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October 04, 2008 05:36 PM UTC

Key Statehouse Battlegrounds Emerging

  • 28 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

As many of you know, Colorado GOP chairman Dick Wadhams is not planning to recapture either house of the Colorado General Assembly in this election cycle. A brilliant play for long-term job security, Wadhams has built his 2008 strategy around the election of Bob Schaffer to the US Senate and a comparatively small number of state House and Senate races–a pickup here, a successful protect there, in hopes of achieving a better strategic position for the “big run” at all branches of Colorado government in 2010. No word yet on who the messianic GOP gubernatorial candidate is going to be, but the fact that John Elway is shacking up with a Raider cheerleader is liable to prove problematic.

It’s been very easy so far this season to not pay attention to state and local races, between the epic story arc of the presidential contest and the fact that Democratic legislative majorities in Colorado are not immediately threatened. But a few key races have emerged that are consistent with Wadhams’ long-term strategy, therefore key pickup/protect opportunities for the Dems, and we’re guessing more than a few of you haven’t maxed out in these races yet. Add your own in the comments, we’re by no means presenting a complete list:

SD-19 – Evie Hudak (D) vs. Libby Szabo (R). This open Senate seat being vacated by Jefferson County Commission candidate Sue Windels is the focus of lavish spending on both sides, but the Republicans started it very early–SD-19 is a swing Jeffco district that really is winnable by either party. Hudak is well-known in the community but the GOP independent expenditures in this race are formidible. Neither candidate is exactly what you’d call charismatic but there’s a very good reason Szabo is never heard actually talking in those commercials.

SD-23 – Joe Whitcomb (D) vs. Shawn Mitchell (R). This is the Democrats’ #1 pickup opportunity, which is amusing to say the least given the way Whitcomb was initially rebuffed by party insiders when he announced his intentions to run. Whitcomb has proven to be an engaging campaigner with exactly the kind of background needed to get elected in this conservative-leaning ‘burbs-to-plains district. Mitchell is aware that he is in a surprisingly weak position as an incumbent and GOP reinforcements are reportedly on the way.

HD-37 – Diana Holland (D) vs. Spencer Swalm (R). This south metro district saw a very close race in 2006 between Swalm and popular challenger Angela Engel, and the likable Holland would love to get just a little more traction this year–a little more is all she needs. This could be a bellwether contest and both sides know it.

HD-38 – Joe Rice (D) vs. Dave Kerber (R). “Fighting Dem” Rice was elected to this conservative-leaning south metro district in 2006, and Republicans have answered him this year with a fellow veteran who reportedly sports a friendly Wisconsin demeanor. This is a seat that Republicans would like very much to flip.

HD-56: Christian Scanlan (D) vs. Muhammad Ali Hasan (narcissist). We’re a little shocked to be including this race our discussion of competitive races–Hasan, or as we call him “Master of the Terrible Press,” has made a colossal idiot out of himself repeatedly in the Denver and Summit/Eagle media, from ex-girlfriends filing restraining orders to just plain icky public vows of celibacy. Incumbent Rep. Scanlan has to wonder why she’s having to deal with this clown at all, but then she looks at the $280,000 Hasan has raised, over 90% from his own pocket, and everything becomes clear. We’ve heard about polls showing Hasan in the lead. Will the mountain resorts elect their first “fucking state representative?”

HD-58 – Noelle Hagan (D) vs. Scott Tipton (R). The biggest reason this race is competitive is the scandal associated with the retiring incumbent Ray Rose, who joined a baseless recall effort against a local Montrose county commissioner essentially on behalf of certain business interests who didn’t like the guy. Former congressional candidate Tipton has a strong hand to play, but Hagan is locally popular and working overtime.

HD-64 – Wes McKinley (cowboy D) vs. Ken Torres (R). Democrats cannot afford to lose McKinley, a genuine facial hair-toting cowboy with irreplaceable low-key charm and an authentic boothold into a vital constituency. Challenger Ken Torres has had a few ethical trip ups but is by all accounts an energetic campaigner, getting his name out all over this sprawling southeast Colorado district, and the GOP has attached high hopes to him.

