Rocky Mountain Voice

Tag: 2026 Elections

A shepherd in the trenches: Rep. Scott Bottoms answers the call to fight for Colorado
Approved, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

A shepherd in the trenches: Rep. Scott Bottoms answers the call to fight for Colorado

By Jen Schumann | Contributing Writer, Rocky Mountain Voice El Paso County Republican Rep. Scott Bottoms walked the quiet State Capitol halls with his wife, prayers filling the empty space. They spent hours there—no fanfare, just a pastor seeking God’s will on a new path after years of preaching in Colorado Springs.  Several lawmakers asked him to run for office. “I’m a pastor,” he told them. One replied, “Pray about it.” That stuck. “I almost said no,” Bottoms said. “I was scared God might say yes.”  “I didn’t choose this,” Bottoms said. “I felt God say, ‘This is your battlefield.’” He said what no one else would Bottoms caught the attention of millions across the country with a speech that went viral on X last fall. “Our state is running rampant with pedophilia,”...
Early cash surge in Colorado’s 8th congressional district as Democrats target Rep. Gabe Evans’ seat
Approved, coloradopolitics.com, State

Early cash surge in Colorado’s 8th congressional district as Democrats target Rep. Gabe Evans’ seat

By Ernest Luning | Colorado Politics Democratic congressional candidate Manny Rutinel has raised more than $1 million since launching his bid in late January to challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado's swingy 8th Congressional District, his campaign said. In just six weeks, Rutinel entered seven-figure territory with the help of more than 23,000 individual contributors, for an average contribution of less than $35, according to the Commerce City state lawmaker's campaign. More than 99% of contributions were under $100, a campaign spokeswoman added. Evans, an Army veteran and retired police officer, is serving his first term representing the Northern Front Range district after defeating Democratic incumbent Yadira Caraveo by fewer than 2,500 votes in last year's...
Byron Donalds announces 2026 Florida gubernatorial run
Approved, National, Washington Examiner

Byron Donalds announces 2026 Florida gubernatorial run

By Ross O'Keefe | Washington Examiner Rep. Byron Donalds (R-FL) is running to be Florida’s next governor. The Florida congressman announced his candidacy in the state’s 2026 gubernatorial race after President Donald Trump endorsed him for the position. “I joined the tea party movement, was in the conservative movement, I was able to serve four years in the state legislature, four years in Congress, and now is the time to take the mantle and lead our state into the future,” he said on Fox News’s Hannity on Tuesday night. “We have a great governor: Ron DeSantis has done a tremendous job for our state. Now, the job is to keep the best state in the country as the best state in the country,” he added. READ THE FULL STORY AT THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER...
Senate 2026: Who’s in, who’s out, and who’s on the fence for reelection
Approved, National, Washington Examiner

Senate 2026: Who’s in, who’s out, and who’s on the fence for reelection

By Samantha-Jo Roth | Washington Examiner The race for control of the Senate in 2026 has kicked off with incumbents up for reelection making decisions about their political futures, shaking up the map for next year’s midterm elections. Political handicappers like the Cook Political Report and Sabato’s Crystal Ball have predicted that Democrats have few opportunities to claw back the majority. But, Sen. Tina Smith’s (D-MN) retirement announcement this week, the second Democratic incumbent to bow out of the 2026 election after Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), is making their efforts even more challenging. In order to take back control of the chamber next year, Democrats would need a net pickup of four seats, but only a handful...