Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

‘A good free-for-all’: Weld County crowd reacts to first Biden-Trump debate meeting of ’24
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘A good free-for-all’: Weld County crowd reacts to first Biden-Trump debate meeting of ’24

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice HUDSON -- Just a jog down the road from where a rancher long ago installed two, giant pro-Donald Trump billboards in his pastures, the Republican Women of Weld met Thursday to cheer on the former, and they hope future, President. A capacity crowd in the backroom of Ben's Pizza supported Mr. Trump, with applause and often laughter, as he took on President Joe Biden in their first debate meeting of the year. A bingo game with predictable phrases that might be uttered didn't last through the first commercial break, but the crowd lasted through the 1-1/2 hour debate in which largely Mr. Biden and Mr. Trump took turns criticizing each other's policies, and their golf games. "I'm happy it was civil," said Dan Woog, a state representative in Dist...
Devotional: Where did God come from?
Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice

Devotional: Where did God come from?

By Drake Hunter | Contributing Commentator, Rocky Mountain Voice Have you ever found yourself captivated by God's existence? It's a question that has intrigued and perplexed many, regardless of their religious beliefs. Let's momentarily set aside religious texts and embark on a journey of contemplation. Whether you are a devout believer, a skeptic, or somewhere in between, I invite you to delve into a fresh perspective on this timeless question. Imagine this – a serene drive through the Fort Morgan, Colorado, cemetery, with my curious granddaughter Lilly in the backseat. At this moment, she asked, "Papa, where did God come from?" This poignant question led me to a thought-provoking insight I hold dear – a perspective inspired by Dr. Kent Hovind in my journey of love, faith, and ho...
Evans to Weld Women: ‘We can win the 8th District and retire Caraveo’
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Evans to Weld Women: ‘We can win the 8th District and retire Caraveo’

By Brian Porter | Rocky Mountain Voice HUDSON -- Gabe Evans isn't resting on a 55-point Republican Party primary election victory. The 8th District Republican nominee for U.S. representative told the Women of Weld County here Thursday he can defeat Yadira Caraveo on the issues, each and every one of them. "Open borders, American oil and gas production, agriculture, really every pressing issue right now, she has been on the wrong side of it," Evans said. "It is time to retire her." His Christmas in June began when 8th District Republicans handed him a 55.1% margin of victory over Janak Joshi on Tuesday. On Thursday, the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced it would invest $2.327 million in Colorado's 8th District race, marking its third-highest investment...
Colorado Libertarians ask national committee to decertify Presidential ticket
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Colorado Libertarians ask national committee to decertify Presidential ticket

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice In addition to the Colorado Libertarian Party deciding not to pursue placing the national party's presidential ticket on the ballot in Colorado, it will seek to have the national party decertify the ticket, an email to party membership presumedly from Chairwoman Hannah Goodman reads. The email was received from the Colorado Libertarian Party with the state party's heading. "[The Colorado Libertarian Party] has always stood firmly for liberty, principled opposition to overreaching government, and the promotion of individual freedoms," the email reads. "Our commitment to these values guides our decisions and actions." The state party's board, at its last meeting, passed a resolution affirming dedication to those principles and deciding not t...
NRCC will invest $2.327 million in 8th District ad buy to support Evans
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

NRCC will invest $2.327 million in 8th District ad buy to support Evans

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice How much ad space will $2.327 million buy in the Denver market? If you reside in or near the 8th District, you are about to find out. The National Republican Congressional Committee, fresh off Gabe Evans 55-point win in the primary election, announced Thursday the reinforcements are coming in an effort to prevent Democrat Yadira Caraveo's re-election. The $2.327 million is third, falling behind NRCC investments of $2.5 million in Los Angeles, Calif., and $6/06 million in Portland, Ore. "In 2023, the NRCC set a goal to expand the House Republican Majority by recruiting top tiercandidates in Democrat-held seats, while at the same time shoring up our most vulnerable members," NRCC Independent Expenditure Director Tom Erickson wrote in a press...
‘The numbers don’t lie’, Boebert victory was a landslide in 4th District
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‘The numbers don’t lie’, Boebert victory was a landslide in 4th District

