March 11, 2017 12:17 PM UTC

Morgan Carroll Elected Colorado Democratic Party Chair

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• by: Colorado Pols

UPDATE: The Colorado Independent’s Marianne Goodland:

Carroll easily dispatched her rival for the spot, Clear Creek County Commissioner Tim Mauck, by a vote of 401 to 38.

Carroll’s victory is seen by some as a strong step toward unifying a party split in two by last year’s presidential primary. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders took the caucuses, winning the ongoing loyalty of Democrats who continue to fight for more progressive agenda.

“There’s very much a split in the party, but [Carroll] has the ability to bring people back together,” said Greeley City Councilwoman Rochelle Galindo, who was among several who nominated Carroll for party chair.

Carroll, who ran unsuccessfully against incumbent Republican Rep. Mike Coffman, told The Colorado Independent before the voting that Saturday’s election “is critical, more important than anything we’ve seen at the state and national level.

“Both political parties are at a turning point,” she said, “where we need to recreate, reinvent, strengthen, think outside the box, so that we can do a better job of connecting with voters and get people elected to fight for the things we believe in.”

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That’s the word from the Colorado Democratic Party’s reorganization meeting today. Peter Marcus of the Colorado Springs Gazette reports:

“The Democratic Party should be on the front line of the resistance,” Carroll told a cheering audience. “We must adapt, or face extinction.”

…Carroll defeated Clear Creek County Commissioner Tim Mauck, who had counted on rural Democrats.

Carroll garnered 401 votes to Mauck’s 38.

We’ll update with statements and more coverage.