(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%
Mayor Thomas Menino with a bottle of Boston piss-water. Seriously? The Boston Globe reports: [Boston Mayor Tom] Menino told reporters Thursday morning that he and Denver Mayor Michael Hancock are going to work out a wager later in the day over Saturday night’s game at Gillette Stadium “He wants me to do the Tebow expression. […]
( – promoted by Colorado Pols) If you’ve ever tried to “fact check” a political ad, you know it’s a lot harder than it looks. What do the ads’ sparse words mean? What do the candidate’s vague positions include? At what point is an ad untrue, or three quarters of the way to the right […]
Republican Presidential candidate Mitt Romney had a strange interview on NBC yesterday in which he went out of his way to say that people who complain about the so-called one-percenters are just doing it out of envy. As The Washington Post explains: Romney was twice given a chance to nod in the direction of saying […]
FOX 31’s Eli Stokols reports: Among dozens of bills introduced on the opening day of the 2012 legislature Wednesday are proposals to recognize same-sex civil unions and give a reduced tuition rate to undocumented students. As FOX 31 Denver was first to report, the civil unions legislation, now known as Senate Bill 2, will start […]
Senator Evie Hudak today introduced the Senate’s first bill in this year’s legislative session.
From the Colorado Senate Majority:
DENVER-Today, Senator Evie Hudak (D-Westminter) introduced Senate Bill 1, the “HIRE Colrorado Act” during the opening day of the Colorado General Assembly’s 2012 legislative session. The HIRE Colorado Act is designed to create jobs for Coloradans by giving preference to companies seeking state contracts when those companies agree to employ mostly Colorado workers. This bill is a key component in the Senate Majority’s “Colorado Works” Jobs package, a series of bills that will be introduced throughout the session that are focused on continued job creation and economic growth.
Senator Hudak offered the following comment on the HIRE Colorado Act today:
“It’s imperative that our first priority be to ensure that our taxpayers’ dollars are staying in Colorado, that our resources are benefiting our citizens, and that we are putting Coloradans back to work first. I’m proud to be carrying this legislation on behalf of my constituents, and people all across the state.”
This is the kind of bill that’s going to look great on mail pieces for Hudak: it focuses on Colorado’s economy, and more specifically, the creation of Colorado jobs. This is exactly the kind of ammunition that Hudak is going to need in her re-election campaign against whichever Republican jumps into her race.
The fact that Hudak was given prime sponsorship of such a prime bill is also testimony to the fact that the Westminster Senator is going to have a tough fight this year. Advisors within the Senate Majority and the Democratic Senate Campaign Fund are clearly positioning Hudak to take advantage of this year’s legislative session. Indeed, Democrats are probably aware of how challenging Hudak’s re-election bid will be and are bolstering her portfolio to help maintain their majority come next legislative session.
McClatchy: Mitt Romney heads out of New Hampshire on Wednesday on a probable march to the Republican presidential nomination – but with scars and weaknesses that could lead him to limp weakly into a general election against President Barack Obama. On the plus side, his back-to-back wins in Iowa and New Hampshire were unprecedented; anti-Romney […]
Noted by the Colorado Statesman’s Peter Marcus in a list of Republican legislative priorities: Reinstating the 6 percent government spending limit that Democrats eliminated in 2009. Reps. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield, and Brian DelGrosso, R-Loveland, are sponsoring that piece of controversial legislation. McNulty views the proposal as a way to tighten controls on amounts that exceed […]
Mere weeks after filing to challenge a formidable Democratic incumbent in SD 19, State Representative Robert Ramirez [R-eversing] has executed a U-turn right back into his own race, attempting to defend his seat in HD 29. According to multiple sources, Ramirez made this announcement himself at a recent town hall meeting. Democratic challenger Tracy Kraft-Tharp […]
As the Pueblo Chieftain’s Patrick Malone reports on the slate of Democratic legislative economic development plans announced in recent days, from bringing products of university research to market to support for the state’s small business development centers: [House Minority Leader Mark] Ferrandino said his party’s proposals would cost an estimated $3 million to $5 million. […]
(The land of the free, comrade – promoted by Colorado Pols) If three is a trend in politics, then we’ve got a trend going of GOP politicos pointing to communist China as a modern success story of capitalism that America should emulate. First came Rep. Mike Coffman who wrote in May that China has “enjoyed […]
Although incumbent Representatives Andy Kerr, Max Tyler, and Ken Summers will all reside within the new HD-23, only Tyler announced a campaign to return to the House. Today, candy consigliere Rick Enstrom revealed his plans to take on Tyler. From KDVR: On Monday, local businessman Rick Enstrom (R-Lakewood) announced his candidacy for Colorado’s state House […]
Although incumbent Representatives Andy Kerr, Max Tyler, and Ken Summers will all reside within the new HD-23, only Tyler announced a campaign to return to the House.
