NRCC MEMO: COLORADO PRIMARY RESULTS

TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: AUGUST 10, 2010
SUBJECT: COLORADO PRIMARY RESULTS

Though Colorado has earned a reputation as an emerging independent, swing state, its elected Democrat leaders have done little to break away from the party line in Washington. The reckless spending policies supported by Washington Democrats have done little to turn around an economy that is experiencing skyrocketing unemployment, reckless government spending and a record-high deficit. With every new and unwanted bill that they force through Congress, Colorado Democrats are demonstrating just how out of touch they are with the voters as they grow the size of government and play an ever-expanding and intrusive role in the everyday lives of middle class Americans. Colorado, like many other states in the Mountain West, is growing tired of the Democrats’ intrusions, feeling hood-winked by the Democrats’ many broken promises. Coloradans are eager to send many of their Democrat elected leaders packing and Democrats will undoubtedly see many of their recent gains quickly return to the Republican column come November.

Challengers:

CO-03 (Rep. John Salazar, D)

Vulnerable Democrat incumbent John Salazar has represented Colorado’s Third Congressional District since 2004. He is a so-called Blue Dog Democrat and claims he is independent-minded, but in reality he is one of Nancy Pelosi’s most loyal lapdogs, voting with her 97.1 percent of the time. Salazar voted in favor of the Democrats’ government healthcare takeover, a bill which the majority of Colorado voters adamantly oppose. Often criticized for avoiding his constituents and running for cover, this fall Salazar will not be able to run away from the anti-incumbent political environment favoring the GOP.

Scott Tipton is the likely Republican candidate to face Salazar in November. As a lifelong resident of Colorado, small business owner and state representative, Tipton knows what it takes to create jobs and get the economy back on track. After graduating college with a political science degree, Tipton started a small business which now employs 22 people. Tipton was elected to the Colorado House of Representatives in 2008 and has since served on the House Agriculture Committee, Livestock Committee, Natural Resources Committee and Local Government Committee. As a small business owner, Tipton is acutely aware of the toll the Democrats’ spend-and-tax policies are having on small businesses – the engine of our economy. He has worked to generate jobs, help ensure the safety of Colorado and improve the overall quality of life for Coloradans.

History: In 2004, George W. Bush received 55 percent of the vote and in 2008 John McCain won the district with 50 percent to Obama’s 47 percent. Prior to Salazar, the district was held by Republican Scott McInnis for over 10 years.

Geography: Colorado’s Third Congressional District is located in the western and south central part of the state, covering most of the rural Western Slope, including the cities of Grand Junction, Durango and Pueblo.

CO-04 (Rep. Betsy Markey, D)

Democrat incumbent Betsy Markey, who hails from Fort Collins, was elected to represent Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District in 2008. After voting with Nancy Pelosi 95 percent of the time, Markey has quickly proven her loyalty to her radical party bosses, which explains why she is already considered to be a one-term wonder. Markey supported a failed trillion-dollar stimulus, a national energy tax and a job-killing healthcare bill. After her flip-flop to support a government takeover of healthcare, she was quickly branded as the next Marjorie Margolies-Mezvinsky, in reference to the one-term Democrat who lost her seat for supporting Bill Clinton’s 1993 tax hikes.

Markey will have a difficult time defending her liberal voting record, which is completely out-of-touch with the independent-minded electorate in this district. Luckily, State Representative Cory Gardner of Yuma has stepped up to the plate to fight for Colorado’s middle-class families. As a leading voice in the State House, Gardner has been a constant advocate for limited government and common-sense principles. Gardner currently represents Colorado’s 63rd Assembly District, where he has made economic development, healthcare and education his top priorities. His leadership has earned him numerous awards such as the 2009 Guardian of the Taxpayer Award from the Colorado Union of Taxpayers and legislator of the year by the Colorado Livestock Association.

Facing an incredibly accomplished and well-liked opponent like Cory Gardner and repeatedly putting her party’s radical agenda before her conservative constituents, freshman Democrat Betsy Markey-Mezvinsky’s fate is undoubtedly sealed as a one-term wonder come November.

History: In 2008, John McCain won the district with 50 percent of the vote and in 2004, George W. Bush won with 58 percent. The historically Republican district was held by Republicans for 15 years prior to Markey’s election.

Geography: Colorado’s Fourth District is located in the eastern part of the state and encompasses almost all of Colorado’s rural High Plains and the quickly developing cities of Fort Collins, Greeley, Loveland and Longmont.

CO-07 (Rep. Ed Perlmutter, D)

Tonight, Ryan Frazier, a Navy veteran and current Aurora City Council member, emerged from a very competitive primary in central Colorado. Frazier possesses the leadership and vision that Coloradans deserve in Congress. As a member of the non-partisan City Council, Frazier has worked to balance budgets of over $750 million, expand small businesses and eliminate burdensome taxes. As a proud husband and father to three young children, he is committed to building a freer, more prosperous future for Colorado.
In November, Frazier will face Democrat incumbent Ed Perlmutter who took office in 2006 after Republican Bob Beauprez vacated his seat to run for Governor. With a staggering record of voting with Nancy Pelosi 98.2 percent, Perlmutter faces a tough battle against independent-minded Frazier. Perlmutter voted for the Democrats’ failed stimulus, the bailouts, cap-and-trade, and the government takeover of healthcare. Clearly, Perlmutter’s voting record is too extreme for the rural and suburban district in central Colorado.

History: Congressman Ed Perlmutter represents a district that John Kerry won in 2004 by a small margin of 51 to 48 percent of the vote. Before Perlmutter’s election, this district had been represented by a Republican since its creation.

Geography: The Seventh Congressional District is located in central Colorado and covers the northern parts of the Denver metropolitan area, as well as many of its surrounding suburbs and the large rural eastern portion of Adams County. West of Denver, towards the mountains, lies Lakewood and to the east of Denver lies Aurora, a newer city with an increasing population.

Election Results:

The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Colorado. These results are UNOFFICIAL AND INCOMPLETE until certified by the Colorado Secretary of State.

*Denotes winner

CO-03 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)
75.7% Precincts Reporting

SCOTT TIPTON 36,499 56.0%
BOB MCCONNELL 28,734 44.0%

CO-04 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)

CORY GARDNER* UNOPPOSED

CO-07 (REPUBLICAN PRIMARY)
65.4% Precincts Reporting

RYAN FRAZIER* 25,074 64.8%
LANG SIAS 13,600 35.2%

(Source: Denver Post, as of 11:49 p.m.)