Rocky Mountain Voice

Rocky Mountain Voice

Sen. Bob Gardner fails to qualify for ballot, he announces in letter to supporters
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Sen. Bob Gardner fails to qualify for ballot, he announces in letter to supporters

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice State Sen. Bob Gardner has not qualified to appear on the Republican Party's 5th District primary ballot for Congress, ending his campaign. He announced in an email Saturday morning that signatures needed for a successful petition onto the ballot were not in excess of the 1,500 threshold needed, after the Secretary of State's review. "Just as we were preparing for an upcoming debate this week, we received the letter from the Secretary of State notifying us that we would not be on the ballot," Gardner wrote to supporters. "As disappointed as I am, I am not discouraged. From the day we announced, we have been gratified and encouraged by the support and contributions of so many good people who believe in our platform and our message of stan...
Sen. Rod Pelton warns Kit Carson Republicans of extreme gun bills, appointments
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Sen. Rod Pelton warns Kit Carson Republicans of extreme gun bills, appointments

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice BURLINGTON -- State Sen. Rod Pelton, R-Cheyenne, warned Kit Carson County Republicans gathered here Friday that they might stay on the lookout for a rash of bills coming through the upper chamber before the state's legislative session is complete. "When we started on Monday, we still had 407 bills to go through in the Senate," he said. Specifically, he made mention of House Bill 24-1292, which some have called the state's "assault weapons ban." Taylor Rhodes, executive director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, has pointed out the bill would ban the commonly-owned Glock pistol he carries concealed and has threatened litigation against the state "as soon as the ink is dry on the law." The bill by Democrat Reps. Elisabeth Epps and Tim Hernan...
Sonnenberg qualifies for Republican Party’s primary ballot in 4th District race
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Sonnenberg qualifies for Republican Party’s primary ballot in 4th District race

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Jerry Sonnenberg, who served 16 years in the Colorado legislature and most recently as a county commissioner, has qualified for the Republican Party primary ballot in the crowded 4th District field for Congress. The Secretary of State’s office on Friday verified the Logan County Republican had enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. Sonnenberg submitted 3,155 signatures on his petition, with 1,719 being accepted. The Secretary of State’s office rejected 1,436 of the signatures submitted, or 45.5%. Sonnenberg was required to meet a threshhold of 1,500 accepted signatures. A record of all accepted and rejected signatures, including reasons for each rejection, is on file with the Secretary of State. Sonnenberg, who often ...
House Republicans welcome homeschooled students to the Capitol
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House Republicans welcome homeschooled students to the Capitol

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice An estimated one in 20 children is homeschooled in America, and in Colorado about 16,000 students claim to be homeschooled. Some of those students and their parents visited the Capitol Thursday in celebration of Colorado Homeschool Day. “Empowering families to choose the best education for their children is fundamental to our values,” said Minority Leader Rose Pugliese, R-Colorado Springs. “By supporting homeschooling, we affirm the right of families to be the primary educators of their children. Families should have the choice to tailor their child's education according to their individual needs and beliefs." Homeschool families found an ally in Rep. Gabe Evans, R-Brighton. “As a product of homeschooling myself and now a homeschool...
Mike Lynch qualifies for Republican primary ballot in 4th District race for Congress
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Mike Lynch qualifies for Republican primary ballot in 4th District race for Congress

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice Mike Lynch, once the top Republican in the Colorado House, has qualified for the Republican primary ballot in the crowded 4th District field for Congress. The Secretary of State’s office on Thursday verified the Wellington Republican had enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot. Lynch is making his first bid at the Republican nomination, presently serving in Colorado House District 65. He submitted 3,977 signatures on his petition, with 1,596 being accepted. The Secretary of State's office rejected 2,381 of the 3,977 signatures submitted, or 59.9%. Lynch was required to meet a threshhold of 1,500 accepted signatures. A record of all accepted and rejected signatures, including reasons for each rejection, is on file with the ...
Sloan: Speaker Mike Johnson has chance to lead on Ukraine
Approved, Commentary, National, Rocky Mountain Voice

