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SATURDAY IS DOWN BALLOT DAY! SATURDAY IS DOWN BALLOT DAY! SATURDAY IS DOWN BALLOT DAY! |
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There’s a lot of offices to vote for in November. In fact, some of the most local offices that don’t get talked about have the most impact on YOUR life! Join us THIS SATURDAY learn about them on Down Ballot Day, Saturday, August 15, 2020! |
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"What's Down Ballot Day?", you ask? Former U.S. House Speaker Tip O'Neill used to say "All politics is local", and he couldn't be more right. While offices like the U.S. Senate and the Presidency get the most airtime, the offices that have the biggest immediate impact on your life are the ones that don't get talked about! Down Ballot Day is an opportunity to learn about how four specific local offices impact you, why you should care about who gets elected to those offices, and (most importantly) why you should vote for them!
Sign up for our four virtual panels to learn about how the offices of CU Regent, State Board of Education, District Attorney, and Colorado Legislature from esteemed guests! You must sign up for each panel individually to view them! |
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REGISTER FOR ALL FOUR PANELS! (Each Panel Has a Different Link to Register) |
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CU Board of Regents Panel — Saturday, August 15, 2020 @ 10:00AM |
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State Board of Education Panel — Saturday, August 15, 2020 @ 12:00PM |
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Colorado State Legislature Panel — Saturday, August 15, 2020 @ 2:00PM |
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District Attorneys Panel — Saturday, August 15, 2020 @ 4:00PM |
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The Pick Is In! Biden Taps Kamala Harris as His Running Mate! |
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After weeks of speculating, guessing, and wondering, we have a ticket! Vice President Joe Biden -- the presumptive Democratic nominee for President -- announced on Tuesday afternoon that U.S. Senator Kamala Harris would be his running mate going into November!
Click here or read below to see our statement on this "history-making, winning ticket" from CDP Chair Morgan Carroll:
“Democrats have the energy and momentum behind them going into November, and with this history-making, winning ticket of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, voters in Colorado and across our country have a clear vision of the better future that country will move towards after we defeat Donald Trump. This White House has put the interests of the ultra wealthy over the needs of working people, and its occupants have trampled on our Constitution and our norms over these past 3.5 years. In this battle for the soul of our nation, I know Vice President Biden and Senator Harris will prevail on protecting people’s healthcare, rebuilding our economy, and restoring our standing in the world.” |
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Are you pumped and ready to help elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris the next President and Vice President? Click here to join our talent bank and volunteer! |
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Are You Ready? The 2020 DNC E-Convention is NEXT WEEK! |
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Next week is the DNC in Milwaukee, WI -- which, as covered in this CBS Denver story featuring Chair Morgan Carroll will be "unconventional"! |
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With the convention happening in next week, you may be wondering how you can be involved, even though it'll be completely virtual! Well, here's a few ways:
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This Week In Making a Difference |
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HELP US REGISTER VOTERS! |
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Registering Voters/Reminding your friends to update their Voter Registration is super easy! Just share the graphic above, or the QR code below, and direct them to www.GoVoteColorado.com where they can complete the process in minutes! |
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SCAN ME WITH YOUR DEVICE AND REGISTER TO VOTE! |
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Have any questions about registering people to vote? Email Karin at [email protected]! |
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REGISTER TODAY! Colorado Communities Connect |
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For us here in Colorado, we're fighting not only for the soul of this nation alongside Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, but we're fighting to build a better future. But, the reality is that this could mean so many different things to different people.
What does building a better future mean to you? To your community? Come join in one of our new "Colorado Communities Connect" virtual series and be part of the discussion! |
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2020 Win Stops -- Virtual Edition! |
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We can't promise that Barack and Michelle will crash one of our Virtual Win Stops, but we can promise exciting VIPs if you swing by! |
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Even in the era of COVID-19 and social distancing, Team CDP is connecting with Democrats all across the state to ensure that we launch a blue tsunami in 2020!
