Learn more about the property tax ballot iniative by watching a Zoom recording hosted by Rep. McLachlan here.
Read about her trip to the White House to discuss child care, GW Sugar, and Narcan training for high schools.
Denver, CO – The Colorado Democratic Party today launched an unprecedented campaign in Western & Southern Colorado: The 546 Project.
Lauren Boebert has spent more time promoting herself and catering to extremists than she has fighting to address drought, create jobs, and save people money on health care, housing, and energy costs. Winning her race in 2022 by a mere 546 votes shows that rural Coloradans are tired of the nonsense and deserve a Member of Congress focused on getting stuff done, not on becoming famous.
The 546 Project organizes the Democratic Party earlier than ever in CD3 and utilizes nearly 500 neighborhood leaders to reactivate and strengthen our relationship with rural and high-country voters who were regular voters and then sat out the 2022 election. Had these voters turned out as they usually do, Lauren Boebert would be a footnote in Colorado political history. The Colorado Democratic Party is partnering with county parties to engage in direct voter contact across the district starting today and continuing over the next 17 months.
The 546 Project will make hundreds of contacts with voters per week in CD3, reactivating voters who typically vote but sat out 2022. Not only will this project lead our efforts to defeat Lauren Boebert in 2024, but it will allow us to organize around important local races in 2023, and give us a nearly year headstart on winning critical county commissioner, county clerk, sheriff, state house, and state senate seats in 2024. This campaign is structured around four phases of engagement, with the first phase focused on listening, learning, and reengaging with voters. The campaign will continue to organize around issues in local races this fall, and will spend 2024 educating voters about why Lauren Boebert and her allies must be defeated.
“As Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party, I made a promise to aggressively fight for Democratic victories in rural Colorado, and this campaign activates 500 neighborhood leaders to engage thousands of voters across CD3, elect community-minded leaders in local races, and defeat Lauren Boebert,” said Shad Murib, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. “We can’t win if we don’t show up, and this campaign sets up permanent infrastructure in Western & Southern Colorado.”
“Lauren Boebert’s attacks on our public schools have to end. Her suggestion of eliminating the Department of Education would decimate Colorado schools that are already strapped for cash and hurt our kids’ ability to get a great education,” said State Representative Barbara McLachlan. “The 546 Project will make sure that every Democrat who might have sat out 2022 is inspired to vote in 2023 and 2024.”
““Every member of Colorado’s Congressional delegation should be focused on advocating for Colorado’s water, in a nonpartisan way. Water is the lifeblood of our rural communities and the crisis on the Colorado River deserves a unified focus on results, not political posturing or useless tweets,” said State Senator, Dylan Roberts. “Communities in my district are tired of political posturing: they’re looking for someone to get things done for Colorado’s water future.”
"From her first day in office, Lauren Boebert has been more concerned with being the star of her own Fox News show, rather than working for our families here in the Home of Heroes," said Bri Buentello, former state representative and chairwoman of the Pueblo Democratic Party. “The 546 Project will organize voters in Pueblo earlier than ever and we’re ready to hit the ground running.”
"I was thrilled to hear about CDP's The 546 Project. Losing to Boebert by 546 votes in 2022, kept many of us up at night, especially when 19,000 Democrats in CD3 didn't even vote. We can't let that happen in 2024” said Kevin Kuns, Chair, Montrose County Dems. “Additionally, The 546 Project has the potential to bring new voters out to win critical municipal elections in November, for Democrats.”
"I love the idea of reaching out to left-leaning folks who don't always vote, and finding out why they don't vote consistently,” said Debbie Bruell, Chair, Garfield County Dems. “There's so much we can learn by listening. If we want to be responsive to our communities, we need to better understand their perspectives."
