(D) J. Hickenlooper*
(D) Julie Gonzales
(R) Janak Joshi
80%
40%
20%
(D) Jena Griswold
(D) M. Dougherty
(D) Hetal Doshi
50%
40%↓
30%
(D) Jeff Bridges
(D) Brianna Titone
(R) Kevin Grantham
50%↑
40%↓
30%
(D) Diana DeGette*
(D) Wanda James
(D) Milat Kiros
80%
20%
10%↓
(D) Joe Neguse*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
(R) Jeff Hurd*
(D) Alex Kelloff
(R) H. Scheppelman
60%↓
40%↓
30%↑
(R) Lauren Boebert*
(D) E. Laubacher
(D) Trisha Calvarese
90%
30%↑
20%
(R) Jeff Crank*
(D) Jessica Killin
55%↓
45%↑
(D) Jason Crow*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
(D) B. Pettersen*
(R) Somebody
90%
2%
(R) Gabe Evans*
(D) Shannon Bird
(D) Manny Rutinel
45%↓
30%
30%
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
80%
20%
DEMOCRATS
REPUBLICANS
95%
5%
The annual meeting of an important yet secretive conservative organization we’ve discussed in this space, the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), wrapped up in Salt Lake City yesterday. And was subject to lively protest, as the local FOX affiliate reported last week: ALEC brings state lawmakers from around the country together with corporate sponsors and […]
As a long time student of religion, even to the point of getting a Masters degree in the same, I’ve also been fascinated by the intersecting of political with religious beliefs. What little research has been done that I can find shows that a given psychological bent is the common ground of typically matching the […]
I came across this story from Energywire. The decision about re-establishing more reasonable setbacks from homes when locating drilling rigs has been “on the table” at the COGCC for three or four years. Now that discussions are underway, they have been talking for over five months. The O&G industry will try to stall a decision […]
(The more I hear about this young woman, the more I like her style, if not her substance. – promoted by ProgressiveCowgirl) UDATE 8-8-12 Independent candidate Tisha Casida released the following statement last night on the decision by Adams State University’s Veterans Group not to include her in tonight’s debate featuring candidates for Colorado’s 3rd […]
The issue of gun control is in the news a lot right now. But gun control is not a new issue. It’s been around a long time. For example, in 1881, Tombstone, Arizona had an ordinance that prohibited anyone from carrying weapons within the town limits. One day a group of cowboys, looking for a […]
ABC News: Just hours after the Senate voted to extend tax cuts for the middle class, President Obama accused House Republicans of holding the tax cuts “hostage” until the nation agrees to spend $1 trillion on tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. Speaking to supporters at the House of Blues, the president praised the Senate […]
After a month where, even though he outspent Romney nearly 2-1 (nearly 4-1 if you’re just counting media) and didn’t move the needle, President Obama seems to have created the gaffe that might signal the end of his Presidency next January. “If you’ve been successful, you didn’t get there on your own. You didn’t get […]
A discussable post on the Center for Justice & Democracy’s Pop Tort blog today: I’m sure I’m not the first person to think of the late great Warren Zevon when news broke of the unfortunately-timed civil lawsuit just filed by one of the victims of the Aurora shooting. The primary case “center[s] on the safety […]
A Commentary by American Patriot “What the hell is wrong with you Tea Party idiots? It’s not about winning, it’s about the game; the juice is in the game! The worst thing that could happen would be for us to beat the Democrats. That would be game over. That would be anarchy. You people need […]
By virtue of her incredibly safe district, Congresswoman Diana DeGette doesn’t have to spend much time campaigning for her own reelection this year — or, for that matter, interacting with her constituents. That doesn’t mean that the Denver Democrat gets off easy, though.
After all, DeGette last week endorsed Trevor Thomas, an “an openly gay, pro-choice, pro-environment progressive” running for the Democratic nomination in Michigan’s 3rd district.
From the aptly named “Trevor for Congress” campaign:
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH – U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO) spoke out in favor of Congressional candidate Trevor Thomas (MI-3) in an email ahead of his August 7th Democratic Primary against anti-choice opponent Steve Pestka.
“Trevor’s opponent voted to de-fund Planned Parenthood and he doesn’t even believe in abortion rights in such extreme cases as rape or incest,” said U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, co-chair of the U.S. House Pro-Choice Caucus. “And with House Republicans waging a war against women’s rights, we need as many pro-choice Democrats as we can get. Trevor is the only candidate in the race that holds Democratic values we share.”