So far, the Colorado Democratic Party has held the following Virtual Win Stops: Large Red (June 2, 2020) Medium Blue (June 4, 2020) Large Blue (June 7, 2020) Medium Red (June 27, 2020) Large Purple (July 7, 2020) Medium Purple (July 11, 2020) Small Red (August 1, 2020) Very Small Blue (August 8, 2020)
Join us for the next in our series of virtual win stops to learn how you can be a part of electing Democrats in your county this November! |
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Saturday, August 22 at 10:30AM VIP Guest Speaker: Governor Jared Polis Very Small Red (Archuleta, Baca, Crowley, Cheyenne, Custer, Dolores, Hinsdale, Mineral, Moffat, Kiowa, Jackson, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Rio Blanco, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington)
Tuesday, August 25 @ 6:00PM VIP Guest Speaker: Congressman Ed Perlmutter Small Purple (Routt, Chaffee, Gunnison, Otero, Grand)
Saturday, August 29 at 6:00PM VIP Guest Speaker: Senator Michael Bennet Very Small Purple (Alamosa, Bent, Clear Creek, Conejos, Huerfano, Rio Grande, Ouray, San Juan ) |
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Work for the 2020 Wave Webinars |
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SAVE THE DATE for our upcoming "Work for the Wave" webinars! |
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Monday, August 31, 2020 @ 6:00PM MST Campaign Finance 101 (Hosted by Martha Tierney and Neil Reiff) Navigating campaign finance laws can be tricky. Whether it's knowing the federal laws or the state laws, campaign teams need to know what I's do they need to dot and what T's they need to cross! Come learn from two campaign finance experts at this free webinar. Click here to sign up! |
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Monday, September 14, 2020 @ 6:00PM MST VAN 101 (Hosted by Bruce Norikane) The Voter Activation Network (VAN) is one of the Democratic Party's most critical tools to victory and success at every level of campaigning! Whether you're new to VAN, or if you could use a refresher on the basics, check out this training by technology director Bruce Norikane! Click here to sign up! |
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Monday, September 28, 2020 @ 6:00PM MST GOTV and GOTV Messaging (Hosted by Morgan Carroll and Halisi Vinson) How do we make sure that that we turn out the vote? How do we convince our voters to turn in their ballots, and make sure that they don't leave their ballots on their kitchen counter until it's too late? We go over strategies in this webinar! Click here to sign up! |
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Join Team Biden and the DNC for an Update with the Veterans and Military Families Council |
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HELP WANTED: New Positions to Apply For! |
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We're staffing up in preparation for the 2020 General Election! Colorado is a battleground state, and we're looking for scrappy, driven, politically savvy organizers to join our team!
Job Descriptions: |
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Want to Help Elect Joe Biden and Kamala Harris? |
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Click the "Get" button above to Download the Official Joe Biden App on the Apple App Store. Click here to Download the App from the Google Play Store if you have an Android Device! |
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Friend-to-friend outreach is one of the most effective ways to persuade and mobilize voters to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Our campaign is using an app called Vote Joe to help supporters reach out to their community on our behalf, because YOU are the best messenger to your community! With this app you can:
Download the App by Clicking these Buttons, Depending on your Device: |
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Local Candidates of the Week |
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Candidate: Sally Boccella https://www.sallyforcolorado.com/
Office Running for: State Senate (Senate District 23)
Why this matters: Senate District 23 has long been a Republican stronghold -- most recently held by notorious racist Vicki Marble. But this is a district that is slowly becoming bluer, and is ready to elect someone like Sally to be an honorable, accessible public servant for all people.
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Candidate: Beatriz Soto https://beatrizforgarfield.com/
Office Running for: Garfield County Commissioner (District 2)
Why this matters: Katrina Byars -- the previous Democratic candidate for County Commissioner -- announced in an LTE to the Glenwood Springs Posit Independent that she would be stepping down as a candidate, and endorsed Beatriz Soto as her successor as the candidate for the Commissioner of D2 in Garfield County. "Beatriz is a talented leader with a track record of building community throughout our valley, promoting progressive policies and solutions to the dynamic challenges we face today. Her experience, perspective, and bold vision for the future make her a powerful candidate for commissioner."
