Colorado

SLOAN | What Tuesday meant for Colorado politics

Published

2 years ago

June 30, 2022

SLOAN | What Tuesday meant for Colorado politics

Kelly Sloan

William F. Buckley, writing years in the past about Robert Welch and the John Birch Society, who have been pushing the ridiculous idea that communists had penetrated American authorities to such an extent that President Eisenhower himself was a high-placed agent of the Soviet Union, mentioned that “the mischievous unreality” of Welch’s expenses “positioned an amazing weight on the again of accountable conservatives.” The identical could possibly be mentioned at this time of Trump’s claims of a stolen election.

Which is why this Tuesday was such a helpful evening for the Colorado Republican Social gathering. The so-called “institution” candidates (as an apart, how did “institution” ever come be disassociated with “conservative?”) gained just about throughout the board within the Republican primaries. It was a triumph of sanity and purpose over Bircher-esque conspiracy. Which means the GOP in Colorado not solely has the perfect probability of creating electoral features that they’ve in many years, however that they’ll now reap the benefits of it.

The victories on the prime of the ticket — Joe O’Dea for U.S. Senate, Heidi Ganahl for Governor, and Pamela Anderson for Secretary of State — are after all excellent news in that these three candidates pose a reputable risk to the Democratic incumbents. However it’s additionally, as a minimum, excellent news for the Republican down-ballot candidates. Had any a type of three seats gone to the election-conspiracy candidate, the fixed recitation of the mistaken tenets would have served to anathematize a lot of the Republican ticket, together with these not shopping for the claims, particularly in crucial swing districts.

Ganahl, O’Dea, and Anderson be a part of John Kellner and Lang Sias, operating for Legal professional Basic and Treasurer respectively, on the prime the poll, marking essentially the most spectacular conservative lineup in fairly a while. On the state degree, Sen. Paul Lundeen survived a problem within the ever-quarrelsome El Paso County, and Home Minority Chief Hugh McKean and Rep. Colin Larson each prevailed over Rocky Mountain Gun Homeowners-backed insurgencies. Plenty of new state candidates additionally overcame related challenges from the perimeter, together with Rose Pugliese in Colroado Springs, one in all Colorado’s most promising rising conservative leaders.

They’re joined on the federal degree by State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer (operating for the brand-new eighth Congressional District) and incumbents Doug Lamborn (who seems to undertake a extra outstanding place on the highly effective Armed Companies Committee ought to, as anticipated, the Republicans flip the Home) and Ken Buck, who staved off an unexpectedly robust problem, extremely, from the appropriate.

Congresswoman Lauren Boebert, after all, staved off a major from the extra average State Sen. Don Coram; a person whom I a lot respect, however who did land from time to time on what even many mainstream conservatives would have thought of the mistaken aspect of outstanding points. Boebert’s superstar standing among the many proper and frequent media consideration just about assured her victory early on, and given the ideological alignment of the district, greater than inoculates her from any critical Democratic bid for the seat.

There are different tales from the first election, deeper than the headlines of who gained and misplaced. Notably, there may be the truth that particularly the top-three major victors (O’Dea, Ganahl and Anderson) appear at this level to have outperformed their polling by roughly 6%; past the perennial questions of polling accuracy, this means that the all-important unaffiliateds turned out, which is promising for the Republicans within the fall. It additionally signifies that the hundreds of thousands of {dollars} the Democrats spent on questionably-legal interference within the Republican primaries didn’t work out very effectively for them.

One other fascinating pattern is that whereas Republicans are settling again into their conventional realms of actuality and prudence, it appears the Democratic Social gathering is tacking additional left. There weren’t all that many Democratic primaries happening, which skews evaluation, however within the few that did happen the extra excessive progressive candidate gained. The one doable exception is the HD-6 race between Katie March and Elizabeth Epps, which on the time of penning this March is main by a handful of votes.

