Friday, January 3, 2025

Polis Term Limited - Democratic Race Starts

Polis with ChainsawPolis with Chainsaw | Photo: Nick Coltrain, Denver Post

Governor Jared Polis’s chain sawing of outdated executive orders got him national attention of Trump officials. While the term limited Polis is beginning to adjust his image for his next political move, Colorado Democrats have begun the silent primary to replace him for 2026. One congressperson and two of the state’s constitutional officers, both term limited have been tested in a recent statewide poll of prominent Democrats. The results, mostly reflect name identification at this early, early point.

Attorney General Phil Weiser who had the lowest name identification has already announced his campaign, no doubt to make up being less known. He is also considered more moderate in Democratic Party circles but should have an opportunity to raise his profile and partisan edge engaging with the Trump Administration. Jena Griswold, the highly partisan Secretary of State, had the highest favorable rating among Democratic-leaning voters but also the highest unfavorable. Although Congressperson Joe Neguse is not well known, he had a high favorability rating and would be a formidable candidate. Ken Salazar, former Senator and current Ambassador to Mexico, is both well known and popular, but he considered the race in 2018 and decided against it. At 69, he would be the oldest candidate in a field when generational change is being widely discussed. Others could have been tested, such as Congresspersons Jason Crow and Brittany Pettersen.

It should be a competitive primary.

Reported by Seth Klamann, Denver Post 12-17-24, Marshall Zelinger 9 KUSA 12-16-24

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