RIP Colorado GOP: The party didn’t run out of Republicans, it drove them out

By Jon Caldara | Commentary, Complete Colorado

We are gathered here today at this Celebration of Life to remember, pay tribute and say goodbye to the Colorado Grand Old Party. May she rest in peace.

The Colorado GOP had an adventurous and substantial life. She will live on in our memories, our history books and the many stories that made up her colorful existence.

‘Grand’ old memories

From the beginning, our state’s Republican Party was truly “Grand.” Republicans dominated Colorado’s representation in Washington during nearly all its territorial years.

Colorado statehood itself was a Republican endeavor. A Republican Congress bestowed statehood on Colorado while putting off statehood for more Democratic-leaning New Mexico. The goal was to secure Colorado’s three electoral votes for Rutherford B. Hayes in 1876.

Playing games with electoral boundaries is anything but a modern political phenomenon.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE AT COMPLETE COLORADO