Thursday, October 3, 2024

CU Denver Panel Reviews Our Tumultuous Election Year

CU Denver School of Public AffairsCU Denver School of Public Affairs | Photo via Instagram
On September 6th, the CU Denver School of Public Affairs hosted a panel of Colorado political experts to discuss Election 2024: Colorado and the Country at a Crossroads. More than 80 participants (in person and online) joined brief presentations from the panel and an hour of moderator and audience questions.

The panel, moderated by Pollster and Senior Fellow Floyd Ciruli, reflected on the extraordinary political year after President Biden’s weak debate performance on June 27th and his withdrawal from the race on Sunday, July 21st. The panelists, including a political reporter and representatives from both Democratic and Republican political parties, opined that Kamala Harris might not have been the strongest Democratic replacement candidate but she nevertheless had an extraordinary ascension to the nomination. Harris and Donald Trump are now in a toss-up race. 

Only one of Colorado’s three open Republican congressional seats, the 3rd congressional district on the Western Slope, is still considered worth watching. The newest Democratic seat, encompassing Adams and Weld County (8th), is considered a tossup. 

Many of the 14 statewide ballot issues could have considerable political consequences related to criminal justice (sentencing, bail, funding) school choice and wildlife management. Possibly the most significant initiative will introduce an all candidate, open primary and ranked choice voting – its ramifications representing a dramatic election change for Colorado. 

Check out the CU Denver School of Public Affairs website for more information on future panels here

Sheila MacDonald, media commentator, Democratic political consultant, manager of candidate and ballot issue campaign manager 
Dick Wadhams, media commentator, Channel 4 analyst, consultant, former Republican chair 
Marianne Goodland, chief legislative reporter, Colorado Politics, president of the Denver Press Club
Floyd Ciruli, panel moderator, Senior Fellow, CU Denver School of Public Affairs
Sheila MacDonald, Dick Wadhams, Marianne Goodland and Floyd Ciruli
READ:
Election 2024: Colorado and Country at a Crossroads 09/04/2024

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