Colorado
Independent presidential contender Robert F. Kennedy Jr. holds Aurora rally as he attempts to get on Colorado’s ballot
A boisterous crowd of a thousand or so packed the Stanley Marketplace in Aurora on Sunday to hear a White House pitch from Robert F. Kennedy Jr. — a presidential candidate who isn’t yet on Colorado’s November ballot but who said he represents an opportunity for people to “vote out of hope and inspiration” rather than fear.
Kennedy started his speech by decrying his omission from two recently scheduled presidential debates, noting that independent voters are by far the largest bloc of the American electorate. Both President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump agreed to the debates — one in June and the second in September.
“Don’t you think there should be an independent on the stage?” Kennedy said to loud applause. “I think it’s important that the American people get to see their presidential candidates debate.”
Kennedy, an environmental lawyer, announced last fall that he would run as an independent candidate for president, eschewing his and his family’s deep Democratic Party roots.
Kennedy’s campaign claims the son of U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 during his own run for the White House, has qualified for the ballot in seven states while amassing enough signatures to make the ballot in eight additional states. Clipboard-wielding volunteers on Sunday tried to hustle up signatures for access to Colorado’s ballot from attendees at the rally.
“We like Bobby, that’s for sure,” said Greg Jones, who drove with his wife from Fort Collins to attend the rally in Aurora. “We’re just glad there’s an alternative to the two existing candidates.”
His wife, Kathleen, said she likes Kennedy’s aversion to war.
“I think he’s an advocate of peace in the world,” she said. “I’m afraid we might go to war with (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and China and he can prevent that from happening.”
Kennedy questioned the wisdom of Congress’ decision late last month to send $60 billion to Ukraine to aid it in its ongoing war with Russia, asking whether “we could have used that $60 billion here in the United States?” He also decried the nation’s rising national debt — now at $34 trillion — and the role of both Trump and Biden in its escalation.
“If we give them four more years, we’re going to see more of the same, aren’t we? This is existential,” Kennedy said to the crowd, many holding Kennedy-Shanahan signs.
Kennedy chose Nicole Shanahan, a California lawyer and philanthropist, as his vice presidential running mate in March.
Kennedy had tough words for the pharmaceutical industry, in line with his long-held skepticism about vaccine safety. He also questioned how effective Trump or Biden would be in managing the emerging and powerful field of artificial intelligence.
Politics watchers are trying to figure out what role Kennedy might play in the November election if he lands on all 50 state ballots, and who he might hurt or help more — Trump or Biden. Last week, polls conducted by The New York Times and Siena College showed that in a five-way race with minor party candidates included, Kennedy drew 8% of Trump’s supporters compared to 7% of Biden’s.
But from the stage in the hangar at Stanley Marketplace, Kennedy rejected the idea that he could be a spoiler, citing the results of a recent poll conducted by John Zogby Strategies. That poll, he said, showed him handily beating Biden in a head-to-head matchup, while barely beating Trump in a one-on-one contest.
“I cannot be the spoiler because I can win the race,” he said.
Adherents to both major parties were in attendance Sunday. Denverite Jennifer Camp, 51, said she typically votes Republican but wanted to broaden her horizons this year.
“We wanted to come and see the third-party candidate because we were sick and tired of the other two,” she said.
Longtime Democrat Jill Stedronsky, 62, said she had become so disillusioned with Biden that she would vote for Trump over the president. Democrats, she said, had let her down by supporting vaccine mandates and censoring speech on social media platforms under the guise of fighting misinformation.
But her heart is first and foremost with Kennedy, who she lauded for his willingness to take on corporate power.
“I’ve been following his campaign for over a year and I love the man,” said Stedronsky, of Lakewood. “He’s the great hope for the country.”
John Walsh, a career federal prosecutor and private practice attorney, will be Denver’s next district attorney after winning Tuesday’s election.
Walsh won about 58% of the vote, beating Leora Joseph by about 11,000 votes, according to the Denver Elections Division.
He’ll will still need to go through the November general election, but they’d be the presumptive winner and would take office in January.
Both candidates agreed on a number of issues but split on a few. Joseph, for example, said she was completely opposed to the idea of safe injection sites, while Walsh said he was at least open to a pilot program with a single site, subject to approval by City Council, to gather more research on how it’d work in Denver.
Walsh ran on a campaign of reforming sentencing guidelines. A career federal prosecutor, he served as assistant U.S. Attorney and was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Colorado by former President Barack Obama.
He worked on Obama’s clemency project and, at the time, reduced sentences for nonviolent drug offenders. In private practice, he’s worked on business litigation, securities and conducting internal investigations.
He’s also been involved in several high-profile cases, from leading a grand jury investigation into former Arizona Governor John Fife Symington to representing President Joe Biden’s administration in one of the 2020 election lawsuits in Michigan.
Walsh was endorsed by outgoing Denver District Attorney Beth McCann, former Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and former District Attorney Mitch Morrissey.
Leora Joseph, who worked as a prosecutor in Massachusetts for 25 years, served as chief of staff for the Colorado Attorney General’s Office and led Colorado’s Behavioral Health Agency.
You can view all of Tuesday’s primary election results on CBS News Colorado.
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Julian “JuJu” Lewis says he enjoyed his time in Boulder. But was it enough to sway him away from his commitment to USC?
The highly sought-after Carrollton high school quarterback prospect was ushered in and welcomed by everyone around the foot of the Flatirons. This was Lewis’ third official visit to Colorado since the start of the year. However, this visit was particularly noteworthy given how the city showed the Peachtree passer nothing but love.
“It was a cool weekend,” Lewis told SI. “I met a lot of good people while I was in Boulder and definitely noticed the things they did around town.” He went on to say he was shutting down his recruitment.
The nation’s top ranked prospect, according to ESPN, had a burger named after him and had welcome signs all over the place. He garnered a great deal of attention with everyone knowing how monumental it would be for CU to land him
As for the verbal commitment to USC? That hasn’t alter Lewis’ approach or wanting to survey his options. The elite signal-caller has taken official visits to Indiana, Auburn and Colorado as of late. While the Trojans are still in the picture, the Buffaloes and Tigers did enough to stay afloat.
The prominence of Deion Sanders has brought significant attention to Colorado’s football program, making it a prime destination for top recruits like Lewis. Upon arrival, he was greeted with a warm welcome that included a tour of the university’s state-of-the-art facilities. The facilities at Colorado have undergone significant upgrades in recent years, making them competitive with some of the best in the nation. Lewis and his family were shown around the Champion Center athletic complex, training rooms, and the newly renovated Folsom Field.
A key highlight of the visit was the opportunity for Lewis to sit down with Shedeur Sanders for a “legendary” picture. The Buffs “Grown” QB approach to mentoring is focusing on building character and leadership qualities in his teammates, which resonated deeply with Lewis. Sanders’ commitment to his personal and athletic development in noticeable this offseason as he ramps up to preparing for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Additionally, Lewis was treated to a glimpse of life in Boulder, Colorado. The university’s scenic campus, set against the backdrop of the Rocky Mountains, offers a unique environment that combines rigorous academics with a vibrant college town atmosphere. The natural beauty and recreational opportunities of Boulder were emphasized as part of the overall appeal of being at CU.
The official visit left a strong impression on Lewis and his family. Coach Prime’s dynamic leadership and the comprehensive support system at Colorado present a compelling case for why the university is an excellent choice for top-tier recruits. As Lewis continues to weigh his options, the time spent with Sanders and the Colorado football program will undoubtedly play a significant role in his decision-making process.
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