By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice
Pueblo, Colorado, has become the backdrop for a politically charged controversy involving Republican Mayor Heather Graham and Pueblo conservatives.
Graham’s election to mayor over incumbent Democrat Nick Gradisar was a shock in 2023. After decades of Democratic rule, conservatives celebrated a new direction in their beloved city. The celebration didn’t last long.
Mayor Graham’s relationship with the Republican Party has soured significantly since her primary election. Feeling betrayed by Republican leaders who supported other candidates in her primary election, Graham has taken several steps that suggest a personal vendetta against the party, and conservatives in her city. Her most striking move came yesterday when she endorsed Democrat Adam Frisch in the 3rd District congressional race, turning her back on her party’s nominee Jeff Hurd. This unusual endorsement raised questions about Graham’s loyalties and led many to believe she is now openly working against the GOP.
But there’s more.
In April of this year, Rocky Mountain Voice (yes, us), a non-profit that is a center-right news source, hosted a private event (with all persons to be known and not open to the general public) that included many local and statewide conservative attendees at Watertower Place, coinciding with the Republican Assembly.
The event aimed to foster discussions and support conservative’s efforts in the region. All city regulations were followed, including maintaining the agreed upon cap of attendees and hiring additional security. Nevertheless, local law enforcement and fire officials arrived in force per the mayor’s orders, interrupting the event and ordering attendees to vacate the premises WHILE the city was dealing with three major fires (including at the steel mill). The mayor deemed it necessary to pull fire department resources and send the team to a private event instead.
The event quickly turned into a high-profile confrontation with city officials, which the business owners at the site believe were motivated by political vengeance stemming from Mayor Graham’s frustrations with the local GOP.
The business owner was threatened with arrest and fines, despite his compliance with city codes. This heavy-handed approach raised eyebrows among attendees and led to speculation that the city’s actions were politically motivated.
The event was just months after Graham’s contentious Republican primary campaign. The timing and severity of the city’s response to this conservative event fueled concerns that Graham was using her position to retaliate against those who didn’t support her during her run for office. The Rocky Mountain Voice didn’t write about it out of respect to the many business owners at this property that were afraid of further retribution and repercussion.
The local business owner who hosted the event for our conservative non-profit had previously remained neutral, offering his venue for events across the political spectrum, including for Democrats. He also supported Graham in her election so it was puzzling that she would target him, unless he was simply in the line of fire directed at Pueblo conservatives that had not.
City officials have framed the intervention as a matter of public safety, citing occupancy limits and other municipal codes. However, the business owner had complied with all regulations, leading many to believe that the intervention was politically motivated. The presence of Republican leaders at the event, combined with Graham’s ongoing feud with the local GOP, suggests that this was not simply about safety, but about settling political scores.
The business owners at this location have since expressed deep concern about the city’s treatment of them and the impact this political feud could have on local businesses. One of the business owners at Watertower Place has paused further investments in Pueblo, warning other business owners that doing business under the current administration carries significant risks, especially for those who are politically active or associated as a conservative.
This incident raises broader questions about Pueblo’s business climate. If political retaliation becomes a standard practice, business owners may fear becoming entangled in the city’s political conflicts, leading to hesitation in investing or expanding. The mayor’s actions could discourage future political engagement and chill free speech among business owners.
Mayor Graham’s actions are now highlighted by her decision to endorse a progressive Democrat over a fellow Republican in a critical congressional race — a race, mind you, which if Frisch wins could hand Democrats control of the U.S. House.
The Pueblo County Republican Party statement on her endorsement, “Kamala’s Democratic party is radical, far-left, pro-censorship, anti-gun, open borders, pro-war, anti-child and soft on crime — which is why it baffles us that any Republican mayor would endorse a Democrat for Congress.
“In 2022, a whistleblower revealed that Adam Frisch sold his vote on Aspen City Council to keep his marital affair hidden. He is not a person of integrity,” the statement continues. “Frisch will vote with the Kamala Democrats EVERY time. You will get FOUR MORE YEARS of inflation with HIGHER taxes, millions MORE illegal migrants using taxpayer dollars, and increased threat of nuclear war.
“Republican Jeff Hurd will work for President Trump’s America-First agenda, NOT against it,” the statement continues. “He will protect your Constitutional rights, secure our border, curb inflation and unleash American energy. Let’s make Pueblo Great Again. Vote Republican!”
As Mayor Graham continues to distance herself from conservatives and align with Democrats, the city’s political landscape is becoming more divided. The shutdown of the conservative non-profit’s event, coupled with Graham’s endorsement of a Democratic congressional rival, signals that her administration may be driven more by personal grievances than by a commitment to public service.
For the business owners and other conservatives in Pueblo, the message is clear: failure to align with Mayor Graham’s political ambitions could result in punitive actions. Whether this feud continues to escalate, or leads to meaningful changes in how the city engages with its business community, remains to be seen. For now, however, the incident and the endorsement serve as a stark warning about the risks of political retaliation in local government.
So much for celebrating the election of a Republican mayor in Democrat stronghold Pueblo; it looks like conservatives were sold a bill of goods.
Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in commentary pieces are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the management of the Rocky Mountain Voice, but even so we support the constitutional right of the author to express those opinions.