CO-04 (Special Election) See Full Big Line

(R) Greg Lopez

(R) Trisha Calvarese

90%

10%

President (To Win Colorado) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Biden*

(R) Donald Trump

80%

20%↓

CO-01 (Denver) See Full Big Line

(D) Diana DeGette*

90%

CO-02 (Boulder-ish) See Full Big Line

(D) Joe Neguse*

90%

CO-03 (West & Southern CO) See Full Big Line

(D) Adam Frisch

(R) Jeff Hurd

(R) Ron Hanks

40%

30%

20%

CO-04 (Northeast-ish Colorado) See Full Big Line

(R) Lauren Boebert

(R) Deborah Flora

(R) J. Sonnenberg

30%↑

15%↑

10%↓

CO-05 (Colorado Springs) See Full Big Line

(R) Dave Williams

(R) Jeff Crank

50%↓

50%↑

CO-06 (Aurora) See Full Big Line

(D) Jason Crow*

90%

CO-07 (Jefferson County) See Full Big Line

(D) Brittany Pettersen

85%↑

CO-08 (Northern Colo.) See Full Big Line

(D) Yadira Caraveo

(R) Gabe Evans

(R) Janak Joshi

60%↑

35%↓

30%↑

State Senate Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

80%

20%

State House Majority See Full Big Line

DEMOCRATS

REPUBLICANS

95%

March 24, 2022 01:36 PM UTC

Country First, Party Second

1 Comments
by: DavidThi808

It’s great when we can vote for candidates who will move forward the legislation we would like to see enacted and to be a brake on the bad stuff. It’s good when we can vote for candidates who will toe the party line and they themselves may not do much, but they get the party legislation through.

But when we face an existential threat to our democracy, then we have to focus first on protecting the democracy. Because every democracy contains the seeds of its own destruction where it can vote in an autocrat. And a giant chunk of the Republican candidates are running on a platform of blatant autocracy.

Exceptional actions call for exceptional actions. First, every Democrat in CD-3 needs to register as a Republican and vote for Don Coram. Every Democrat in Wyoming should do the same to vote for Lynne Cheney. Yes this are legislators who will vote the opposite of what you want time after time. But they will keep us a Democracy.

Second, the Democrats need to run no one in the Utah Senate race and throw their support to Evan McMullin. McMullin is so much better than Lee and there’s no way a Democrat is going to win there.

There are almost certainly other races in the country where this holds true. And it’s not something where we’ll get a balanced effort from Republicans – on the Democratic side we are not running pro-autocracy candidates. But doing this means in the future we can continue to vote for who represents us.

Finally, we need to be smart with where we donate our money. It needs to go to the candidates that are first of all in very close races and second, can make use of additional funding. Every race I decide if I think the election will do better for Dems or Repubs vs. the polls. If Dems, I donate to the Dem candidates who are 1 – 2% behind the Repub. If I think it’ll be a Repub election, I donate to the Dems who are 1 – 2% ahead.

And only them. I’m hardcore on this – I’m not donating to Jared and he only wants $100.00. But he doesn’t need it and doing so then means others can call on me for donations outside this focus.

Also, don’t donate if the candidate already has more money than is useful. Georgia is key for Governor, Senate, and Secretary of State. But I’m guessing all three Dem candidates there will have more than enough money. Up to a point money is key, then additional money rapidly becomes superfluous. When it could be very helpful elsewhere.

And keep in mind, there’s Congress, Governorships, Secretaries of State, and control of State Legislatures. Donate wisely and unemotionally. Volunteer where you can do the most good on a campaign that has a good chance.

Donating or working on the Dem campaign against Boebert, Lamborn, or Buck will make you feel good. But it is highly unlikely to accomplish squat. And the times are too important for futile efforts.

One thought on “Country First, Party Second”

JohnInDenver says:

March 24, 2022 at 6:27 pm

Thanks, David. Choosing how and where to donate is important. Whether money or time, choosing on the basis of possible impact (and skipping candidates likely to have "enough") seems like good advice.

Two additional things I consider:

* are there groups in the areas I'm concerned about who are registering voters and expecting to GOTV? Local party structures providing ongoing support and information gathering? Or groups already engaged in legal and legislative actions to defend the right to vote? They need money and volunteers consistently.

* I've supported some campaigns that were "lost causes" by the polling. In Colorado, there is benefit to helping Democrats in "Republican" areas, knowing the votes won't make a difference in that district's race, but will help get voters to the polls for US Congress, Senate, and state-wide offices.

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Country First, Party Second

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