Thread by @Marshall9News

I'm at the Colorado Republican Rumble this after at Grizzly Rose where *most* candidates for statewide and CD8 will debate. I'm dealing with some phone difficulties, but will do my best to give a play-by-play. #copolitics

The first race is Secretary of State. Tina Peters vs. Mike O'Donnell. (Pam Anderson RSVP'd to be here, but is attending her daughter's college graduation at out state).

Moderators for this one are George Brauchler and Kelly Maher. #copolitics

Question to Tina Peters and Mike O'Donnell. Name one thing current Secretary of State Jena Griswold has done well.

Neither say anything positive.

#copolitics

Leading up to a question about viability, Brauchler says to Peters, tongue in cheek, "I'd really like to ask if you're guilty, but I won't."

Peters answers anyway, "I'm not guilty."

She faces felony charges for tampering with Mesa County's election equipment. #copolitics

Brauchler's ultimate question is how will Peters appeal to voters who look at her legal issues with concern.

Peters: "I'd like to point out that the source of all of this is (SoS) Jena Griswold."

#copolitics

Strong follow up by Brauchler. "How did Jena Griswold influence the Republican DA and Mesa County Grand Jury?"

Peters: Blames U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland.

#copolitics

Kelly Maher question: Who won the 2020 Presidential Election?

Peters: "Donald Trump."

O'Donnell: "Well, the sitting president, according to whoever they are."

#copolitics

Brauchler, as moderator, takes a jab at SoS Jena Griswold by asking both Peters and O'Donnell if either will let Planned Parenthood edit a news release.

He's referring to my reporting from 2019: 9news.com/article/news/h…

Follow up here: 9news.com/article/news/g…

#copolitics

Q: Will you allow mail-in ballots?

Peters: No, except for military and overseas voters and those who are disabled.

O'Donnell: It's a legislative question, he'll stick with it unless it's changed, though wouldn't necessarily advocate to change it. #copolitics

Both Peters & O'Donnell would push to get rid of automatic voter registration.

Colorado has a motor voter law, where you're automatically registered when you get/renew your driver's license.

You're registered as unaffiliated, unless you actively make a party choice. #copolitics

That's it for the GOP Secretary of State debate between Tina Peters and Mike O'Donnnell. Again, Pam Anderson was at her daughter's out-of-state college graduation. #copolitics

There are more than “dozens of us” in the crowd. Here are pictures from around the Grizzly Rose Colorado Republican Rumble. #copolitics

GOP debate for CD8.

Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann, former Army Forces Green Beret Tyler Allcorn and State Senator Barb Kirkmeyer.

*Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine did not RSVP. She tried to walk up to stage, but MC Steve Reams (Weld Co. Sheriff) stopped that.

#copolitics

Would CD8 candidate sponsor Constitutional Amendment for term limits?

Kirkmeyer: Term limits makes the candidate a lame duck, (i.e. preventing leadership opportunities in Congress).

Kulmann: Would support.

Allcorn: Supports and says would only serve three terms. #copolitics

Brauchler points out Allcorn does not live in CD8. (You don't need to live in the Congressional District to run)

Allcorn will move if he wins, not if he doesn't.

#copolitics

GOP on GOP attacks now.

Jan Kulmann asks Barb Kirkmeyer how she will succeed when she has only won in Republican-safe seats.

Kirkmeyer says that is not true and cites her 1992 Weld County Commissioner race.

#copolitics

Former Weld County Commish Kirkmeyer asks Thornton Mayor Kulmann about Thornton's debt and bond rating, in comparison to Weld County's.

Kulmann says her oil and gas industry workers are to thank for Weld County's zero debt and takes credit for Weld County success. #copolitics

Q: Would you have voted to censure Liz Cheney?

Allcorn, Kirkmeyer & Kulmann all say no, that they don't agree with censorship and support First Amendment rights.

Censure is not the same as Censor. Censure is about criticism/disapproval.

But they all said they no. #copolitics

Brauchler again asks who won the 2020 Presidential Election?

Kulmann: "Unfortunately, Joe Biden won."
Allcorn: "Whether you like it or not, Joe Biden is currently sitting in the Oval Office...because he was elected."
Kirkmeyer: "Joe Biden won the election."

#copolitics

Moderator Cinamon Watson asks: Name a living, breathing Dem you admire:

Kirkmeyer: State Sen. Rachel Zenzinger (Arvada)
Allcorn: No one
Kulmann: Northglenn Mayor Meredith Leighty (mayor is a non-partisan position)

#copolitics

Here we go with Gov debate.

Heidi Ganahl vs. Greg Lopez.

#copolitics

First Q from Kelly Maher, what abortion restrictions do you want in place/how would you do that?

Ganahl: Wants to roll back new state law. Will look at legislation put on her desk.
Lopez: Would repeal the law (he can't without legislature passing a bill or voters) #copolitics

Ganahl says she is pro-life with exceptions for rape, incest and health of mother.

Lopez is pro-life, no exceptions.

#copolitics

Moderator Ernest Luning asks Ganahl about getting to 0% income tax as Gov. How? Especially with at least one legislative chamber Democrat.

After a few follow ups, Ganahl says we need to reduce regulation, red tape and stop adding programs.

