February 01, 2012 08:54 PM UTC

Rep. Bradford Considers Chamber-Flipping Party Switch?

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE #3: A quick read of HB10-1271, passed in the aftermath of Rep. Kathleen Curry being forced to contend as a write-in candidate for election, indicates that Rep. Laura Bradford would still need to campaign as a write-in either as an independent or Democratic candidate if she disaffiliates now. Although HB10-1271 reduced the amount of time a candidate must be registered with a given affiliation, this switch would need to have occurred before the first business day in January for Bradford to make the 2012 ballot.

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UPDATE #2: Grand Junction Sentinel’s Charles Ashby:

The Collbran Republican said the Denver Police Department’s apology and admission Tuesday that she never tried to use the little-known privilege to get out of a DUI, should be the end of it.

But Bradford said she is considering resigning, becoming an independent or even a Democrat [Pols emphasis] because House Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch, plans to go ahead with a House ethics panel to investigate the matter regardless of that apology.

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UPDATE: There are two possibilities should Rep. Laura Bradford indeed disaffiliate from the Republican Party as she reportedly has threatened today. Rep. Bradford could simply become an independent, like Rep. Kathleen Curry did before the 2010 elections–which would place her in a similarly difficult position, with GOP and Democratic candidates likely to run.

Another option would be for Rep. Bradford to join the Democratic caucus like Rep. Debbie Stafford did in late 2007. As Bartels reports, if Bradford were to disaffiliate and go independent, it would result in a 32-32-1 split, and could force a new election for House Speaker. If Rep. Bradford joins the Democrats…well, it’s a lot simpler then.

Bartels’ story strongly suggests that the disputes between Rep. Bradford and GOP House leadership predate the recent controversy over her traffic stop last Wednesday. We wouldn’t therefore assume there’s anything Frank McNulty might do in the aftermath of Rep. Bradford’s “exoneration” by Denver Police that would change things.

That said, we’re not even 24 hours from thinking Rep. Bradford’s remaining political career could be measured in days, not terms. So we’re fully prepared to be shocked again at any time.

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Breaking now via Lynn Bartels of the Denver paper. Developing.