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Colorado’s unaffiliated voters on the rise as parties decline | WADHAMS

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Colorado’s unaffiliated voters on the rise as parties decline | WADHAMS







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Dick Wadhams



“Unaffiliated voters claim the majority.”

It wasn’t that many years ago when this March 5, 2024 headline in the Colorado Springs Gazette would have been unthinkable. Unaffiliated voters are now in the majority in El Paso County.

For decades, El Paso County was the massive Republican bulwark that fueled statewide election victories. El Paso County offset heavily Democratic Denver County, allowing Republican candidates to take the fight to the Jefferson County and Arapahoe County suburbs and other competitive counties while running up the score on the eastern plains and the Western Slope.

During this time, the state was accurately described as a third-third-third with Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters having roughly equal shares of the electorate.

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But the influx of 800,000 new residents in the last 14 years dramatically changed the overall Colorado electorate. Statewide, unaffiliated voters now number 1.8 million, or 48%. Democrats are at 1.2 million, or 27%, and Republicans at 900,000 are at 24%.

El Paso County was not immune to this sea change. Unaffiliated voters are now a majority at 50.3%, with Republicans at 30.28% and Democrats at 17.51%.

Despite this stark reality of unaffiliated power, the Colorado Republican Party actually went into U.S. District Court to try to prevent unaffiliated voters from voting in one of the two major party primaries under Proposition 108, which was strongly passed by voters in 2016.

Under a new chairman elected in 2023, Dave Williams, the state party announced it would raise $200,000 to challenge Proposition 108 in federal court.  It hired John Eastman, the lawyer who devised the scheme to try to deny Joe Biden the presidency by having Vice President Mike Pence reject the results of the Electoral College on Jan. 6, 2021. 

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Eastman is fighting disbarment in California and is under indictment in Georgia for his alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Eastman was also suspended in 2021 from his duties as the director of the Benson Center for the Study of Western Civilization at the University of Colorado for his role in the events of Jan. 6.

The case brought by Eastman and his legal sidekick, stolen-election conspiracist Randy Corporon, to steal the votes of unaffiliated voters was soundly rejected by U.S. District Court Judge Philip Brimmer.

As the number of unaffiliated voters continues to increase while registered Democrats and Republicans continue to decline, both parties seem to be in a race to the bottom.

Democrats are increasingly under the influence of Democratic Socialists who are far to the left of traditional liberals and have donned the mantle of antisemitism while parroting the violent chants of pro-Hamas terrorists.

The Denver City Council and the Fort Collins City Council have had their proceedings interrupted and forcibly adjourned by these leftists calling for a “ceasefire” in Gaza, which is a ruse to destroy Israel. 

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There are increasing numbers of these far-left activists being elected to the state legislature and city councils. Democratic leaders seem intimidated and increasingly deferential to their extremism.

The best national Democrats can do is again nominate the failed, doddering, immensely unpopular President Joe Biden who was first elected to the Senate in 1972.

Meanwhile, Republicans are once again nominating a defeated former president, Donald Trump, who was silent for hours while rioters who counted themselves as his supporters ransacked the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, while chanting “Hang Mike Pence.”  Trump relentlessly contends the 2020 presidential race was stolen from him despite none of the crackpot conspiracy theories promoted by his loyalists having any credibility.

The Colorado Republican Party is being led by a cabal of political grifters intent on expunging any Republican who does not worship at their altar of political purity.  They see Republican campaign contributions as their personal political piggy bank to unethically influence Republican primary elections in violation of state party bylaws. Dave Williams refuses to resign as state chairman despite being a candidate for Congress.

Democrats are careening toward the left-wing cliff while being empowered by a politically impotent Republican Party.

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The current political process in Colorado seems unable to restore the kind of political balance that defined Colorado politics for 40 years. Colorado voters are voting with their feet by rejecting both parties and registering as unaffiliated.

It is time to consider restoring some ideological and political balance in Colorado by reforming the current playgrounds of the political extremes. The caucus-assembly process was once a haven for thriving neighborhood debates leading to the nomination of candidates at every level; it is now dominated by a few thousand activists on the extremes of both parties.

Though allowing unaffiliated voters to choose to vote in one of the major party primaries has been a welcome and effective reform for the past six years, perhaps it is time for unaffiliated voters, who will soon be a clear majority, to have access to both parties in an open primary election.

Colorado voters deserve to have a political nominating process that will restore political balance, not promote the political fringes.

Dick Wadhams is a former Colorado Republican state chairman who worked for U.S. Sen. Bill Armstrong for nine years before managing campaigns for U.S. Sens. Hank Brown and Wayne Allard, and Gov. Bill Owens.

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Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one

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Colorado community reels after police say driver with revoked license hits three pedestrians, killing one


A man already driving with a suspended license from a DUI is now accused of intentionally plowing into three people on a sidewalk in Colorado.

This happened near the intersection of East Wildcat Reserve Parkway and Willowbridge Way in Highlands Ranch around 10:30 a.m. Monday.

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CBS


Witnesses say that after the crash, the driver made a U-turn, went back to the scene, slowly drove past the wreckage, then left. That allowed another witness to follow him 5.5 miles down to Daniels Park, where just 15 minutes later, 28-year-old Adam Bauserman was taken into custody.

Bauserman’s demeanor was described by deputies as “unusually quiet.” At one point, he apparently asked, “Do you know if I killed the man?”

As it would turn out, the man survived, but his girlfriend did not. Flowers are piling up at the scene of a morning walk that turned deadly.

Right now, investigators don’t believe the driver knew any of those victims.