That could possibly be a crucial consider November. It’s also fascinating to see that in a number of districts the place the eventual Democratic nominee is predicted to in the end win, the turn-out numbers between Republicans and Democrats have been astonishingly shut. As an example, in HD-17, at present Tony Exum’s seat, the 2 Democratic contenders mixed acquired about 3,700 votes, in comparison with about 3,400 for Republican Rachel Stoval, who was unopposed (Regina English, the additional left candidate gained that major). Perry Will bought 7,300 votes vs. 7,500 mixed to the 2 Democratic contenders, in a seat broadly believed to be a hand-over to the Democratic Social gathering.

It is a probably phenomenal yr for Republicans, and President Joe Biden is just not giving the Democrats a lot to work with. Colorado’s Republicans, having given the nod to affordable, prudent, conventional conservatives, now don’t have any excuse to not win and proper the ship of state.

Kelly Sloan is a political and public affairs marketing consultant and a recovering journalist primarily based in Denver.

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Colorado

Colorado man donates kidney to sister who survived cancer

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1 hour ago

May 22, 2024

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Colorado man donates kidney to sister who survived cancer – CBS Colorado

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Siblings who moved to Colorado now share another special bond after one decided to donate a kidney to the other.

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Colorado

First phase of reopening for Blue Mesa bridge in Colorado expected to start on July 4 or earlier

Published

8 hours ago

May 22, 2024

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First phase of reopening for Blue Mesa bridge in Colorado expected to start on July 4 or earlier

Disaster emergency declared for U.S. 50 bridge closure over Blue Mesa Reservoir on Western Slope

01:53

Transportation officials in Colorado are sharing a plan this week to reopen Highway 50’s Blue Mesa bridge in a limited fashion in July or possibly earlier. The bridge was closed to traffic a month ago when concerns arose about whether it is safe to drive across. Repairs have been underway since then — while Highway 50 has been closed — and the plan is now to allow emergency vehicles and lighter vehicles across the bridge on the 4th of July or possibly earlier.

The bridge is located near Dillon Pinnacle and stretches across the Blue Mesa Reservoir, which is located west of Gunnison and east of Montrose.

An inspection last month found a 3 inch crack in the bridge as well as some buckled parts. Soon afterward the lieutenant governor declared a disaster emergency and an emergency request for $10 million in repair funds was granted by the Transportation Commission of Colorado. A much more in-depth inspection has now been completed, and the determination is that the integrity of the bridge is not threatened by that crack and other “internal anomalies, or defects” that were found.

“The internal anomalies do require mitigation and repair for long-term serviceability of the bridge,” CDOT wrote in a news release.

Trucks and larger commercial vehicles will still be restricted from crossing the bridge with the first phase of reopening.

“It is important to note that the completion of the first phase is dependent on critical factors, including weather,” CDOT wrote.

CDOT’s goal is to have the bridge fully back open to vehicles of all weights in the fall. They said the second phase of repairs “requires more time to complete and can be performed safely in between in-service traffic openings on the bridge.”

Between now and July, CDOT will allow more vehicles to use the County Road 26 bypass to get back and forth from Montrose to Gunnison. It’s a long, rough gravel road and CDOT pilot cars have been leading traffic through in a very limited manner for the past month. Starting this week there will be seven different releases of traffic across 26 on all days except Wednesdays. On Wednesdays the amount of traffic let through on County Road 26 will be more limited so repairs to that road can be made. Only vehicles of “legal maximum vehicle dimensions and weights” are allowed on 26.

Residents in Montrose County, Gunnison County and Hinsdale County who are interested in learning more about CDOT’s plan for the Blue Mesa bridge can attend a town hall meeting on Wednesday night at the Montrose County Event Center. It starts at 6:30 p.m. More information is also posted on gunnisoncounty.org.

Jesse Sarles

Jesse Sarles manages the web content and publishing operations for CBS Colorado. He writes articles about Colorado news and sports in and around the Denver area.

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Colorado

Noteworthy Colorado legislative primary races draw significant cash • Colorado Newsline

Published

15 hours ago

May 22, 2024

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Noteworthy Colorado legislative primary races draw significant cash • Colorado Newsline

Seven sitting Colorado lawmakers are facing primary challenges this year as they work to retain their seats, leaving them with little break time between the end of the most recent legislative session and the thick of campaign season.

