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Six months to the day after House Republican leaders killed a bill to establish same-sex civil unions in a bitter procedural standoff, a newly elected, triumphant Democratic majority on Thursday nominated Mark Ferrandino as speaker of the House, marking the first time an openly gay legislator will preside over the chamber.

The Denver Democrat fought to hold back tears as he told a packed committee room at the Capitol that he was humbled by the honor and considered it a win for kids who’ve been bullied or who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in.

Senate Democrats on Thursday shuffled the deck of its leadership following the Tuesday elections, choosing Majority Leader John Morse of Colorado Springs to lead them as Senate president in the upcoming session that begins Jan. 9. The nomination bucked speculation that Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver was the favored choice.

Morse, who was nominated by Caucus Chair Morgan Carroll of Aurora, will replace outgoing Senate President Brandon Shaffer of Longmont. Shaffer on Tuesday lost a challenge to U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, in the 4th Congressional District. His political career ostensibly came to an end, at least for now.

When the Associated Press called Colorado’s nine electoral votes for President Barack Obama on Tuesday night — swinging the election to the Democrat and cementing the state’s decisive role in national politics — an already ecstatic crowd in downtown Denver erupted in even more deafening cheers.

Riding a wave of strong support from the state’s Latinos, women and younger voters, Obama won Colorado with 1,252,679 votes, or 51.23 percent, over Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s 1,135,403 votes, or 46.44 percent. In 2008 Obama carried the state by a wider margin, roughly 9 points, only the second time in the last four decades that a Democrat has won the state.

On a night when all eyes were on toss-up races across the state and nation, five of Colorado’s incumbent U.S. representatives quietly won reelection on Tuesday with decisive victories.

U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, Jared Polis, D-Boulder, Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, all claimed victory with little drama.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, a well known Aurora Republican whose previous elections have mostly been without much uncertainty, claimed victory late Tuesday night over Democratic challenger Joe Miklosi, a state representative from Denver in a contest that lived up to its billing as the closest congressional race in the state.

U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter was turning cartwheels after roundly defeating Republican challenger Joe Coors to win a fourth term representing Colorado’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday.

Performing what has become a Perlmutter trademark — he embraced the move during his last campaign after an attack ad accused him of cartwheeling around Washington, D.C. — the Democrat went head over heels on election night in front of a room full of supporters at the Lakewood Sheraton and then again two days later at the State Capitol at Democratic caucus meetings.

Democrats retook control of the Colorado House by a wide margin and kept their majority in the Senate on Tuesday, smoothing the path for legislation stalled by Republicans in the last session when the GOP ruled the House by one seat.

Democrats increased their share of House seats from 32 to 37 seats, leaving Republicans with 28. In the Senate, Democrats will continue to hold a 20-15 edge. On their way to majorities in both chambers, Democrats evicted four House Republicans: Reps. Cindy Acree, R-Aurora; Mark Barker, R-Colorado Springs; J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio; and Robert Ramirez, R-Arvada.

Around 9 p.m. on Election Night, the backers of a statewide initiative to end prohibition of marijuana got word that voters had heeded the call. The reggae music blasting at Casselman’s Bar and Venue in Denver — where supporters had gathered — faded into the background as an explosion of cheers and tears poured from the dozens of activists dancing in the energy-intensive room.

Voters on Tuesday backed a statewide ballot initiative directing the Colorado congressional delegation to support efforts to overturn the controversial campaign finance Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and another that takes aim at state personnel reform.

The two constitutional amendments were overshadowed by the smoke created from a third ballot question approved by voters that legalized marijuana in Colorado. But proponents behind Amendment 65 and Amendment S say their efforts to bring reforms to campaign finance laws and an outdated state personnel system resonated just as much with voters.

There was no greater evidence on election night that politics remains a soft science than the green light Colorado voters gave to most of the school funding campaigns waged along the Front Range. It proved a surprisingly good day to be asking taxpayers for more of their money. The RTD Board ought to be kicking itself around the Market Street station this morning. Bowing to the advice of their political consultants, they ducked an opportunity to accelerate the FASTRACKS program, currently on a desultory 30-year completion calendar.

NEWS & EVENTS

COMMENTARY

FEATURES

SUBSCRIPTIONS

ABOUT

Ferrandino soon to be known as “Mr. Speaker”

