Cory Gardner looks set to unseat Rep. Betsy Markey
| Colorado’s 4th district has attracted national attention as GOP strategists look to the district to reverse major gains made by Democrats in the 2008 election cycle.
Democrats won big across Colorado in the 2008 election (Barack Obama put the state in the Democratic electoral column for only the second time since 1968), and the 4th House district was no exception. Promising bipartisanship, Rep. Betsy Markey (D-Colo) won her House seat by defeating outspoken social conservative Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo.) who became famous nationally for her support of a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. The contest turned vicious and was the most heated House race in the state, but Markey pulled off a decisive win. Her 12-point victory margin was even greater than Obama’s over Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in the state, meaning her success was likely due to something more than the “coattails effect.” As a freshman lawmaker from a swing district, Markey has taken flack from local Republicans vying for her seat in 2010 for her support of Democratic policies, particularly her vote for President Obama’s economic stimulus package in February 2009. After first opposing the November 2009 health-care bill, Markey switched her vote and said yes. She just might lose her seat to Colorado state Rep. Cory Gardner (R) over it. Read more about Rep. Markey here Dubbed in 2009 by the Denver Post as a “GOP idea man,” Gardner took on freshman Rep. Betsy Markey (D) in eastern Colorado’s 4th district in 2010. A native of the district who still helps out with the family’s farm equipment business, Gardner is a political veteran who once worked for then-Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) Appointed to the state House in 2005, Gardner has focused on fiscal policy and energy issues while a state lawmaker. While social issues have faded into the background, Gardner has focused on pocketbook issues while decrying Markey’s votes for the Democrats’ marquee legislation such as the President Obama’s 2009 stimulus, health-care reform and cap-and-trade. With strong backing from national Republicans, Gardner is poised to retake the GOP-leaning district in November. Read more about Cory Gardner here As Dave Eggen and T.W. Farnam reported: The races of some Democrats have effectively been declared over. In Colorado, political parties and outside groups have spent no money in the race between Rep. Betsy Markey (D) and Republican Cory Gardner, who held a commanding lead in recent polls. Senate races in Arkansas, Indiana and Ohio have attracted little outside money because the Republican candidate is well ahead. |