Today, candy consigliere Rick Enstrom revealed his plans to take on Tyler. From KDVR:
On Monday, local businessman Rick Enstrom (R-Lakewood) announced his candidacy for Colorado’s state House of Representatives, District 23.
“We’ve seen what happens when there is no check on the radical tax-and-spend agenda pushed by Democratic legislators. People lose their jobs and working families suffer,” said Rick Enstrom, candymaker and newly announced candidate for HD 23. “We must strike a new direction that clears the way for employers to create jobs. We must pursue legislative priorities that fund our schools and foster economic security for families fighting so hard to make ends meet.”
Enstrom is an executive with Enstrom Candies and has previously served as a volunteer member of Colorado’s Wildlife Commission and Great Outdoors Colorado as well as an EMT and member of the Highland Rescue Team. He also served one term on the Mesa County Commission from 1978-1982.
“Rick is the right guy to serve in the state legislature,” said Shelly Liley, district resident and mother of three children who grew up in Lakewood. “He’s always the first to offer his help and to lend a hand in the neighborhood, whether it’s shoveling snow or grilling the burgers at our bbq’s, Rick’s there doing the work with us.”
Enstrom is challenging Democratic incumbent Max Tyler (D-Lakewood).
Enstrom will likely enjoy a better-than-average name ID resulting from the boxes of toffee bearing his name. Still, there’s just no way to sugar coat the numbers: Democrats retain a 4% registration advantage and former State Treasurer Cary Kennedy won the district with 54% of the vote in 2010.
In short, no matter how much voters like his company’s gourmet chocolate, Enstrom’s not going to win the numbers game.
That said, Tyler’s never had a real opponent before, and the reapportionment process has given him plenty of new doors to knock – only about 25% of the old HD-23 is included within the district’s 2012 lines. For all intents and purposes, then, Enstrom and Tyler will be facing off for what is a left-leaning and functionally open seat.
No word on which candidate will earn the coveted endorsement of Willy Wonka.
Reports the AP: One of the most conservative Republicans in the state Senate is taking on a two-term Democrat in a congressional district that includes the liberal stronghold of Boulder. Sen. Kevin Lundberg of Berthoud said Monday that he will challenge Democratic Rep. Jared Polis in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District… Lundberg is not up for […]
Reports from news agencies are surfacing with some bad news for Mitt Romney; he might not have won the Iowa caucuses. From the Des Moines Register: Mitt Romney received 20 fewer votes than were reported in a Moulton precinct by the Republican Party of Iowa, the Appanoose County GOP chairman said Friday. The issue came […]
As part of today’s “Orange Friday” proclamation – fresh on the heels of yesterday’s “Dress Western Day” – Denver Mayor Michael Hancock proves that he’s just about as confident in the Broncos as he can get:
DENVER – Mayor Michael B. Hancock today proclaimed Friday, Jan. 6 “Orange Friday” in the City and County of Denver in support of the Denver Broncos and their return to the NFL playoffs.
“It’s great to see the Broncos back in the postseason,” said Mayor Hancock, a stalwart Broncos fan. “It’s now up to fans – the Broncos’ 12th Man – to come together, show support for our team and give them the energy to make it all the way.”
The Mayor also reached out to Pittsburgh Mayor Luke Ravenstahl today to make a friendly wager over the home playoff game this Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The two mayors agreed:
Denver Broncos Win: Mayor Ravenstahl will wear a Broncos jersey and “Tebow” in front of an iconic Pittsburgh location.
Pittsburgh Steelers Win: Mayor Hancock will wear a Steelers jersey and sport a Terrible Towel during one of his public events. [Pols Emphasis]“I’m sure Pittsburgh fans will appreciate Mayor Hancock decked out in Steelers gear,” said Mayor Ravenstahl. “I encourage him to keep the jersey so he has something to wear while watching us in the divisional playoff game.”