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“You expect to be safe when you’re walking on the sidewalk,” said neighbor Beth Chitel, who lived just yards from the crash site until she moved last month. “These are very highly trafficked pathways around here; it could have happened to any of our friends, any of our neighbors, any of our children.”

“This was a horrific scene,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

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CBS


Thirty-five-year-old Corrine More died in the crash. Her sister tells CBS Colorado she lived in the neighborhood and was out on a walk with her boyfriend. She describes Corrine as a nursing student with a big heart who was loved by everyone who knew her, and who was beautiful inside and out.

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Corrine’s boyfriend, 30-year-old Kyle Vasey, was seriously injured. He has undergone multiple surgeries and was described by a doctor in the affidavit as being at substantial risk for permanent disfigurement or death.

The other victim is 72-year-old Dianne Windes. The sheriff says she was walking in the opposite direction from the couple. She was also hospitalized with serious injuries.

Witnesses believe the driver who crashed into the three pedestrians did so on purpose.

“If we can prove that, we’ll certainly do that, but at this point we have no indication of that,” Weekly said.

It was thanks to a witness who followed that truck that deputies arrested Bauserman, who was driving with a revoked license after a DUI last year.

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“Mr. Bauserman has had several revocations and suspensions of his license over the last 10 years,” Weekly said. “He should never have been on the roadway, and as a result of that, somebody is now deceased.”

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Douglas County Sheriff’s Office


Deputies did not detect immediate signs of intoxication but are waiting on blood test results.

Right now, investigators believe Bauserman was only traveling 3 mph over the speed limit, at about 48 mph in a 45 mph zone. That will need to be confirmed in the investigation.

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“He should never have been on the roadway, period. And so, the fact that somebody in our community has been lost in such a tragic, horrible way. How many lives have been destroyed by this selfish act?” Weekly asked.

“I want to express my sympathies to the families, and yeah, we’re here to support you as a community, and we’re by your side,” said Chitel.

Neighbor Beth Chitel started an online fundraiser for the victims.

“The last thing that the family should be having to worry about right now is the bills that are coming,” said Chitel.

The sheriff says that 15 to 20 community members stepped up to help in the aftermath of this tragedy.

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Chitel says the community has been hurt by other recent tragedies, like the death of 13-year-old Alex Mackiewicz, who was hit while in the crosswalk on his way to school. That fatal crash happened just over a mile away from this one.

“Something really needs to be done. The community is well aware of the safety issues posed there, of course. Again, we don’t expect them on the sidewalk,” said Chitel. “We need more crosswalks; we could use more stoplights. We need more safety measures put in place because, in general, it’s really not a safe road. People speed on it.”

“It’s absolutely horrible. As the sheriff, I have done a lot to increase traffic enforcement. We’ve almost doubled the size of our traffic unit. I expect my folks to be out there and be productive and ensure the safety of our citizens. These tragedies, certainly back to back, are heartbreaking for everybody involved, it shouldn’t happen,” Weekly said.

Three families are forever changed, a community is left with questions, and the investigation is just beginning.

“We need to make sure that we do our job well, and that we get justice for all these victims,” Weekly said.

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Bauserman is being held on charges including vehicular homicide and leaving the scene of a fatal accident.

Preliminary charges Bauserman is facing include the following seven felonies and one misdemeanor:

  • Vehicular homicide
  • Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving death
  • Failure to remain at the scene of an accident involving serious bodily injury (two counts)
  • Vehicular assault (two counts)
  • Assault in the second degree – crimes to at-risk persons
  • Driving a motor vehicle with a license is under restraint (express consent refusal/DUI conviction)

These charges could change based on the results of the blood tests and additional information that is garnered through the investigation.

A judge set Bauserman’s bond at $100,000.

As the investigation continues, the sheriff’s office says anyone with additional information is encouraged to contact Detective Pereira at bpereira@dcsheriff.net or call (303) 660-7537.

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Eagle Rock Ranch

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Eagle Rock Ranch


When Dave and Jean Gottenborg met as teenagers wrangling horses in Estes Park, they dreamed of one day running a ranch together. That dream fell by the wayside for decades until 2012, when the couple purchased Eagle Rock Ranch in the Tarryall Valley.

Talking about the Gottenborg’s ranch means deliberately avoiding words like “owners” and “ownership.” The couple “manage” their land — their preferred term — through the conservationist lens of thinkers like Wendell Berry and Aldo Leopold. Visitors are welcome on the land (see some basic guidelines here), and they sell their beef by the cut, box and share at their family-owned mercantile in Fairplay.



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Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02

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Where to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels: TV channel, start time, streaming for Jun. 02


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The 2026 MLB season has surpassed the quarter mark, and after each team’s first 40 games, there’s plenty of reasons to tune in all summer long.

Chicago White Sox slugger Munetaka Murakami has already proven doubters wrong by launching 17 home runs, Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes consistently looks like the best version of himself on the mound and Milwaukee ace Jacob Misiorowski is throwing harder than any starter in the majors.

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The MLB action continues on Tuesday as the Colorado Rockies visit the Los Angeles Angels.

Here’s everything you need to know to tune in for the first pitch.

See USA TODAY’s sortable MLB schedule to filter by team or division.

What time is Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels?

First pitch between the Los Angeles Angels and Colorado Rockies is scheduled for 9:38 p.m. (ET) on Tuesday, Jun. 02.

How to watch Colorado Rockies vs Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday

All times Eastern and accurate as of Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 6:33 a.m.

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Watch MLB all season long with Fubo

MLB regional blackout restrictions apply

MLB scores, results

MLB scores for Jun. 02 games are available on usatoday.com . Here’s how to access today’s results:

See scores, results for all of today’s games.



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