DeGette doesn’t wield a whole lot of regional clout — though she is, of course, all too happy to stress that she’s the “dean of the Colorado delegation” — but she is one of the loudest voices in the House on reproductive rights. Pro-choice public policy has always been her signature issue, and there’s no doubt DeGette is itching to take back the House in order to continue her defense of women’s rights.
So, while it may appear strange at first blush for DeGette to make an endorsement in a Congressional district 1200 miles away from her own, given the fact that Thomas’ primary opponent voted to defund Planned Parenthood and has a 100% rating from Right to Life Michigan, DeGette’s profile as one of the most vehemently pro-choice members of Congress might actually help the Thomas campaign.
Nobody in Michigan, of course, has ever heard of Diana DeGette. But her entree into the primary there brings with it additional money and outside attention.
And hey, watching someone else’s primary unfold probably cuts through the nauseating boredom DeGette no doubt endures after nine terms in Congress.
Governor Hickenlooper has asked Coloradans to donate to GivingFirst.org, a fund set up by the Community First Foundation. All proceeds go to help victim’s assistance charities that will serve Aurorans. If you can afford to donate, please give generously. If you can’t, please help solicit donations directly to GivingFirst.org. Here is how I am helping, […]
A fascinating story relayed to us last week that deserves a mention–we didn’t see any reference to this in local media, but apparently the backers of Colorado’s (and other states’) “Personhood” abortion ban measures made a splash nationally with a story in Newsweek at the end of June. Following the publication of that Newsweek article, […]
Once again, many people have been massacred with maniacal indifference, all enabled by a collection of firepower that seems completely unnecessary to the majority of Americans, be they gun owners or not. And when that same majority of Americans dare to start asking the perfectly legitimate question of “why does one person have so many […]
I wrote about the shootings in Aurora in my Free Press article scheduled to come out on Friday, so I won’t be commenting much about it here. I met with an oncologist last Thursday. We are looking at a very aggressive treatment plan that includes chemo-therapy starting on July 27, to be followed by radiation […]
It turns out that CD-7 challenger Joe Coors isn’t the only Jefferson County Republican bankrolling his own campaign. Indeed, according to finance reports filed with the Secretary of State last month, Commissioner John Odom has loaned his reelection campaign a whopping $20,000 to compensate for anemic fundraising numbers.
Odom has brought in just $710.00 from fewer than ten donors as of June 22nd. For his part, Democratic opponent Casey Tighe has raised over $9,100 in the same period. Odom has spent nearly $1,950 — made possible, of course, by his $20,000 personal campaign loan — while Tighe counts just under $3,550 in expenditures.
Odom is sitting pretty on top of about $19,000 of cash on hand, compared to just under $6,000 for Tighe. Although both candidates’ numbers pale in comparison to what was raised for the same seat in 2008 — Republican Kevin McCasky raised over $33,000 by July and Democrat Jason Bane raked in $28,700 — Odom’s in a much better place to score a second term, financially speaking, than Tighe is to win an upset victory.
Still, the fact remains that had Odom not poured thousands of dollars into his own campaign coffers, Tighe would have the financial edge. John Odom can win even if he does get outraised purely by dint of his party affiliation, but what does it say about an incumbent who can’t even raise two grand?
Early fundraising is a critical barometer of overall support. That Odom is relying entirely on his own checkbook in order to keep his current seat certainly indicates that Odom, who loaned himself over $100,000 in his 2010 State Senate bid, has pockets deep enough to buy another term as commissioner. It also shows that, even given the benefit of incumbency, he lacks the charisma or know-how necessary to fundraise, and consequentially, have a future in politics.
Which, when you think about it, explains why somebody like Don Rosier is able to have such an influence in Jefferson County.
This month’s reporting period ended on Saturday and filings are due by July 26. It’s unlikely that Tighe will match his haul from June, having picked off most of the low-hanging fruit available, but he’ll certainly have raised something. As for Odom? It’s probably too soon for him to cut another check, so the real question is whether or not he’s had any success at all in courting donors.
