January 23, 2006 09:00 AM UTC

Geography a Disadvantage for Some Young Republican "Rock Stars"

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• by: Colorado Pols

The Rocky Mountain News has an interesting look at four young Republican lawmakers who may be the future of the state GOP: Reps. Josh Penry, Rob Witwer, Cory Gardner and Matt Knoedler.

…[Penry] is among a handful of first-term lawmakers who have Republican Party leaders salivating. They see a deep bench to tap over the next decade for statewide and congressional offices.

Others they are eyeing include Reps. Rob Witwer, of Genesee; Cory Gardner, of Yuma; and Matt Knoedler, of Lakewood.

“All of them are rock stars,” said House Minority Leader Joe Stengel, R-Littleton. “And all four of these young guys are honest, articulate, bright and have a good sense of humor. They have the kind of values you want your own kids to have.”

Foster, the former House majority leader, compared the bench to the Democrats’ roster in the last century with Dick Lamm and Roy Romer, who would become governors, and Tim Wirth and Gary Hart, who would become U.S. senators.

The question is how far those on the Republican JV team want to go. Some admit they are still learning the art of balancing a political life with raising a family and making a living.

Republicans are certainly in a good position to have four young legislators that they can move up, but there is one disadvantage in regards to where they are from: only Knoedler, and to a lesser extent Witwer, live in a highly populated area of Colorado.

Population changes in Colorado over the last decade have moved the voter registration advantage decidely towards the Front Range, where 80% of Colorado voters now reside. In another ten years, or perhaps less, the Front Range could have such a voter registration advantage over the rest of the state that any candidate for statewide election not from that area will be at an immediate disadvantage.

Penry is mentioned in the News article as a potential U.S. Senator some day, but by the time he’s ready to run for an office like that, being on the Western Slope will likely be a serious hindrance. Penry is certainly in a good position to run for congress some day, as is Gardner, but Knoedler and Witwer are the two who are geographically positioned for a run at statewide office.