Morse elevated to Senate president; Carroll tapped as majority leader for Dems

Colorado Democrats giddy over Obama, Statehouse wins

Congressional incumbents easily win reelection

Coffman survives onslaught from Dems in CD 6

Perlmutter head over heels after election victory

Dems increase ranks, take control at State House

High hopes for pot users with passage of Amendment 64

Personnel reform ballot measure passes; campaign finance addressed by electorate

Voters give green light to school funding campaigns

May. 17, 2013

Vol. 114, No. 20


Not a Member? Search this site: Home NEWS & EVENTS Current News Legislative News 2008 Political Campaigns 2010 Political Campaigns COMMENTARY Letters to the Editor Editorials Guest Columns FEATURES 2008 Democratic National Convention Jerry Kopel InnerView Jay Fox's Dining Guide Politi-Flix Politics Uncorked 'Those Were the Days' SUBSCRIPTIONS Subscribe Online ABOUT Contact Us Submissions & Editorial Guidelines	Current News Ferrandino soon to be known as “Mr. Speaker” 11/12/2012 By Ernest Luning The Colorado Statesman Six months to the day after House Republican leaders killed a bill to establish same-sex civil unions in a bitter procedural standoff, a newly elected, triumphant Democratic majority on Thursday nominated Mark Ferrandino as speaker of the House, marking the first time an openly gay legislator will preside over the chamber. The Denver Democrat fought to hold back tears as he told a packed committee room at the Capitol that he was humbled by the honor and considered it a win for kids who’ve been bullied or who grew up feeling like they didn’t fit in. Read more Morse elevated to Senate president; Carroll tapped as majority leader for Dems 11/12/2012 By Peter Marcus The Colorado Statesman Senate Democrats on Thursday shuffled the deck of its leadership following the Tuesday elections, choosing Majority Leader John Morse of Colorado Springs to lead them as Senate president in the upcoming session that begins Jan. 9. The nomination bucked speculation that Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver was the favored choice. Morse, who was nominated by Caucus Chair Morgan Carroll of Aurora, will replace outgoing Senate President Brandon Shaffer of Longmont. Shaffer on Tuesday lost a challenge to U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, in the 4th Congressional District. His political career ostensibly came to an end, at least for now. Read more Colorado Democrats giddy over Obama, Statehouse wins 11/12/2012 By Ernest Luning The Colorado Statesman When the Associated Press called Colorado’s nine electoral votes for President Barack Obama on Tuesday night — swinging the election to the Democrat and cementing the state’s decisive role in national politics — an already ecstatic crowd in downtown Denver erupted in even more deafening cheers. Riding a wave of strong support from the state’s Latinos, women and younger voters, Obama won Colorado with 1,252,679 votes, or 51.23 percent, over Republican nominee Mitt Romney’s 1,135,403 votes, or 46.44 percent. In 2008 Obama carried the state by a wider margin, roughly 9 points, only the second time in the last four decades that a Democrat has won the state. Read more Congressional incumbents easily win reelection 11/12/2012 By Peter Marcus The Colorado Statesman On a night when all eyes were on toss-up races across the state and nation, five of Colorado’s incumbent U.S. representatives quietly won reelection on Tuesday with decisive victories. U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, Jared Polis, D-Boulder, Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, all claimed victory with little drama. Read more Coffman survives onslaught from Dems in CD 6 11/12/2012 By Peter Marcus The Colorado Statesman Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, a well known Aurora Republican whose previous elections have mostly been without much uncertainty, claimed victory late Tuesday night over Democratic challenger Joe Miklosi, a state representative from Denver in a contest that lived up to its billing as the closest congressional race in the state. Read more Perlmutter head over heels after election victory Republican Coors left in dregs after fizzling campaign 11/12/2012 By Ernest Luning The Colorado Statesman U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter was turning cartwheels after roundly defeating Republican challenger Joe Coors to win a fourth term representing Colorado’s 7th Congressional District on Tuesday. Performing what has become a Perlmutter trademark — he embraced the move during his last campaign after an attack ad accused him of cartwheeling around Washington, D.C. — the Democrat went head over heels on election night in front of a room full of supporters at the Lakewood Sheraton and then again two days later at the State Capitol at Democratic caucus meetings. Read more Dems increase ranks, take control at State House 11/12/2012 By Ernest Luning The Colorado Statesman Democrats retook control of the Colorado House by a wide margin and kept their majority in the Senate on Tuesday, smoothing the path for legislation stalled by Republicans in the last session when the GOP ruled the House by one seat. Democrats increased their share of House seats from 32 to 37 seats, leaving Republicans with 28. In the Senate, Democrats will continue to hold a 20-15 edge. On their way to majorities in both chambers, Democrats evicted four House Republicans: Reps. Cindy Acree, R-Aurora; Mark Barker, R-Colorado Springs; J. Paul Brown, R-Ignacio; and Robert Ramirez, R-Arvada. Read more High hopes for pot users with passage of Amendment 64 11/12/2012 By Peter Marcus The Colorado Statesman Around 9 p.m. on Election Night, the backers of a statewide initiative to end prohibition of marijuana got word that voters had heeded the call. The reggae music blasting at Casselman’s Bar and Venue in Denver — where supporters had gathered — faded into the background as an explosion of cheers and tears poured from the dozens of activists dancing in the energy-intensive room. Read more Personnel reform ballot measure passes; campaign finance addressed by electorate 11/12/2012 By Peter Marcus The Colorado Statesman Voters on Tuesday backed a statewide ballot initiative directing the Colorado congressional delegation to support efforts to overturn the controversial campaign finance Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and another that takes aim at state personnel reform. The two constitutional amendments were overshadowed by the smoke created from a third ballot question approved by voters that legalized marijuana in Colorado. But proponents behind Amendment 65 and Amendment S say their efforts to bring reforms to campaign finance laws and an outdated state personnel system resonated just as much with voters. Read more Voters give green light to school funding campaigns Elections proved that City Hall and school boards came out on top with voters in Denver, JeffCo 11/12/2012 By Miller Hudson The Colorado Statesman There was no greater evidence on election night that politics remains a soft science than the green light Colorado voters gave to most of the school funding campaigns waged along the Front Range. It proved a surprisingly good day to be asking taxpayers for more of their money. The RTD Board ought to be kicking itself around the Market Street station this morning. Bowing to the advice of their political consultants, they ducked an opportunity to accelerate the FASTRACKS program, currently on a desultory 30-year completion calendar. Read more « first ‹ previous … 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 … next › last »	May. 17, 2013 Vol. 114, No. 20