We feel like at this point we can offer a few words on the inevitable and premature attempts, on both sides of the aisle, to make Friday morning’s tragic shootings at an Aurora movie theater comport with pre-existing political agendas. By now you’ve no doubt heard about the unfortunately-timed Tweets by the National Rifle Association […]
((I was ready to unload my anger and passions on this site today. Nancy’s diary made me delay that…for at least a few hours.) – promoted by SSG_Dan) Update: In response to the information that Westboro Baptist Church may be coming to Denver to protest the funerals and memorials of the victims, this is the […]
( – promoted by ClubTwitty) Many here may have already seen these words from Mike Johnston via Facebook or email but for any who have not, I wanted to share. Like so many Coloradans, yesterday I found myself on a roller-coaster of emotions. As anger, sadness and grief gave way to numbness, a message from […]
UPDATE #2: Statement from Sen. Morgan Carroll, who represents Aurora including the Aurora Town Center shopping area where the shooting occurred. Aurora is my community and a place I know and love. My heart goes out to all those hurt and to the families of those who lost loved ones. This act is not representative […]
When Republican candidates aren’t failing kindergarten math in their lit, they’re failing first grade English by using implied three-letter cuss words to sling mud at, ironically, one of the most eloquent Democrats in the legislature. Observe: That’s a mailer from Brian Watson, the Republican opposing Democratic incumbent Representative Daniel Kagan, running in the brand-new HD3. […]
(Good to see you, Senator! – promoted by ProgressiveCowgirl) I joined the Citizens United Task force in the Senate because of the damage the ruling has caused. Coloradans are enduring advertisement after advertisement advocating for, and mostly against, candidates and issues. Many of these ads are funded by a only a small number of […]
On Monday, we talked about a tour by GOP freshman Rep. Scott Tipton of a major solar power plant in his district, Cogentrix, which was the recipient of a $90 million federal Department of Energy loan guarantee–a similar loan guarantee to that given to now-bankrupt Solyndra, now the subject of much scandalizing from Republicans against […]
An amusing little edit we caught between two versions of an AP story yesterday, discussing Secretary of State Scott Gessler’s top-priority effort to purge Colorado’s voter rolls of an unspecified number of (but maybe a few dozen) illegally registered voters. As published to the Pueblo Chieftain’s website yesterday evening, one version of the lede paragraph: […]
After a blistering primary loss to incumbent HD-1 Rep. Jeanne Labuda, the political future of erstwhile Democratic challenger Corrie Houck is far from certain.
Few thought Houck could win, of course: she received little outside support and was campaigning against a three term incumbent. While Jeanne Labuda certainly isn’t the most popular legislator in her caucus, the fact remains that voters in southwest Denver were given no reason not to vote for the most recognizable name on the ballot.
The benefit of being expected to lose, however, is that Houck could’ve easily parlayed her second-place finish into a 2014 campaign — when term limits will prohibit Labuda from running for re-election. Given just how unpopular the incumbent is in some circles, few would have held Houck’s 2012 challenge against her once the seat opens up. She would’ve had a primary of her own to contend with, of course, but Houck would’ve had an edge in any race two years down the line.
Houck, however, burned more bridges than she built over the course of her primary campaign. Not only did she fail to demonstrate any fundraising chops, her ad hominem attacks on the incumbent alienated Houck from several influential members of Denver’s political class. 30 area politicos, after all, sent out a letter defending Laubda and decrying her challenger’s attacks.
Although she had plenty of ammunition to hurl at the incumbent and paint her record as out of touch with the district, Houck instead attacked Labuda’s character. Mudslinging is as much a part of local politics as yard signs — although Houck couldn’t get those right, either — but you simply cannot run a campaign based on how bad the incumbent is without saying why and how you would be better.
If Corrie Houck had run a positive campaign centered on the issues, she could’ve held her head high in spite of the devastating margins by which she lost. She could’ve improved her name ID and rolodex heading into an eventual campaign for an open seat. Instead, she’s earned the reputation of the woman who “played dirty and lost.” Houck came off as an amateur, too ambitious for her own good and willing to throw anything at the wall, desperately hoping that something, anything, would stick.
Voters don’t really care about dirty politics, but the fact remains that Corrie Houck couldn’t even take down one of the House’s most unpopular Democrats by going negative. That doesn’t necessarily preclude a future run for office, but it certainly gives potential endorsers reason to be wary and future opponents an easy attack point.
Check it out! I’ve officially become an official part of Colorado Pols, officially. I have my very own Peak post accusing me of hating women, using a single isolated quote from my lengthy post defending Ann Romney and her horse. I’ve arrived! Anyone accusing Peak of originality should take time to note that they even […]
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