Doesn't quite answer. #copolitics

Lopez gets to respond and says he didn't hear an answer from Ganahl on how she would get to 0% income tax with a Dem or split legislature. #copolitics

Question to Lopez about his pitch to get rid of one-person, one-vote.

Lopez: It's not a proposal, just a conversation with the people of Silverton.

He still didn't provide details, other than saying metro area counties decide for the state.

9news.com/article/news/l…

#copolitics

When asked what they want in a Lieutenant Governor running mate, Greg Lopez said he wants someone who believes in his values and believes in his Lord and Savior.

Apparently, that means people are automatically excluded based on their religious beliefs.

#copolitics

Time to ask each other questions. Lopez has Ganahl pick one of three envelopes where he has a question written. She picks "3."

Q: You were on my short list for Lt. Gov in 2018, are you still hoping to be on my short list?

#copolitics

Greg Lopez: "Don't you dare ever trust anyone in government, and that includes me." #copolitics

Q: What would you tell a voter one-on-one about you.

Ganahl gives her biography of starting Camp Bow Wow, going through brain surgery and ends with "I want to raise my hand and be the change I want to see in politics and leadership." #copolitics

Q from Kelly Maher: How would you, GOP Gov, work with a Democratic legislature?

Lopez: Sit down with legislature, tell them I think they're going down the wrong path. Will go to their communities and share with them what is actually happening underneath the dome. #copolitics

Q from Kelly Maher: How would you, GOP Gov, work with a Democratic legislature?

Ganahl: Starts with bio again, then says it's important to get to know people and bring people together.

Still lacking specifics.

#copolitics

Q from Ernest Luning: Is climate change real? And is it changing because of human behavior?

Ganahl: "The climate's changing all the time, but we don't have to sacrifice our livelihood."

Lopez: "It is real... but is it really people that are doing this?"

#copolitics

Q: Should Gov candidates release their tax returns? Will you?

Ganahl: If Jared Polis does, I will. We'll meet at Waffle House (that's the @KyleClark challenge).

Lopez: "If they feel they want to, go ahead." Will he? "I don't have a problem releasing my tax returns." #copolitics

Q: What are two state offices you would abolish?

Ganahl: Public Health and Transportation.

Lopez: All the offices Jared Polis started as governor.

#copolitics

That's it Gov.

Ahead of the GOP Senate debate, they changed the banner because Greeley was spelled Greeey.

Should I tell them, the new banner is still wrong?

#copolitics

Final debate. GOP Senate race.

State Rep. Ron Hanks vs Joe O'Dea.

#copolitics

Ron Hanks introduces himself and starts by saying Donald Trump won the 2020 election. #copolitics

Joe O'Dea says that Hanks is a one-issue candidate who just wants to blow up voting machines. #copolitics

First Q about abortion.

O'Dea: No "late term" abortion. No state funding. Believes decision should be up to a woman/doctor "early on in pregnancy in cases of rape, incest or medical reasons."

Hanks: Roe v. Wade ought to be overturned. No abortions, no exceptions.

#copolitics

Q: Why do you think that no Republican has won a statewide office lately.

Hanks: "Republican Party has lost its way and is not firm enough in its convictions."

#copolitics

Q from Brauchler to O'Dea: Republicans have not sent a GOP Senator to DC with no government experience in almost 70 years. Why are you starting at the penthouse?

A: O'Dea - It's broken. It's not working. It's time for business people to be out there.

#copolitics

Q from Hanks to O'Dea: Long-winded, but it's about his position on abortion and Catholism.

O'Dea: "My Catholic faith is my Catholic faith. And I choose to be Catholic, the way I'm going to be Catholic. I'm personally pro-life, but I also know we need balance." #copolitics

Q from O'Dea to Hanks about missing committee votes at #coleg: "If you worked for me, I'd fire your ass."

Hanks says he missed 7 days.
2-car broken into, medical, constituent/travel
1-"gut ache or whatever."

Says many of the votes were decided before cmte hearing. #copolitics

Q to both: Would you vote to legalize recreational marijuana?

O'Dea: Not federally.
Hanks: States rights issue.

Q: Would you repeal federal ban?
Hanks: No, more important issues.
O'Dea: No, but need to work on banks issue.

#copolitics

Q to both: Would they have voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to Supreme Court?

Both say no.

#copolitics

Q: Name something you admire that Sen. Michael Bennet has done.

Hanks: Nothing.

Q: O'Dea asked about previously contributing to Bennet.

O'Dea: I will beat him like a drum.

#copolitics

Q: Would you vote for Mitch McConnell as party leader?

O'Dea: Would need to see who is running.
Hanks: No.

#copolitics

In closing, Hanks says:

"I fought election integrity because it was important."

Perhaps a freudian slip?

#copolitics

That'll do it for me from the Colorado Republican Rumble.

I'll try to put some of this on TV at 5:30 and 9p. Wish me luck.

#copolitics

Here are the preference results from the attendees of the Colorado Republican Rumble.

SOS
✅️ Peters

CD8
✅️ Kirkmeyer

Gov
✅️ Ganahl

Senate
✅️ Hanks

*Saine didnt RSVP to debate and still came in second.
**Anderson was at daughter's out-of-state graduation.

#copolitics