In a surprisingly decisive win, Pueblo Democrat Sol Sandoval was the only US House candidate to qualify for the primary election ballot via the Assembly process April 5.
US House candidates can win a spot on the June 28 primary ballot two ways. One is to obtain at least 30% of delegates at the Assembly, and the second is to file 1,500 petition signatures with the Secretary of State.
Sandoval won nearly 47% of the Assembly vote and knocked out competitors Colin Wilhelm, Donald Valdez, Debby Burnett, Kellie Rhodes and Root Routledge. Most observers had expected Valdez and Burnett to cross the 30% threshold as well.
Full results as announced at the end of Tuesday's assembly:
- Sol Sandoval 46.46%
- Don Valdez 28.6%
- Debbie Burnett 21.8%
- Colin Wilhelm 2.02%
- Kellie Rhodes 1.01%
- Root Routledge 0%
The other Democratic candidates who qualified for the primary election via petition are Adam Frisch and Alex Walker. Frisch will be the guest speaker at the April 19 Archuleta County Democratic Club meeting. Walker will appear at 9 am Wednesday, April 19, at Higher Grounds in Pagosa.
The winner of the primary will face incumbent Lauren Boebert, R-Silt. Boebert has attracted Democratic opponents as a result of her radical voting record and outlandish statements. Democratic operatives see her as vulnerable even though Congressional District 3, which includes Archuleta County, is rated as a 9-point plus Republican district. Unaffiliated voters are repelled by Boebert's votes and statements, leaving her exposed to a coalition of Democrats and unaffiliated voters.
Boebert continued her support of Russia on the same day of the Assembly. She joined 62 other Republicans to vote Nay on H.Res.831. The bill passed with a bipartisan majority of 362 Democrats and Republicans voting Yea to strengthen the NATO alliance against Russian aggression. The text reads:
This resolution reaffirms unequivocal support for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) as an alliance founded on democratic principles.
The resolution also calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to adopt a new Strategic Concept for NATO that is clear about its support for shared democratic values and committed to enhancing NATO's capacity to strengthen democratic institutions within NATO member, partner, and aspirant countries.
Finally, the resolution calls on the President to use the voice and vote of the United States to establish a Center for Democratic Resilience within NATO headquarters.