This is a photo blog. I drove to Denver for the first-ever #DemFest, a pre-gala free event open to the public. Since nearly all nominating conventions and assemblies for the Colorado Democrats are being held virtually, this event was like a mini-convention.
The morning started with a meet and greet with Colorado Speaker Rep. Julie McCluskie, CO-HD-13, Dillon; Rep. Barbara McLachlan, CO-HD-59, Durango and Senator Chris Hansen, CO-SD-31, Denver. We are mighty proud to have McCluskie as the first speaker from Western Colorado.
We have 39 candidates running for DNC Committee Member seats this year. The DNC Member Forum allowed candidates to introduce themselves. State convention/assembly delegates have a vote at the state convention. We have a local favorite running from Eagle County this year — Calyn Rieger, @calynrieger. Colorado voters will recognize many on the list.
Congresswoman Yadara Caraveo, CO-08 received an enthusiastic welcome from the audience. She is Colorado’s first Latina Congresswoman and a Pediatrician. Please support her re-election at her Act Blue donation page.
Powerful Panel - Advancing Reproductive Freedom in Colorado: Dani Newsum, Cobalt Director of Strategic Partnerships, Karen Middleton, Cobalt President (Moderator), True Apodaca, SEIU 105, Political Director.
Meet Pat Blumenthal, the Manager for the Horizon Project. Pat is training volunteers to meet voters in CD-08. Learn more by signing up to help. There are numerous positions. Help the Doctor win re-election. This is an important house seat to keep. Scan the QR or sign up on the web.
An expo filled the lower level corridors of the Seawell Theater with “General Assembly Battle Ground Candidates”. Candidates for state, district, local, and national offices shared tables. There were DNC committee member candidates and convention delegate candidates running to attend the DNC convention in Chicago. Party initiatives and candidate support vendors like our friends at Act Blue were active. If there was a star of the expo, it was the labor groups. They shared new initiatives targeting workers to join apprenticeships and earn good wages.
Cobalt had petitions at their table seeking voter signatures for the Colorado Right to Abortion and Health Insurance Coverage Initiative (aka Coloradans for Protecting Reproductive Freedom)
Author with Karen Middleton, Cobalt Director
Colorado Stonewall Democrat — Ayinde Summey, Brent Goodlet, Chair, Jared Bynum
James Reyes, Chair, Denver Democrats and Candidate for DNC Committee Member
Friends from the Colorado Latino Initiative
Susan Glass for Delegate
Jeri Shepherd — DNC Member running for Re-Election
John Padora table, Candidate for Congress — CO-04
State Senator Rhonda Fields is Running For Arapahaho County Commissioner
Rep. Bob Marshall —CO-HD43 — Voted Best Government Official in Highlands Ranch. Bob is the first Democrat EVER elected in Douglas County, CO.
Congressman Jason Crow (CO-05) at DemFest
Colorado Labor was in the house! There was an all-star labor panel at Dem Fest. An Organizing Approach to Colorado's 21st Century Economy: Colorado Labor Leadership, Dennis Dougherty, Executive Director, Colorado AFL-CIO, Alejandra Beatty, President, Boulder Area Labor Federation, Tammy Munoz, Political Liaison, Teamsters Local 455, Kallie Leyba, Executive Director, American Federation of Teachers Colorado, Jason Wardrip, Business Manager, Colorado Building and Construction Trades Council, Jade Kelly, President, Communication Workers of America Local 7799, Stephanie Felix-Sowy, President, SEIU Local 105.
The trades displayed a multitude of information about training opportunities. There is a union I didn't know of until Dem Fest -LiUNA! Local720. It's a laborers, labor union. Learn more at the link. Colorado AFL-CIO table explained that their priority issue this year is rail safety. HB24-1030 is the action item. There is a great op-ed at the Colorado Sun about the issue at the link. Sheet metal workers, Tony Garcia shared the Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee to train sheet metal workers. Females and minorities are encouraged to apply.
Reilly Jackson is an enthusiastic Young Democrat whom I met at DemFest. She shared her thoughts on why this election is important. (Apologies for the background noise.)
There are four “General Assembly Battle Ground Candidates”. They are all newly elected in 2022 and it so happens that they are all women. I’ll start with my side of the divide. My rep, Rep. Meghan Lukens - HD26, included the ski country counties of Routt and Eagle County. Around the time she was sworn in, the district boundary changed with redistricting to include Moffat and Rio Blanco counties. I know Meghan. She is smart, works hard for our district, and is an education expert. She will be a great representative for the counties of the newly drawn district. Send Meghan some Kossack love and help her win re-election. The other three battleground candidates are Rep. Stephanie Vigil - HD16 (Colorado Springs, El Paso), Amy Paschal - HD18, (Colorado Springs, El Paso), and Rep. Jennifer Parenti - HD19, Longmont, Erie, Fedrick, Docono, Firestone. *Note to Colorado members, if you know these candidates, please add information in the comments.
CU Regent Forum: - Moderator: Amanda Ford UCCS Student Leader
The Get More Smarter Podcast PRESENTS: These Chairs Don't Just Sit Around! Hosted By Jason Bane and Ian Silverii. With Ken Martin, Chairman, Minnesota DFL Party, and Shad Murib, Chairman, of the Colorado Democratic Party (Edwards, CO, my hometown). I was planning on embedding the podcast but unfortunately, it did not air. It may be due to too many interruptions from the seize-fire protesters. It was a great session. Especially for those of us who have followed Sen. Paul Wellstone's leadership training. “The Democratic Wing of the Democratic Party” that Martin seems rooted in. There was a lot to learn from these two state party leaders. Perhaps they will have it up in the future.
And for the finale: Volunteer Awards with Attorney General Phil Weiser and Vols of The Year Winners, District 1: Sue McGinley, District 2: Lisa Lewis (Edwards, CO, my home, yay!), District 3: Mary Dodd, District 4: Lisa Chollet, District 5: Chandra Wilkins, District 6: Melissa Garland, District 7: Scott Merrifield, District 8: Justin Martinez. (Pictured Shad Murib, CDP Chair; Lisa Lewis, CD2 volunteer of the year; Phil Weiser, AG; Congressman Jason Crow.)
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Today’s guest editor of the Colorado State Open Thread is @greenchiledem. gcd is active in the Eagle County Democratic Party and is a former leader in the Colorado Democratic Party where she served as a Democratic National Committeewoman and county party leader. She currently serves as a precinct leader in the Edwards precinct 28.
We all would love to hear what’s going on in your corner of our state down below in the comments. The floor is yours.
