A divided government. A looming deadline. A critical debate.

It’s been 15 years since Democrats flipped the legislature and persuaded a Republican governor to help us lift Colorado out of a deep recession. We built the broadest coalition in state history to pass a multibillion-dollar plan that put thousands of Coloradans back to work.

That challenge pales in comparison to the crisis we now face. That’s why Donald Trump’s approach—delaying action, distorting evidence, demonizing the press—is so dangerous.

Trump’s fact-free performances are part and parcel of his presidency. But as former FEMA chief Craig Fugate pointed out, this pandemic raises the stakes.

“Candid and forceful truths will do us a lot more good than sugarcoating false assurances,” Fugate said. “I don’t care about your popularity. This is about how many people we can save.”

We desperately need leaders who understand that, at every level of government. One of the keys to our success in Colorado has been a willingness—on the part of lawmakers in both parties—to put the public interest ahead of personal pride or political gain.

“It is amazing what you can accomplish,” Harry Truman reportedly said, “if you do not care who gets the credit.” That’s a wise lesson for all of us.

Andrew Romanoff