State Constitutional Offices Have Been a Republican Redoubt

Within a shifting political environment, the Colorado Republican Party has held all three state constitutional offices since 2010 while losing the governorship.

They had a positive national political environment in 2010 and 2014, recruited some good candidates and ran credible campaigns. They have also been able to depend on a slice of the Colorado electorate that splits its ticket.

The 2018 Republican ticket has some strength with Secretary of State incumbent Wayne Williams and well-known DA George Brauchler, the attorney general candidate. Brian Watson, a businessman, running for Treasurer is less well-known.

In 2010 and 2014, they were benefited by the anti-President Obama wave elections. In 2010, John Boehner would remove Nancy Pelosi as Speaker of the House, and in 2014, Republicans gained control of the Senate with Mitch McConnell replacing Harry Reid. This will be a more difficult year for statewide Republicans. Not only has the state been shifting to the left over the last decade, but national politics has produced an energized Democratic base and a daily (mostly presidential) controversy from D.C., adding to the normal corrective referendum that hurts the presidential party.