CO-Gov

[coloradocowboi]

OK, work in CO politics so I'm gonna break this all down because so many people get this state so so wrong.

While I can certainly appreciate this sentiment, there should be left-leaning states in all regions as well, so that people who hold political ideology as an important anchor can live throughout the country, like IL in the Midwest and VA in the South.

In any case, the sharp turn of CO is not only due to demographic shifts, but also the GOP going haywire at the worst possible time.

This is partially correct (although demographics are so important, because CO is getting more Hispanic and younger). The big problem with the GOP in CO is that JeffCo and Arapahoe are full of highly educated, white centrists who are economically pretty conservative, but turned off by the GOP's turn towards anti-intellectualism since Bush. The margins have shrunken drastically since 2000 in these counties, and I think that without a pro-environment, pro-gay, pro-repro candidate the GOP cannot and will not win them (or Larimer or Broomfield). But demographics muddy the picture because the state is lurching left economically too. People are absolutely correct comparing it to WA. I don't think CO will be competitive for the GOP at the presidential level for at leas the next 20 years barring a major change.

Yeah, I have never understood why this isn't much more associated with conservatism ... the rugged outdoorsmen who is self-reliant and weary of government seems like the epitome of Western conservatism ... really a shame that hippies came to be associated with environmentalism and conservation.

This misses the point. The "hippies" came to be associated with environmentalism because the Republicans are openly hostile to basic science. Without support for drastic action on climate change, the GOP will continue to alienate CO moderates and miss out on the opportunity to win in this state. And I'm not just talking about local Republicans. If the national party is still perceived as being pro-pollution, anti-science, it will tar local Repubs. Look at the margins for State House and State Senate races in Jeffco and Broomfield. It is becoming closer and closer to impossible for any Republican to win there. The GOP has an image problem in CO that won't be fixed by running "Mountain West Repubs"--also because this state is filled with flatlanders fleeing the Midwest now.

I hope that Ken Salaszar is entering this race. I think he would win easily for the Democrats.

I absolutely hope not. He would hemorrhage votes on the Left, but luckily I doubt he runs.

Ed Perlmutter will win this race hands down

Far more likely. Ed won win 'bigly.' But I am bummed that we can't move someone young into that position because it would be a powerful stepping stone to run for President. (BUT IF YOU'RE READING THIS GOV. HICKENLOOPER PLEASE DO NOT RUN!)

Pretty excited for State Senator Mike Johnson's campaign.

He has changed all of his positions and the CEA hates him. He won't win. Nor should he. He is the epitomization of the LoDo privileged frat boy that has made Denver an expensive hellhole.

These are the best candidates for each party:

Republicans: Cynthia Coffman, John Suthers, Walker Stapleton, Ryan Frazier
Democrats: Bill Ritter, Barbara O'Brien, Joe Garcia, Ken Salazar, Mike Johnston, Michael Hancock, Cary Kennedy

This is actually a really comprehensive list of who will not be the next governor. Cynthia is corrupt. Suthers is old news. Walker is a sweaty fat mess. Ryan lost three winnable elections. Bill Ritter has already been politically murdered. Barbara wants none of this, and neither do Joe Garcia or Ken Salazar. See above for Mike Johnston. Hancock is a lightweight.

Cary has a real shot, but I would bet she is Perlmutter's AG and then takes on Gardner (and wins easily because he sucks) in 2020. Other to look at for Gov. and LG: Joe Salazar (backed Bernie, kind of hated but a really smart guy), Joe Neguse (a rising star who got shot down too early), Leroy Garcia (Pueblo native with military experience), and Crisanta Duran (corrupt af but backed by the establishment so yolo).

For the GOP, George Brauchler is a risky bet that Trumpism-lite would win on a law and order message. Wayne Williams is also a voice of reason. Their big problem is that they have no young, vibrant people that aren't either total jerks (Owen Hill), tied to Trump (Clarice Navarro), or already big losers (Jon Keyser).

I'm saying it will be Perlmutter-Kennedy vs. Brauchler-Navarro 57-41.

[coloradocowboi]

Polis is an embarrassing rich guy who has under-performed every race he's run in. Pass.

Yeah this article is a puff-piece, and coming from a conservative paper it makes me think that the Gazette owners are trying to push a competitive primary to try and hobble the one Democrat they can't beat fair and square--Perlmutter.

They talk about Jared over performing in a "competitive district," which is simply not true. CO-2 is a D+9 district with two college towns as its main population hubs.

Polis is the worst of neoliberal Democrats, voting for offshore tax havens that he himself probably benefits from. Polis is the worst of pro-Israel Democrats, voting to ban Syrian refugees. He votes like he represents Highlands Ranch when he represents Boulder. And now, I'm sure, he's going to try and brand himself as the progressive alternative to Perlmutter. I hope voters see through his BS just like they'll see through Johnston's.

Finally, if Polis wins somehow, this race moves from Likely D to Tossup (or even Lean R) immediately. He's a PR consultant (which incidentally is what I do in CO) nightmare. He is gay, but dresses and looks like a bachelor HS math teacher. He is a leftwing bomb thrower, but actually very neoliberal in his positions. He is a millionaire who mostly inherited his wealth. He represents one of the most educated counties in the nation, and has trouble articulating even basic ideas. If any of you live in Colorado, I beseech you do not nominate this guy.