Pueblo Takes Center Stage in Battle for Colorado Senate Control

By Marianne Goodland | The Denver Gazette

Of the roughly two dozen state Senate seats up for election this year, one race in Southern Colorado is drawing particular attention.

The outcome of this race could decide the contours of power at the state Capitol, with ramifications for what major policies get adopted next year.

Just as importantly, this area called the “last purple” district in Colorado offers an interesting inflection point for a state that has become considerably bluer in each election cycle. Indeed, Pueblo presents a kind of political enigma — a union town that has voted for Pesident Donald Trump at the same time it had sent Democrats to the state Capitol.

Mix in a fire that has devastated parts of the district, the debate over energy and jobs and that incessant rural-urban divide — and this year’s fight in legislative District 3 is proving to be a blockbuster.

For this legislative fight, the major parties’ candidates are both fourth-generation Pueblans: Republican Dana Charles, a healthcare administrator, and Democrat Aaron Gutierrez, a criminal defense attorney.

Both have vowed that, if elected, they would represent the interests of their city — not necessarily their party.

Gutierrez won the Democratic primary in June, defeating Taylor Voss with about 56% of the vote. Charles ran unopposed in the Republican primary.

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