Sloan: Speaker Mike Johnson has chance to lead on Ukraine

Kelly Sloan | Special Contributor, The Rocky Mountain Voice House Speaker Mike Johnson is experiencing a defining moment in his career. As Congress resumes, he seems to have successfully – one hopes – hammered out a workable deal to finally get arms flowing to the Ukrainians as their defense starts to falter. Effective support for Ukraine’s defence is the central foreign policy question facing Western leaders today. There are, of course, no shortage of serious foreign policy dilemmas – one could toss a dart at a world map and chances are pretty good that wherever it lands there is some kind of trouble brewing – but it is difficult to understate the importance of Ukraine. The Israelis are tough and will likely prevail with or without American support (though how much better for our ow...
Hurd qualifies for primary ballot in Colorado’s 3rd District U.S. House race
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Hurd qualifies for primary ballot in Colorado’s 3rd District U.S. House race

Brian Porter | The Rocky Mountain Voice Jeff Hurd, a Grand Junction attorney, has qualified for a place on the ballot in Colorado's 3rd District in Congress, the Secretary of State's office announced Wednesday. Hurd has been endorsed by former Secretary of State Scott Gessler and former State Treasurer Walker Stapleton, who also was the Republican nominee for governor in 2018. On his campaign website, Hurd is in the race, it says, to "provide a sincere and hardworking representative focused more on doing something than being someone." Border security, improving the economy through job creation and empowering families are among the issues on his website. Hurd submitted 4,388 signatures on his petition, with more rejected signatures than accepted. The 2,162 signatures accepted me...
Holtorf, a Republican, and McCorkle, a Democrat, qualify for 4th District ballot
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Holtorf, a Republican, and McCorkle, a Democrat, qualify for 4th District ballot

Brian Porter | The Rocky Mountain Voice A three-time candidate for the office and the sitting Colorado House minority whip have both qualified for a place on the ballot in Colorado's 4th District in Congress. The Secretary of State's office has verified that Democrat Ike McCorkle and Republican Richard Holtorf both have enough verified signatures to qualify for the ballot in thier respective primaries. McCorkle is making his third bid for the Democratic nomination, having twice before opposed ex-U.S. Rep. Ken Buck for the seat. McCorkle submitted 2,179 signatures on his petition, with 1,783 being accepted. Holtorf is making his first bid at the Republican nomination, presently serving as minority whip in the Colorado House. He submitted 2,612 signatures on his petition, with 1,...
Second calf in a five-day stretch killed by wolves in Northern Colorado, CPW says
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Second calf in a five-day stretch killed by wolves in Northern Colorado, CPW says

By Rocky Mountain Voice Staff The second incident of a livestock kill in five days by a wolf has been confirmed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Following the depredation of a calf in Grand County, another was realized in neighboring Jackson County on the morning of April 7, the CPW reports, following a field investigation. "The field investigation found injuries on a dead calf consistent with wolf depredation, including a partially consumed hindquarter," the CPW press release reads. "Partial wolf tracks were also found in the same area. CPW is aware of four wolves in the area and these included wolves that were released in December 2023 and a wolf or wolves with known territory in North Park." The calf killed April 2 in Grand County was near Kremmling, and could be within about...
Republican House whip and CD4 candidate Richard Holtorf calls upon State GOP Chair Williams to resign
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State

Republican House whip and CD4 candidate Richard Holtorf calls upon State GOP Chair Williams to resign

By BRIAN PORTER | The Rocky Mountain Voice State Rep. Richard Holtorf, a candidate for Colorado's 4th District seat in Congress, called Tuesday for Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams to resign, citing "numerous conflicts of interest" and "radical endorsement policies" alienating candidates for statewide and federal office. Williams "ram-rodded 10 resolutions through state assembly" and then moved to endorse an individual candidate in the 4th District race against Colorado GOP bylaws, Holtorf cites in a press release. He is additionally calling for Williams, a candidate in the 5th District for Congress, to face ethical and legal review for "continued abuse of state GOP policies and bylaws". In a statement to Colorado Politics, Williams responded: "If Holtorf wishes to...