That includes two of the most progressive representatives, who face more moderate opponents and two Republican senators going against candidates who embrace more MAGA-style politics.

State legislative primaries will take place on June 25. Voters can check or update their registration online at the secretary of state’s website. Voters can find what House and Senate district they live in, as well as their current representatives, at the Legislature’s website.

The next financial reporting deadline for candidates is June 3.

Incumbents defend seats

In House District 4, centered on northwest Denver, incumbent Rep. Tim Hernández faces former federal immigration judge Cecelia Espenoza in the Democratic primary. Hernández was appointed to his current term by a vacancy committee last summer, when he won against Espenoza.

Hernández is backed by more than two dozen current lawmakers and a handful of organizations including the Denver chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, the Colorado Working Families Party, New Era Colorado, YIMBY Denver and the Colorado Education Association.

During his first legislative session, Hernández ran successful legislation to create a Chicano special license plate. He also sponsored a bill to ban the purchase of so-called assault weapons in Colorado, which passed the House for the first time in state history but died in the Senate.

To date in this campaign cycle, he has raised over $84,000 and spent close to $36,000. In the most recent financial reporting period, from May 2 until May 15, Hernández raised close to $18,000. That included big donations from the political arms of the Aurora Council for Teachers and Students, the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights, and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association.

Espenoza has raised a little under $84,000 and spent over $55,000. Nearly $14,000 of that spending was for direct mail to voters in the district, according to campaign finance filings. She raised just over $2,000 and spent about $18,000 in the most recent reporting period. She has received financial support from the Apartment Association of Metro Denver and the Colorado Medical Society.

Another of the closely watched Democratic primary races this year will be between freshman Rep. Elisabeth Epps and attorney Sean Camacho in the Denver-based House District 6.

Epps began the most recent legislative session with a reprimand from the House speaker for her actions during a special session last fall, when she joined pro-Palestinian activists in the chamber gallery. This year, she ran successful bills related to criminal justice and harm reduction. Two bills she sponsored — the assault weapons ban and one to let cities allow overdose prevention centers — passed the House and died in the Senate.

Camacho, who ran unsuccessfully for the seat in 2022, has out-raised and out-spent Epps by a considerable margin. Epps has raised about $35,000 and spent a bit over $9,000, while Camacho has brought in over $125,000 and spent over $84,000.

Camacho has received financial support from the Apartment Association of Metro Denver, the Colorado Medical Society, Associated General Contractors of Colorado and the business group Colorado Concern. He spent $8,000 to collect signatures for his ballot petition, according to campaign filings.

Epps has received money from Colorado WINS, the union for state employees. She reported spending just over $500 to consultants for petition and canvassing work.

Republican Sen. Larry Liston is facing two primary opponents in Senate District 10 in Colorado Springs: Rex Tonkins, the husband of the El Paso County GOP chairwoman, and business owner David Stiver.

Liston accused Tonkins last year of harassment at a party meeting, but a jury acquitted Tonkins. The state Republican Party then censured Liston over the incident.

Liston has raised over $90,000 this election cycle and spent over $72,000. He gathered signatures to get on the primary ballot, while Tonkins and Stiver made it onto the ballot through the party assembly process. He has about $72,000 in cash on hand.

Tonkins and Stiver, however, have barely fundraised. Tonkins has brought in a bit over $3,000 and Stiver has brought in just $520, yet has taken out almost $18,000 in loans for his campaign. Stiver has spent over $13,000, including close to $4,000 on direct mail materials and $400 on flower seeds.

