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Tag: UNAFFILIATED VOTERS

Commentary Questions Whether Colorado Leaders Mirror The Power They Protest
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Complete Colorado, Approved, Commentary, State

Commentary Questions Whether Colorado Leaders Mirror The Power They Protest

By Jon Caldara | Commentary, Complete Colorado Though most of us celebrate “No Kings Day” on July 4, the Trump-deranged got a head start last weekend with rallies around the state. Attendees bravely fought oppression by blocking traffic for people with jobs. Rally-goers demanded freedom from tyranny, many right after voting to ban all but beige house paint at their HOA meetings. After pausing briefly to DoorDash something gluten-free, they returned to the barricades to secure democracy in Colorado for one more day. They risked everything, except mild discomfort, to call the guy who won both the popular vote and the electoral vote a tyrant. Yes, I’m having fun at their expense. And yes, they have a point. When you build a country on principles instead of a per...
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Colorado’s Rise In Independent Voters Reflects Growing Party Discontent
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Colorado’s Rise In Independent Voters Reflects Growing Party Discontent

By Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun The results of a new poll erode the assumption that the growing share of unaffiliated voters in the state in recent years — who as of Dec. 1 made up half of active, registered voters — has been caused by automatic voter registration. The vast majority of unaffiliated voters in Colorado say they intentionally registered that way, according to findings from a new poll, eroding the assumption that the growing share of unaffiliated voters in the state in recent years has been caused by automatic voter registration.  Under a 2019 law, people are automatically registered to vote when they have an interaction with the Colorado Division of Motor Vehicles. They’re registered as unaffiliated unless and until they a...
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Federal Judge Clears Path For Colorado GOP To Reclaim Primary Control
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The Colorado Sun, Approved, State

Federal Judge Clears Path For Colorado GOP To Reclaim Primary Control

By Jesse Paul | The Colorado Sun The judge ruled the requirement that 75% of the Colorado GOP or the Colorado Democratic Party must support opting out of the primaries before it can happen “constitutes a severe burden on the major parties’ right to association and is therefore unconstitutional”. he Republicans who have long sought to stop their party from participating in Colorado’s primaries, mainly out of opposition to how unaffiliated voters are now allowed to cast ballots in them, received a major boost late Tuesday when a federal judge ruled that the burden for opting out is unconstitutionally high.  U.S. District Court Judge Philip A. Brimmer found the requirement that 75% of the Colorado GOP or the Colorado Democratic Party’s central committee must suppor...
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What SuperBowl LX Can Teach Us About Colorado Politics
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, Top Stories

What SuperBowl LX Can Teach Us About Colorado Politics

By Russ Minary | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” – Michael Jordan (*not a football player) Last Sunday, millions of Americans watched one of the most lackluster competitions between two NFL teams in a long while. The stats indicate that the Seattle Seahawks outplayed the New England Patriots, consistently from start to finish. The score speaks clearlly: Seattle won and New England lost.  I think SuperBowl LX was chock full of lessons that apply to Colorado politics. One team (Seattle) had a clear game plan, a competent and experienced coach and quarterback, and great players who understood their jobs and executed well. The other team (New England) didn’t. Both teams made it to the SuperB...
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Colorado GOP Debates Strategy to Win Governor’s Seat After Two Decades of Losses
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Colorado Politics, Approved, State

Colorado GOP Debates Strategy to Win Governor’s Seat After Two Decades of Losses

By: Thelma Grimes | Colorado Politics Colorado has not elected a Republican governor since 2002. On Thursday night, four candidates offered competing visions for how the party can reverse its 20-plus years of failing to secure the seat. The discussion hosted by the Women of Weld County touched on electability, affordability, housing, and how a Republican governor would work with the Trump administration. While 20 candidates are vying to win their party’s primary contest, only four attended the debate: Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, Joshua Griffin, Joe Oltmann and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell. Colorado’s last Republican governor was Bill Owens. The state is now considered by many to be solidly blue. Gov. Jared Polis, the current governor, won reelection i...
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Poll Shows Coloradans Want the Center, But Democrats Focused on Progressive Agenda
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Complete Colorado, Approved, Commentary, State, Uncategorized

Poll Shows Coloradans Want the Center, But Democrats Focused on Progressive Agenda

By Mark Hillman | Complete Colorado The Colorado General Assembly returns for its annual 120-day session on Jan. 14, evoking a four-month visceral cringe from Coloradans who dread the next round of legislative fiats certain to be imposed upon us. Coloradans are in a restless mood lately.  It’s no secret a majority of Colorado voters has little affection for President Trump, but they’re not exactly cheerleaders for Democrats either. A December poll by Keating Research, which often works with Democrat clients, found disapproval of the Colorado Democratic Party at 55% – only slightly better than the 58% disapproval of Colorado Republicans. A majority said Colorado is headed in the wrong direction and expressed little confidence in the state legislature, w...
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Opt out explained: Why Colorado Republicans could lose their primary ballots
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

Opt out explained: Why Colorado Republicans could lose their primary ballots

By Heidi Ganahl | Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice One of the most contentious issues holding back the Colorado Republican Party is the infighting around the “Opt Out.” In September, the Republican State Central Committee (SCC) held a heated meeting to vote on whether to opt out of holding a primary election. While 75% of members present voted to “opt out,” state law requires a vote from three-fourths of the total membership of the SCC to officially make that decision. Unfortunately, the meeting sparked more confusion and anger across the party. For several years now, the “Opt Out” has become a litmus test for loyalty, labeling anyone who disagrees a RINO (Republican In Name Only). But I don’t believe that most Republicans understand what “opting out” actually means—and it’s ...
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What does it mean to opt out?
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Rocky Mountain Voice, Commentary, State, Top Stories

What does it mean to opt out?

By Todd Watkins, Colorado GOP Bylaws Committee Chair | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice Editor’s note: On September 27, the Colorado Republican Party’s State Central Committee will vote on whether to opt out of the state-run primary election system established under Proposition 108. Rocky Mountain Voice is featuring perspectives from two prominent Republicans on opposite sides of the issue. Proposition 108, passed in 2016, created a semi-open primary election for nearly all races in Colorado. It is called semi-closed because it allows unaffiliated voters to cast a ballot in one or the other major party primary election. Only major parties (Republican and Democrat) hold primary elections in Colorado. A truly open primary election would permit any voter, regardless of affiliation...
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Minary: Common principles of Conservatism and why they matter in Colorado
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Approved, Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice, State, Top Stories

Minary: Common principles of Conservatism and why they matter in Colorado

By Russ Minary | Guest Commentary, Rocky Mountain Voice The majority of Coloradans have become disengaged and disillusioned with Party politics and rhetoric, for good reasons. Both major parties, R and D, have lost their way. So, the largest bloc of voters in CO is now “Unaffiliated.” In political discussions, we often use ‘labels’ to describe ourselves and others. These labels include terms like Republican, Democrat, Moderate, Right, Left, Liberal and Conservative. Unfortunately, if you ask 10 people to define exactly what their own political label means, only one can do it with any clarity. That leads very quickly to stereotyping, misunderstandings and disagreement. Rather than listening, we talk over, rather than with, each other. For the record, I am a Constitutional Conservat...
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