Colorado conservatives face get-out-the-vote gap as election looms

By Heidi Ganahl | Rocky Mountain Voice

With just over 50 days remaining before a critical election, Colorado’s conservatives are grappling with a major organizational gap in their get-out-the-vote (GOTV) efforts. Internal battles over leadership have left the state party in limbo, while national political grassroots groups—typically a key source of support—are largely absent. Despite some outside help for two congressional races, the lack of coordinated efforts has left conservative activists and volunteers across Colorado asking: How can they make a difference with so little time left?

This disconnection comes at a frustrating moment for many conservative voters, who feel that Colorado’s increasingly blue voting trends have diminished the state’s role in national elections. Without a strong framework in place, many are turning to local efforts, recognizing that the path to influencing the broader election begins at home.

Conservative activists are being urged to prioritize three key areas as the clock ticks down:

1. Start in Your Own Neighborhood: Your neighbors should be the first focus, with volunteers encouraged to engage their friends and community to ensure voter turnout. Personal connections can have a significant impact, especially in smaller, close-knit communities.

2. Focus on Colorado’s Congressional District 3: This hotly contested race is a key battleground for conservatives, who face a wave of funding and national attention from their Democratic challenger. Even for those outside the district, contributing time and resources to this effort is a priority.

3. Look to Pennsylvania: Activists are also being called on to help in Pennsylvania, a critical swing state for the upcoming presidential election. Without a win in Pennsylvania, many believe it will be difficult for conservatives to secure the White House.

Recognizing the lack of coordinated canvassing technology and organization, two of Colorado’s conservative leaders, Heidi Ganahl and Geoff Sakala, have stepped in with a solution. Ganahl, the GOP’s 2022 gubernatorial candidate and founder of the Road to Red initiative and the Rocky Mountain Voice, and Sakala, founder of the Colorado Chase, have joined forces with Turning Point Action to launch the Election Day Dash.

The Election Day Dash is a straightforward simple action plan, along with a free app to use, aimed at giving volunteers the direction they need to mobilize voters efficiently. The tool provides options for calling, texting, door-knocking, or sending postcards to voters, offering guidance on how to make the biggest impact in the remaining days. The initiative encourages participants to “Start in your own Driveway”—focusing first on their local community—before moving on to “Turn out the vote in Congressional District 3” and “lending a hand in Philadelphia, the home of the Declaration of Independence” where voter turnout could play a pivotal role in the presidential race.

With this initiative, Ganahl and Sakala hope to energize a fractured conservative base and ensure that the critical days leading up to the election are not wasted.

Rocky Mountain Voice reached out to Brita Horn, conservative grassroots leader, who commented:

“With just 50 or so days left, it’s crucial for everyone to get involved and do their part to make a difference. Let’s start by creating a personal get-out-the-vote plan—begin right in your own driveway. 

Rally your neighbors, encourage conversations, and help in any way you can.  Every action counts in shaping our Colorado’s future, and now is the time to step up, engage, and ensure every vote is cast. Let’s work together to make an impact!”

– Brita Horn

The Election Day Dash represents a last-minute effort to bridge the gap in Colorado’s conservative voter mobilization. As activists rally and volunteers are called to action, the next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether conservatives can turn the tide in a state that’s seen a shift toward Democratic dominance.

For many conservative activists, the stakes are higher than ever—not just for Colorado, but for the future of the nation’s political landscape.  For more information visit www.RTRDash.com.

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.