Latest news with #ColoradoDemocraticParty
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
National Democrats turn to U.S. Rep. Greg Casar of Austin to rally working class voters
U.S. Rep. Greg Casar is a politician in demand. On Tuesday, the 35-year-old Austin Democrat flew to California for fundraisers and a meeting about the party's strategy for the upcoming midterm elections. Then he was off to Colorado for a rally Thursday evening in a congressional district that Republicans narrowly won in the last election, after an appearance in Arizona last month with progressive stars U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, during their "Fighting Oligarchy Tour." "We've had to increase the size of the venue," said Shad Murib, chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. "The congressman has a fan base here for sure." Less than three years after he was elected to represent Texas' 35th Congressional District, which stretches from Austin to San Antonio along Interstate 35, Casar has gone from a virtual unknown in the national political scene to chairman of the House Progressive Caucus and has become a sought-after messenger in Democrats' efforts to bring working-class voters back to the party. Casar has been visiting GOP districts in Texas and around the countryin response to House Speaker Mike Johnson's direction to Republican members to stop holding town halls, to avoid potential confrontations with protesters. He has also appeared on Fox News and other conservative platforms, criticizing moves by President Donald Trump to reduce services for low-income Americans. "Right now, the fight isn't right versus left. It's Trump, Elon Musk and the billionaire class versus everyone else," Casar said in an interview this week. "That means going places where people don't think of progressives going." Since Trump appointed Musk to head his Department of Government Efficiency, Casar has rallied Democrats around calls to "fire Elon Musk" before the end of May — amid polls showing Americans at large are worried about Musk's methods. In the process, Casar is starting to build a national brand alongside a team of young progressives in Washington, including Ocasio-Cortez, who is being discussed as a likely presidential candidate in 2028. "Depending on who you ask he's either doing stunts or drawing attention to important issues, but either way he's getting attention," Brandon Rottinghaus, a University of Houston politics professor, said of Casar. "The Democrats are searching for an identity, and Casar is pushing a new progressive vision for the party." In Colorado, Democratic leaders are hoping Casar can help swing back working-class voters in a heavily Latino district with large numbers of Trump voters. Murib, the state's party chair, said they had learned their lessons from losses sustained in last year's election and settled on a strategy centered on economic issues, something Casar has been urging Democrats to focus on. "He has a way of talking to folks that's in line with our message," Murib said. "'Let's get rid of the purity tests and work on bringing back working-class voters." Casar is one of a number of Democrats, many with bigger name recognition, working to rally resistance against Trump. U.S. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey warned during a 25-hour-long speech on the Senate floor that the "country is in crisis." U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a lawyer from Dallas, appeared on "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" this week to challenge Trump to an IQ test after he called her "a very low IQ person." Earlier this year, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries urged members to keep the pressure up on Trump in Washington and in their home districts and "to connect directly with our constituents and discuss the challenges we are decisively addressing on their behalf." And Casar, with his impassioned speeches punctuated by fist pumps and Spanish mantras, has clearly found a moment.A former labor organizer with the Workers Defense Project in Austin, he has long had a reputation of being a rising star within Texas' Democratic Party. Casar caught the attention of political observers shortly after being elected to Congress when he stood on the steps of the Capitol on a hot summer's day for almost nine hours without water, to bring attention to his calls for a federal rule protecting workers from extreme heat. Before heading to Washington, Casar beat a slate of better-known liberal candidates for a seat on the Austin City Council in 2014, running a shoestring campaign out of his apartment that included handwritten notes to constituents with his cellphone number included, said John Lawler, Casar's former campaign manager. "He's gotten here because he works harder than anyone else. He puts the holes in his boots; he stays up writing letters," Lawler said. "And he has an exceptional mind for figuring out the widget that needs to be turned." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Democrats turn to U.S. Rep. Greg Casar to rally working class voters
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Low voter turnout for city council election
(COLORADO SPRINGS) — Voter turnout for this election is lower than in past elections. So far, only 24% of eligible voters across all six districts have turned in their ballots. On the map below, there are all six districts and each one's voter turnout. District One had the highest voter turnout at 25.4 percent, while District Four only saw 9.7 percent. 2025 Colorado Springs General Municipal Election | FOX21 News Colorado 'Local elections have more of an impact on our pocketbook and everyday lives than almost any other election,' said Shad Murib, the Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. Historically, Colorado Springs has had around a 40% voter turnout for municipal elections. 'I think some people don't feel like their votes matter. I also feel like sometimes people don't think their vote will make a difference or change anything,' said Amber Vongsouvnah, a voter FOX21 found at the ballot drop box. One of the reasons for Tuesday's small turnout could be that it can be hard for local leaders to get the necessary attention they need while campaigning. 'First of all, they don't know the candidates, that's a big problem. Secondly, a lot of people are just a little bit lazy, and a lot of them don't understand what's at stake. So I can understand why a lot of people don't vote,' said Roy Stringfellow, another person FOX1 spoke to at the ballot box. On Tuesday, FOX21 also asked people at the ballot box if they recognized any of the candidates participating in the election, and most people said they did not. included in the mix of the photos were also a few familiar faces from FOX21 to see if voters would notice. Stringfellow was one of the people who did not recognize any of the people in the pictures. Meanwhile, Vpnsouvanah said she did recognize FOX21's Abbie Burke, and only one City Council member for district four, Kimberly Gold. 'Local leadership that they can count on is something that we need to make sure that we're driving more attention to because it can have a deeper impact on the quality of life for many Coloradans,' said Murib. It's no secret that Colorado Springs is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S., and many people in the area do not like the growing pains it is facing, such as highrise buildings, annexations, and other large projects. Local leaders are the people who control many of these projects and decide how the city will go about each one. 'I think that Colorado Springs, being one of the fastest growing cities in the country and one of the best places to live in Colorado, let alone the United States, has an incredible future ahead of itself,' said Murib. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brita Horn elected Colorado GOP Chair on ‘unify the party' platform amid year of infighting