Here is the financial state of the other primaries with incumbents:

Democratic Rep. Junie Joseph will face Tina Meuh in House District 10 in Boulder. Joseph has raised nearly $99,000, which includes money from the Colorado AFL-CIO union, and spent over $93,000. Meuh has raised about $54,000 and spent a little over $23,000.
Republican Rep. Mary Bradfield will face former educator Jan Koester and businessman Bill Garlington in House District 21 in Colorado Springs. Koester and Garlington show very little raising and spending. Bradfield reported spending about $31,000 so far, including $13,000 in petition signature gathering efforts. She has also reported about $18,000 in contributions, including over $16,000 rolled over from a previous campaign.
Rep. Julia Marvin has a challenger in Jacqueline “Jacque” Phillips in Adams County’s House District 31 Democratic primary. Marvin defeated Phillips in a vacancy committee election for the seat earlier this year. Marvin has raised close to $8,000 and spent about $3,000. Phillips has raised a little over $17,000, including about $4,500 from herself, and spent about $10,000. She has received donations from the Denver Pipefitters Local 208 and the Thornton professional firefighters association.
Republican Rep. Barbara Kirkmeyer is going against construction projects manager Natalie Abshier in Senate District 23 along the Interstate 25 corridor north of Denver. Kirkmeyer, who sits on the powerful Joint Budget Committee, is one of the most influential Republicans at the Capitol and sponsored numerous successful bipartisan bills this year, including a consequential property tax relief bill. Kirkmeyer has a huge cash advantage over Abshier with about $89,000 raised so far and about $25,000 spent. Abshier, meanwhile, has raised about $400 and spent a little over $3,000, relying on loans.

Ballots wait to be counted at the Adams County Government Center in Brighton, Nov. 7, 2023. (Kevin Mohatt for Colorado Newsline)

The open primaries

As state senators and representatives term out, there are also about two dozen open seats this year with no incumbent.

The most costly House primary race so far has been between Lakewood City Councilwoman Rebekah Stewart and health care activist Kyra deGruy Kennedy, who are vying in the Democratic primary to replace Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, Kyra’s husband, in Lakewood’s House District 30.

DeGruy Kennedy has the backing of close to 30 current state lawmakers, the Colorado Working Families Party and Colorado WINS. She has raised over $86,000 and spent close to $53,000.

Stewart has raised over $116,000 and spent about $42,000. She has received money from the Colorado Medical Society, The Doctors Company’s political action committee, and Architects of Colorado.

In the northwest Aurora-based House District 36, educator Bryan Lindstrom is competing in the Democratic primary against school board member Michael Carter to replace outgoing Democratic Rep. Mike Weissman.

Lindstrom has raised about $76,000 and spent about $61,000 and has received money from Colorado WINS, Colorado AFL-CIO and the Denver Classroom Teachers Association. He has endorsements from Democratic state lawmakers including Rep. Javier Mabrey, Rep. Lorena Garcia and Sen. Lisa Cutter.

Carter, meanwhile, has raised about $56,000 and spent about $54,000. He has endorsements from U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, Rep. Judy Amabile and Rep. Shannon Bird, all Democrats, among others.

There are also four state representatives looking to switch over to the Senate who face primary challengers:

Rep. Judy Amabile is competing against education consultant Jovita Schiffer in Boulder’s Senate District 18 Democratic primary to replace outgoing Senate President Steve Fenberg. Amabile has raised a staggering $182,000 compared to Schiffer’s $26,000.
Rep. Lindsey Daugherty faces Westminster City Councilman Obi Ezeadi in Senate District 19‘s Democratic primary to replace Sen. Rachel Zenzinger of Arvada. Daugherty has raised about $129,000 compared to Ezeadi’s $134,000. Ezeadi has endorsements from many progressive lawmakers, while Daugherty has the backing of House Speaker Julie McCluskie, Fenberg and Gov. Jared Polis, among others.
State Rep. Mike Weissman will face attorney Idris Keith in Senate District 28‘s Democratic primary to replace Sen. Rhonda Fields of Aurora. Weissman has raised about $78,000 and Keith has raised about $59,000. Weissman is endorsed by Attorney General Phil Weiser, Treasurer Dave Young, AFL-CIO Colorado, Colorado Immigrant Rights Coalition Action Fund and the reproductive rights group Cobalt, among others. Keith does not list endorsements on his campaign website.
Republican Rep. Lisa Frizell is facing Timothy Wesley Arvidson, a self-described “America first” candidate, in Douglas County’s Senate District 2 Republican primary to replace Sen. Jim Smallwood. Frizell has raised about $28,000 and taken on $10,000 in loans while Arvidson has raised just under $5,000.

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