“Denver is excited to host the Steelers for this playoff game and confident in our Broncos,” Mayor Michael B. Hancock said. “We’re looking forward to seeing that photo of Mayor Ravenstahl “Tebowing”… say at Heinz Field?”
Broncos fans throughout the Denver area and state are encouraged to wear orange on Friday in advance of the team’s Sunday game. This will be the first postseason for the Broncos since last appearing in the playoffs in 2005.
“Celebrating Orange” is a Denver tradition that dates back to 1973 when then-Mayor Bill McNichols recognized Orange Monday, honoring the Denver Broncos.
Go Broncos!
The Steelers are the definite favorite to win Sunday’s wild-card match at Sports Authority Field, but we’re pretty sure most everyone in Colorado would be thrilled to see Luke Ravenstahl “Tebow.”
And even if Hancock is forced to don a Terrible Towel during some press conference, this quirky bet with Pittsburgh’s Mayor is in line with Hancock’s efforts to raise his national profile. Considering that Tim Tebow is Denver’s most notable resident of late, even if the Broncos lose, Hancock wins – Denver’s mayor will get a couple mentions on ESPN no matter how Sunday’s game plays out.
Here’s hoping for a win, though.
Pundits and advocates alike are abuzz over Judge Sheila Rappaport’s ruling in Lobato v. Colorado. Judge Rappaport, a Republican appointee (Governor Bill Owens), ruled that the state has failed in its constitutional duty to provide a “thorough and uniform” system of public education across Colorado. Any exasperation, perspiration or celebration over the Lobato ruling is […]
One of the legislative battles we expect to heat up after the session begin next week is over the role and promulgation of so-called “innovation status” public schools. Under the 2008 Innovation Schools Act, districts and individual schools can submit an “innovation plan” allowing significant structural changes in the way the school operates, including waivers […]
(The dance begins – promoted by Colorado Pols) Now that Colorado’s review board for ballot initiatives has approved the wording of the proposed personhood amendment, and the race is on to find enough signatures to put it on the November ballot, you wonder if more reporters will get around to asking the measure’s former supporters, like […]
Drew “Bo” Brownstein, son of power broker attorney and lobbyist Norman Brownstein (Ted Kennedy once called Norman Brownstein the 101st Senator) was supposed to be sentenced this week in a New York federal court for securities fraud. Bo Brownstein illegally used inside information to net a $ 2.4 million profit on the information. Bo Brownstein […]
( – promoted by Colorado Pols) http://www.huffingtonpost.com/… This was on the Huffington Post today and caught my attention because of the plaintiffs – Western Tradition Partnership, once tied to our oh-so-squeaky clean Secretary of State, Scott Gessler. (he was once the registered agent and/or lead attorney for WTP) Congrats to the Montana Supremes; it would […]
( – promoted by ProgressiveCowgirl) …the military blogosphere is posting like mad over CPL Jesse Thorsen’s endorsement of Rep Paul, in full uniform. The not-cool part of this is the fact that he participated in a partisan political activity in uniform: Army soldier rallying for Paul violated military ban on political activity Ron Paul spent […]
(Mutual exclusivity, baby! – promoted by Colorado Pols) Rep. Mike Coffman is in The Denver Post today telling us again that he led the charge for the Balanced Budget Amendment, which would have, in Coffman’s words, held “Congress’ feet to the fire with a Constitutional amendment requiring that they, like every family and nearly every state in […]
It is a temptation to write about the results of the Iowa Caucus, since that is what all the talking heads are doing this morning. But I won’t. Just as Representative Ray Scott wrote an opinion piece in Friday’s Grand Junction Sentinel, Senator Steve King wrote one. Full disclosure: Senator King blew me out of […]
Andrew Belonsky writes for Towleroad: Republican leaders in Colorado have formed a group called Coloradans for Freedom to fight for civil unions there. “The point is not to create conflict within the Republican Party,” one of the organizers, local attorney Mario Nicolais, told the Denver Post. “It is to provide resources to people interested in […]
We like to spread out our end-of-year retrospectives so that 2012 gets a little reflection time. It is with that in mind that we present the awards for Colorado’s Top Politico (and Worst Politico for 2011, as well a look at who had a good and bad year in the last full year of human […]
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