This time two years ago, Colorado voters “raised the bar” in a bid to shrink the state’s ballot and keep potentially devastating policies out of the state constitution. Two years later? In the first test of the new requirements, the statewide ballot looks as packed as ever. And Colorado political leaders say the stakes are […]
Colorado politics
Posted inCrime and Courts, News, Politics and Government
The anti-gun violence Giffords PAC is pouring $1.5 million-plus to unseat Republican Mike Coffman — more than the group has spent in any race thus far
Deep-pocketed Giffords, a political action committee named for the former Arizona congresswoman who survived a 2011 assassination attempt, is a growing force in the 6th Congressional District battle between Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and Democrat Jason Crow. Giffords, a gun-violence prevention group seeking tighter firearm controls, has already spent $1.5 million on television ads […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Walker Stapleton to start TV ads in October and Jason Crow focuses on military record in new campaign spot
Republican candidate for governor Walker Stapleton will hit the TV airwaves next week with more than $400,000 in campaign commercials just as the election enters a crucial period. The campaign ads will begin Oct. 4, a day before the first major gubernatorial debate — hosted by CBS4, Colorado Public Television, KOA NewsRadio and The Colorado […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Donald Trump Jr. attends Denver fundraiser, but not for Colorado candidates
Donald Trump Jr. attended a fundraiser this week in Denver — but not for any Republican candidates in the state. The president’s son came to Colorado to help launch a new nonprofit called Our Values that is committed to registering military veterans to vote. The organization is led by Mark Geist, who is better known […]
Posted in2018 Voter Guide, News, Politics and Government
In his toughest political battle yet, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman is trying to navigate his way to another re-election against growing headwinds
AURORA — On a Sunday morning in late July, U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman stood at the front of a packed Ethiopian Orthodox church in Aurora, wearing an honorary scarf draped over his shoulders, to tout the work he’s done on behalf of the African immigrant community. As the five-term Republican spoke about progress with Ethiopia’s […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, News, Politics and Government
George Soros, Tom Steyer enter Colorado governor’s race to help Democrat Jared Polis
Democrat Jared Polis put another $200,000 into his campaign in the past two weeks, a relatively low sum for the self-funded gubernatorial candidate and multimillionaire. But his campaign is getting a boost from liberal mega-donors George Soros and Tom Steyer. Polis is still setting records with nearly $19 million raised for his gubernatorial contest versus Republican […]
Posted inBusiness, News, Politics and Government
Walker Stapleton’s PERA crusade: His warnings came true, but he missed the big moment for reform
Heading into his eighth and final year as Colorado’s state treasurer, Walker Stapleton could finally say, “I told you so.” The term-limited Republican had spent his entire tenure on a lonely crusade for public pension reform, warning that a “long-term fix” passed in 2010 hadn’t really fixed anything at all. So when the Public Employees’ […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
$1 million a week is being spent on TV ads in Coffman-Crow race, analysis shows
The 6th Congressional District race between U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman and challenger Jason Crow reached toward another milestone: $1 million in television commercials in a single week. The big money — mostly from party committees and outside organizations — represents nearly half of all TV ad spending in Colorado this election cycle, according to The […]
Posted inNews, Politics and Government
Hickenlooper forms leadership PAC — a step closer to possible 2020 presidential bid
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper took a significant step Monday toward a potential presidential run in 2020 by forming a political committee that will allow him to boost his national profile. The term-limited Democrat created a federal leadership PAC called Giddy Up that can collect as much as $5,000 a year from donors — money that […]
Posted inOpinion, Opinion Columns
Nicolais: Re-jiggering redistricting in Colorado
As elections roll around again, political junkies across the state will again bemoan gerrymandered districts. Districts that run miles along a highway, weave through districts, or look like a salamander when drawn out, elicit the most ire from political activists. My personal favorite in Colorado is state Senate District 16 which incorporates southwest Denver County, slips […]