Warning: Donald Trump is 43 Percent in Colorado

The 2020 warning light is flashing for Colorado Republicans. Donald Trump, who will be running non-stop the next two years for re-election, has a ceiling in Colorado of 43 percent. He received 43 percent against Hillary Clinton, a candidate he regularly disparages as a totally inadequate campaigner. Walker Stapleton ended up with 43 percent in his statewide gubernatorial race. He lost by a remarkable 10 points, which may have ballooned at the end due to President Trump’s “embrace” in a Monday before Election Day tweet.

Trump embrace: “…His opponent, Jared Polis, is weak on crime and weak on borders – could never do the job. Get out and VOTE – Walker has my Complete and Total Endorsement!”

Trump was a disaster for Colorado Republicans, not only giving Democrats control of all the state’s constitutional offices, but also both houses of the legislature, the first time it’s been accomplished in Colorado since Franklin D. Roosevelt crushed Alf Landon in the 1936 landslide. The 2018 losses even exceeded the Watergate backlash that brought Dick Lamm, Gary Hart, Tim Wirth and Democrats in the Colorado House into power. But, as opposed to this year, the Republican Secretary of State and Republican controlled State Senate survived.

The Trump down draft also swept out numerous local county Republican elected officials (commissioners, sheriffs, clerks, assessors) in counties, such as Adams, Arapahoe, Jefferson and Larimer.

The most vulnerable Republication now is Senator Cory Gardner, who won by 2 points in 2014, a good Republican year. Expect a fierce contest setting records beyond the massive amounts spent this year. The Republican challenge is how to hold the senate seat and conduct local elections with Donald Trump anxious to embrace.