DENVER (KDVR) — The Colorado Republican Party has a new chairperson after the party elected former county treasurer and volunteer fire chief Brita Horn to the role, following a year of infighting related to the previous party chair. Horn, who served as Routt County treasurer from 2012 to 2018 and is currently the chief of the Rock Creek Volunteer Fire Department, thanked her team and supporters for their 'dedication, hard work, and belief in our vision' in a Facebook post Sunday morning. Her election comes as then-Colorado GOP chair Dave Williams faced numerous calls for his removal last year after sending an email from the state party stating that 'God hates flags,' and then posting to X that Americans should 'Burn all the #pride flags this June.' On her website, Horn said the state GOP 'needs a rescue plan, and it needs it now.' 'The Colorado GOP is in trouble,' she said. 'Our state party is out of funds and lacks a clear strategy to win elections. But I'm not one to run from challenges. As a long-time political activist AND a fire chief, I've faced countless emergencies head-on, saving lives, protecting our community, all while defending our rights from an overreaching Democrat-controlled government.' Trump says he's considering ways to serve a third term The Colorado Democratic Party on Saturday responded to the election, saying it still 'promises to exacerbate the issues facing their Party following years of lawsuits, frustration, and national embarrassment.' Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib called Horn the 'perfect fit' for the current state of U.S. politics under President Donald Trump. 'Donald Trump demands that the Chair of the Colorado GOP bends the knee and puts Coloradans last in service of his agenda to jack up costs, make a joke of our veterans, gut Medicaid, and force you to pay for tax cuts for billionaires. It's no surprise that the Colorado GOP elected Brita Horn — best known for using her government job to extract political favors and cost Routt County millions of dollars through her failed job as treasurer — to their top leadership spot. She's a perfect fit for the new age of corruption that Trump requires of his puppets.' Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib Democrats reject advice to 'play dead,' vow hard fight against Trump's agenda Among Horn's platform priorities for her first 100 days are to 'unify the party,' strengthen county parties, election integrity, fundraising and financial integrity, candidate recruitment and voter registration. Horn's plan, according to her website, is to elect more republicans after 18 seats were left unchallenged last cycle, grow the party and fundraise to win. 'To succeed, we must adapt, pivot, and overcome any obstacles,' she said on her website. 'It is up to each and every one of us to get the Republican candidates across the finish line.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Colorado's DeGette calls for resignation of two Trump officials involved in Signal chat
Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette speaks at the Colorado Democratic Party watch party on Nov. 5, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli for Colorado Newsline) U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette, a Denver Democrat, called for Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisory Michael Waltz to resign after release of the full transcript of a Signal chat that accidentally included a journalist. Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, reported Monday that sensitive details of pending U.S. military action were sent in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted commercial messaging app, of senior Trump administration officials that Waltz accidentally added him to. The Atlantic on Wednesday published the full transcript of the conversation, which included minute-by-minute attack plans ahead of U.S. bombings in Yemen earlier this month. Administration officials had minimized the severity of the breach. DeGette said 'at minimum' Hegseth and Waltz must resign, and she demanded Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and CIA Director John Ratcliffe be investigated for perjury after denying on Wednesday that classified information was shared in the chat. DeGette said 'it may well be that all of these officials need to be fired.' 'The level of incompetence shown by the Secretary of Defense and National Security Advisor is staggering. This is a systemic failure by some of the highest-ranking officials in our government, and if the information shared on this unsecured platform fell into the hands of an adversary, it would have put American servicemembers' lives at risk,' DeGette said in a statement. 'There must be accountability, and their failure to take responsibility while gaslighting the public about what exactly happened demands answers.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Both Colorado senators vote against Republican stopgap spending bill
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett speaks during the Colorado Democratic Party's watch party at Number 38 in Denver on Nov. 5, 2024. (Andrew Fraieli for Colorado Newsline) U.S. Sens. Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper, both Colorado Democrats, voted against a stopgap spending bill that passed the Senate Friday. Both senators highlighted that Republicans 'knew they needed Democratic votes to pass their spending bill,' Bennet said, but they did not include Democrats in negotiations on the measure. Hickenlooper called the lack of effort to get bipartisan support on the bill 'irresponsible' as it has led to the potential for a government shutdown. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX 'The Republican spending bill does not serve Coloradans well; therefore, I will be voting no,' Bennet said in a statement Thursday. 'In the coming days, I am committed to working across the aisle to finish the appropriations process and craft a bill that is a better deal for Colorado.' CNN reported that Bennet 'erupted' in a private meeting with Senate Democratic leadership, saying they have 'no strategy, no plan, and no message on this spending bill.' Senate Democrats opposed the bill, having not been included in its drafting despite Republicans needing Democratic votes to end debate on the measure and advance it to a final vote. They also argued it would give more power to President Donald Trump, who has already pushed the limits of his constitutional authority over spending. Bennet and Hickenlooper voted against ending debate on the bill — though enough Senate Democrats voted with Republicans to overcome the debate-ending 60-vote threshold — as well as the bill itself, which passed on a 54-46 vote. Hickenlooper said at a virtual town hall Wednesday night that Congress needed to pass a bill that preserves its authority over federal spending. He said the Senate should support a 30-day funding bill, and then use that time to resolve remaining budget issues. 'The Constitution is clear: Congress holds the power of the purse,' Hickenlooper said. 'This bill would wipe out Congressional oversight, letting Trump cut and redirect funding, however he wants.' SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