HD-52 – John Kefalas (D) vs. Bob McClusky (R). This perennial matchup is pretty close every year, but we don’t see any reason why their Fort Collins district wouldn’t continue to trend the way it did when Kefalas came out on top of then-incumbent McClusky in 2006. But it will be close, and there are these three guys up there who are convinced that Kefalas is some kind of “anti-American terrorist tree hugger bastard” (please stop emailing us).

We’ll add a few more races through the weekend as people angrily call demanding to know why they weren’t included (answer: it’s Saturday morning), and no doubt our astute readers have a few suggestions.  

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28 thoughts on “Key Statehouse Battlegrounds Emerging”

  4. Just for record’s sake –

    we are very proud to have captured the endorsement of the Vail Daily yesterday –

    http://www.vaildaily.com/artic…

    and yes – there’s lots of personal investment on my part, but what really matters is that my team and I have knocked on over 18,000 doors — it’s our shoeleather, not postcards and benjamins, that’s gonna win this race

    This race could be very tight and we’re all knocking and hitting phone lines hard – peace and love all!

    ALI

    1. …will you keep posting here? I would like to see other reps discussing things with us here at the level Jared does. What’s interesting is the other two who do venture here at times are you and Katie – both Republicans.

      I’m crossing my fingers for Christine – but I do appreciate your posting here. And you definitely have the biggest signs in the Vail area.

      1. You have not yet attended any meetings of the I-70 Coalition which is working diligently on the issues surrounding congestion of the highway and mass transit. Yet you endorse a monorail. Then you say you are going to repeal the fuel tax. What a step back it would be to reduce CDOT funding when it is already inadequate.

        If you should manage to prevent people from knowing who you are and win this thing I predict you won’t last one term without censure or recall. You know you can not do this kind of collaborative work yet you are willing to spend 10X what your opponent is just to get the job. Are you trying to earn your father’s respect?

    2. Thanks for the grocery bag. I heard that I can turn it inside out so you name won’t be visible.

      You are really an unworthy person. After reading a local letter to editor I have re-read the Westword article.

    3. works very hard for HD 56. I only got to know her after she was appointed to fill Gibbs term. What a dynamite lady. An educator before politics. Spending all this time when the leg is out of session working on education, forest health and so forth. I have become an admirer.

    5. I have worked with Rep. Scanlan and I can tell you she is a wonderful lady with her heart in the right place who works very hard for the district.  She also is moderate and has a very good head on her shoulders.  Here’s hoping this district can’t be bought away from her!

      Oh and by the way, putting hundreds of thousands of your own $$$ into a race thereby freeing you up to knock on those 18,000 doors is a part of buying the district and very much changes the equation.  

  5. no worries – I appreciate your honest comments and feedback

    However…. I hope you consider volunteering for the Hasan 2008 campaign

    4 hours spent on my campaign will turn your handle from ‘Gray in the mountains’ to ‘BRIGHT in the mountains’

    😉

  7. Jeanne Labuda, Colorado House District 1 is in massive trouble in Denver. The Denver folks are having to pull money from other races to protect what should be a safe seat.

    Tom Thomason is putting in his own money and also using the fact that Jeanne is not hitting the street hards to maybe steal the seat away.  This is one to watch for sure!.  

  8. Swalm’s most famous quote – not that there are many – is calling RTD light rail a “gold-plated choo choo.” Apparently he doesn’t care about the many residents in his district who use light rail on a daily basis.

    Ironic that he was toodling around my neighborhood on a Segway – talk about your gold-plated peoplemover! – delivering campaign literature….

          1. Go to the YouTube page for your video. On the right side of the page, you will see two boxes of weird-looking text. One says “URL” and the other says “Embed.” Copy all the text from the Embed box as written, and then just paste it into your comment.  

  9. If you write a diary here, in 1st person, and telling us what you are going to do if/when you are elected, I will front page it.

    Please email me when you post as work is very busy for me now and I may not see your diary entry for half a day or more.

    thanks – dave

    ps – if you know one of the candidates, please pass this on to them.

  10. It is my understanding the biggest house target for the Rs is Judy Solano.  If Dems out there want to help someone who needs it, throw some money or time Judy’s way.  

      1. waltzeswithdog is right. The R’s are seriously after this seat. HD31 has roughly 1,000 more r’s then d’s. Judy was first elected in 2004 I believe. HD31 makes up a large portion of Thornton, Northglenn and small part of unincorporated Adams County. Judy is a great legislator and a thoughtful person.  

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