Mary Dodd, Chair, Montezuma County Dems said “I wholeheartedly support The 546 Project because it unites county party leaders in CD3 around the following common goals: to share expertise and apply lessons learned from the 2022 field game to win CD 3 in 2024; to develop deeper relationships with our base voters thus strengthening our local county parties; and to show rural Coloradans that Dems Deliver for rural Colorado. Achieving these goals will have positive effects far beyond 2024. Additionally, I’m most excited to continue to work with other CD3 leaders, who inspire me every day with the work they do on behalf of our district, state, and nation. “
“We are so close to winning this seat! We can see and feel and almost taste victory and we know we can do it, ” said Anne Markward. Chair, La Plata County Dems. “And we’ll all be better off for that win.”
"I am excited about the Colorado Democratic Party's work in CD3 because I am ready for real leadership in Congress,” said Pam Espinoza, Vice Chair, Colorado Democratic Party Congressional District 3 .”I am tired of "angertainment" and a representative who ignores the people of CD3. Last year proved what is possible when we focus on shared values. Now it's time to finish the work."
To stay up-to-date on what the Colorado Democratic Party is working on, follow us on Twitter here, Facebook here, or Instagram here.
By Chris Morley
In the face of escalating violent crime and mass shootings, Colorado Governor Jared Polis has enacted four new gun control measures. The legislation was signed into law despite a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that broadened Second Amendment rights and ongoing lawsuits by gun rights groups aiming to overturn two of the bills: one raising the minimum age for firearm purchase from 18 to 21, and another establishing a three-day waiting period between the purchase and receipt of a gun.
The measures include strengthening the state's red flag law and reducing some legal protections for the firearm industry. The enhanced red flag law permits doctors, mental health professionals, and teachers to request a judge to temporarily remove someone's firearm, a power previously mainly limited to law enforcement and family members. The objective is to intervene proactively before suicide attempts or violent acts occur.
By increasing the minimum age to buy firearms to 21, Colorado aligns with California, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, New York, and Rhode Island. This action responds to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) that gun violence has surpassed vehicle accidents as the leading cause of death among children and teenagers. Lastly, a new measure enables victims of gun violence to sue gun manufacturers, a legislation similar to those passed in California, Delaware, New Jersey, and New York. While opponents argue this could lead to baseless lawsuits, it gives a new avenue of legal recourse to those affected by gun violence.
As the legislative session comes to a close, Colorado Democrats have already delivered transformative legislation this session to help us build a stronger, safer and healthier Colorado for all of us. We’re devoting this week to their wins and to the fights that continue to need our focus.
Check out a few of our biggest victories from this session: ⬇️
Protecting Access to Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care – The Protection for Accessing Reproductive Health Care Act protects patients, doctors, providers, and others from facing criminal charges for providing access to reproductive and gender-affirming health care. The Governor has already signed this bill into law.
Ending the Gun Violence Epidemic – The legislature passed an historic package of gun violence prevention bills that will raise the age to buy a gun in Colorado to 21, require a waiting period to buy a gun, and will strengthen our red flag laws. This is a huge step towards stemming the gun violence epidemic and keeping our communities safer. The Governor wasted no time signing these into law.
Fighting for Farmers and Ranchers – Democrats have introduced and passed the Consumer Right to Repair Agricultural Equipment bill to allow farmers and ranchers to repair and maintain their own equipment. This will help our farmers and ranchers save on both costs and time.
Heading to the Governor’s Desk: There will be more bills heading to his desk later today as session wraps up its last day, but for now, we know the Cost of Phone Calls For Persons In Custody bill is on its way. This bill will make phone calls free for inmates by 2025 and make it easier for them to stay connected to their families while incarcerated, which experts suggest helps people best succeed after leaving prison.
Looking Ahead: Session ends today, giving the Governor 30 days to sign or veto bills passed by the legislature in the last 10 days. We’ll be back in touch soon with more updates for you.
Colorado Democrats are fighting to deliver real solutions on some of the most pressing issues facing our state, but there is more to do. Together, we’ll continue fighting for our environment, passing stronger gun laws, and saving people money on housing and health care.
The U.S. Supreme Court’s conservative majority’s decision affirms that Republicans are focused on enacting a far-right agenda that limits personal freedoms by taking the choice to get an abortion away from women.
– Morgan Carroll, Colorado Democratic Party Chair