By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
The second Republican Rumble of the primary season will feature a triple-header of candidates debating the issues in two districts.
Co-hosted by the Republican Women of Weld and the Lincoln Club of Colorado, the “Republican Rumble with a Twist” will be from 11 a.m. to about 5 p.m. today, June 1, at the Grizzly Rose, 5450 North S. Valley Hwy in Denver.
Leading off the debates will be the 8th District Republican Primary at noon, featuring Gabe Evans and Janak Joshi. Evans currently serves in the Colorado House of Representatives, and Joshi served three terms in the Colorado House. The Republican nominee will meet Democrat Yadira Caraveo in the general election. The 8th District is a largely urban district from Commerce City and Westminster in the south and to just south of Eaton. The district includes all of Greeley, Bethoud, Fort Lupton, Brighton and Thornton.
It will prime two 4th District debates highlighting the afternoon, the first the Republican Party’s primary which includes a field of five candidates participating: Deborah Flora, Richard Holtorf, Mike Lynch, Jerry Sonnenberg and Peter Yu. The 4th District primary debate will not include Lauren Boebert, who declined the invitation.
Boebert’s campaign indicated several reasons for declining, among those the debate falling on the final Saturday before ballots can be voted. The campaign further notes their candidate will have participated in 15 forums, debates or town halls by June 5, including events on the three days preceding the Republican Rumble, and that Boebert had previously participated in a Women of Weld debate. The campaign expressed its gratitude to the Women of Weld, but indicates time on June 1 should be spent campaigning in the district.
Known for their debates focusing exclusively on Republican primaries, the “twist” will be the inclusion of candidates in the 4th District special election at 2:45 p.m. The winner of the special election will replace ex-U.S. Rep. Ken Buck in Congress. Residents of the district presently have no reprsentation in Congress as a result of Buck’s early departure from office. The participating candidates are Democrat Trisha Calvarese, Libertarian Hannah Goodman and Approval Voting Party candidate Frank Atwood. Republican Greg Lopez withdrew from the debate when organizers failed to endorse his candidacy prior to the debate.
The 4th District includes 21 counties, of which 16 are located in Eastern Colorado and the remaining five are largely urban.
The debate will be moderated by Ernest Luning of Colorado Politics, Kelly Maher of 9NEWS, Jesse Paul of the Colorado Sun, and Chris Rourke of Rourke Media. The emcee will be Mandy Connell of KOA radio.
Election Day is June 25. Mail ballots are required to hit the mailstream by June 7.
The Republican Rumble with a Twist is a ticketed event. Tickets are available at WomenofWeld.com. Tickets will not be sold at the door.