not a one-note lawmaker; she has also had bills on a bevy of other issues — from gun safety to insurance — meet the governor’s signature.

Amabile has also shown her ability to reach across the aisle and build coalitions and bipartisan support — to make sure no one is left out of the conversation and help bring a measure of civility back into our political realm. She is effective, practical and has shown in HD 49 that she has what it takes to lead.

Amabile’s opponent, Jovita Schiffer, it should be said, would also make for an excellent lawmaker. Schiffer is the sort of candidate that we want to see more of — someone from beyond the normal ranks from which our politicians are usually selected. She is smart, articulate and extremely passionate about bringing a holistic approach to the Capitol. Depending on the outcome of this race, we hope to see her name on another ballot again soon.

Our choice for House District 10 is Junie Joseph.

Joseph is the incumbent in this position and we believe she has done more than enough to earn herself another term. In each of her first two legislative sessions, Joseph has seen 19 bills that she has written pass into law — that is no small feat for someone new to the Capitol, and it says a lot about her work ethic. But more than that, it speaks to an effective lawmaker. It is one thing to have ideas and principles, but it is another to have the determination, know-how and political acumen to turn those ideas and principles into legislation that makes the lives of those you serve better.

On top of that, Joseph brings her experience as a Boulder City Council member to the Capitol — and all that that job helped her learn about the unique needs of our community.

Joseph is a unique and much-needed voice and we are certain that if she wins a second term she will pick up where she left off — which is exactly what we want from her.

Our choice for House District 49 is Lesley Smith.

As a CU Regent At-Large, Smith knows exactly what it means to lead in a hyper-partisan environment — and even there she was able to build bridges and get things done. Her leadership and policy experience is proven, and her background as a scientist and educator would make her an excellent addition to the legislature.

Put simply, our climate is changing. Nowhere is that more stark than along the Colorado River. Smith was first inspired to run when a state Senator told her that her background in water could be useful in the Capitol. To be clear, Smith’s skills and experience expand beyond this singular focus, but with such a pressing issue on the table, having someone prepared to lead with knowledge would be beneficial to both Boulder and the state at large.

Making these choices was not easy. Each and every candidate we spoke to had interesting ideas and a heartening vision for the future of our community. For the candidates we did not endorse — Schiffer, Tina Mueh and Max Woodfin — we hope to see them keep pursuing leadership opportunities in order to continue putting all their passion and good ideas to use in service to our community.

Elections are fraught times. And intra-party primaries even more so. The divisive issues may be marginal, but the stakes can feel extraordinary. But Boulder should feel heartened by the quality of candidates on our ballots. Election after election, we keep proving that this is a place chock-full of excellent leaders who are eager to serve and citizens who can recognize the value of those leaders.

Our hope is that Boulder’s primaries can be optimistic, a moment to look to the future and chart a collective course toward a more equitable world for everyone in our community.

Ballots are in the mail and voting will occur on June 25. Whether you agree with us or plan to vote the exact opposite, go vote and make your voice heard.

Gary Garrison for the Editorial Board