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice WINDSOR -- There hasn't been an outcome in a race like this since 1973. Then, it was the soon to be legend Secretariat blowing away Sham and the field by 31 lengths to win horse racing's Triple Crown. Tuesday night, Lauren Boebert defeated all five Republican suitors in the 4th District's primary election for the U.S. House seat formerly held by ex-U.S. Rep. Ken Buck by 29.1% -- in a six-candidate race. It wasn't even close. "The numbers don't lie," said Drew Sexton, who manages the Boebert campaign. Boebert won 15 of the 21 counties in the district, and earned votes where it mattered to win. She took 24,277 votes in Douglas County, more than double the total of fellow frontrunner Deborah Flora in what had figured to be an area of steng...
Who voted in the primary? What a look inside the numbers tell us.
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Who voted in the primary? What a look inside the numbers tell us.

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Younger populations, regardless of gender, left primary decisions to the older generations and three-fourths of the state left decisions to the other quarter Tuesday, according to data from the Secretary of State's office. Among the state's 3,872,503 active registered voters, about 25.9% participated in one of the state's primary elections, a total of 1,001,720 ballots returned statewide. The largest pool of voters were unaffiliated, totaling 1,881,080 registered and 360,794 casting ballots, a 19.2% turnout. Those ballots were almost equally split between the two major parties. There are 905,605 active registered Republican voters, and with 121,461 unaffiliated Republican ballots and an estimated 51,300 in process a fair estimate of Republica...
‘You can pick up the phone and fix it’: Sonnenberg inspired to remain Eastern Plains commissioner
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

‘You can pick up the phone and fix it’: Sonnenberg inspired to remain Eastern Plains commissioner

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The phone rang Tuesday at almost dusk at Lauren Boebert's Victory Headquarters. On the other end of the line was Jerry Sonnenberg. He was the first, and at the time the only, of Boebert's five Republican Party primary election opponents to call and congratulate her on victory and wish her well in the general election. She praised his spirit of sportsmanship. Sonnenberg had finished second in the 4th District race for U.S. representative, following ex-U.S. Rep. Ken Buck in office. He had captured victory in five of 21 counties in the district, but not in the vote-heavy and population-thick western areas of the district. Boebert had claimed 43.4% of the vote in a six-person race, carrying 15 counties; Sonnenberg had beaten four of his five oppo...
Could ‘Mighty 19′ grow and end Democrats’ State House majority? Leadership hopes so.
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Could ‘Mighty 19′ grow and end Democrats’ State House majority? Leadership hopes so.

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice The competition of 10 contested primaries and fielding candidates in races for 60 of 65 seats has Republican leadership in the Colorado House of Representatives hopeful it can increase seat count in the next legislature. Known as the "Mighty 19", House Republicans faced a super-minority in the 2024 session, with Democrats holding a 46-19 majority. Republicans would need to pick up at least three seats to end the super majority and 14 seats to regain control of the State House. "Today's primary election results showcase the strength and dedication of our Republican candidates," Colorado House Minority Leader Rose Pugliese wrote in a press statement. Pugliese was unopposed in the District 14 primary election, earning more than double the vot...
Looking ahead: The major-party general election matchups setup Tuesday night by primary voters
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Looking ahead: The major-party general election matchups setup Tuesday night by primary voters

By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice Voters in both the Democratic and Republican Party's primary elections weighed in and Tuesday night their general election nominees were selected. There were two races at the top of the ballot with six candidates, while other top-line races were head-to-head and in some cases unopposed. The nominees now advance to the general election. Following is a glance at how the major party's general election nominees will matchup in opposed races, assuming winners in preliminary returns stand: U.S. House of Representatives U.S. Representative, District 1Diane DeGette (D) vs. Valdamar Archuleta (R)U.S. Representative, District 2Joe Neguse (D) vs. Marshall Dawson (R)U.S. Representative, District 3Adam Frisch (D) vs. Jeff Hurd (R)U.S. Representative, ...