Connect with Beatriz on Facebook! |
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El Paso County Dems Community Unity Virtual Cookout August, 22, 2020 |
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Join the El Paso County Democratic Party for a virtual Community Unity Cookout. They'll have amazing speakers who have confirmed and are working to confirm more everyday. The Fundraiser is August 22 from 2-4. Early Bird tickets are only available until August 8th.
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Dems Leading the Way |
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Bennet to USDA: Investigate COVID-19 Outbreak at Greeley Meat Plant |
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Sen. Michael Bennet Wants USDA To Investigate Coronavirus Spread At JBS Plant From CBS Denver
Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet wants the Agriculture and Labor Departments to investigate how coronavirus spread in the JBS meat packing plant in Greeley and other facilities. The plant in Greeley had an outbreak with nearly 300 workers getting sick and 6 who died.
Bennet specifically wants to know if the use of the Defense Production Act affected agriculture facilities.
The employees union at JBS is also asking for an investigation into the deaths as well as asking Republican Sen. Cory Gardner about coronavirus tests he had promised to deliver.
“Our members, and frankly all Coloradoans, are tired of the broken promises from Senator Gardner,” read the statement from UFCW Local 7. “Nearly 100 days ago, Gardner touted an agreement with Vice President Pence to secure COVID-19 tests, but has since stayed silent.”
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Diane Mitsch Bush: The "Unflashy Pragmatist" CD3 Needs! |
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Diane Mitsch Bush is an unflashy pragmatist. Is she also Colorado’s next congresswoman? From the Denver Post
It was 2013 and state Rep. Claire Levy, a Democrat from Boulder, was looking to introduce legislation that would increase Colorado’s renewable energy sources and cut back on coal mining. She expected to have an ally in a fellow environmentalist and Democrat, Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush of Steamboat Springs.
“Well, she was an ally,” Levy recalls, “but she was very insistent that for people in her district, a lot of their economic security depends on those coal mines and she was going to put their needs very high.”
“It took guts, as a Democrat, to stand firm when there was a real strong push for everybody to be on board with renewable energy,” Levy says. “It just took a lot of guts for her to stand up and say, ‘Yeah, I can be on board, but you have to do something for my constituents.’”
Former colleagues of Mitsch Bush, who is now running for Congress in the closely watched 3rd District of western and southern Colorado, describe her as a policy wonk and pragmatist with little interest in grabbing headlines. Her tenures as a state legislator and Routt County commissioner were defined by an almost obsessive attention to detail and a willingness to work with all sides, those colleagues recall.
“If you look at her bills, they’re not flashy, they’re not headline-grabbing, but they’re important policy changes that actually helped people’s lives in the district she represented,” said Rep. Daneya Esgar, a Pueblo Democrat.
Mitsch Bush’s political career followed a familiar trajectory — local politics followed by state politics followed by a run for Congress — but it began late in her life, after a full academic career. With snow-white hair, she is not the typical congressional candidate, a fact her friends and supporters readily acknowledge, and embrace.
“Diane is very much her own person and does not fit into anyone’s mold. She just does not,” said Rep. Edie Hooton, a Boulder Democrat who calls her a mentor. “Fortunately, as time goes on, there are fewer and fewer molds that any of us have to fit into.”
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Update from Team Hick: Hitting the Road in Colorado Springs and Southern Colorado! |
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John continues to talk directly with small business owners, health care professionals, and everyday Coloradans, and this week he visited southern Colorado and Colorado Springs to listen to people who need Washington to step up and act on COVID relief.
Last Thursday, he joined state Senator Pete Lee and state Representative Marc Snyder to visit small businesses in Manitou Springs. This town was hit hard by floods back when John was Governor, and he provided immediate relief to help the town get back on its feet.
John also sat down with frontline health care workers and state Rep. Tony Exum in Colorado Springs to hear about how they’ve secured PPE, expanding access to health care, and other challenges they’ve faced during this public health crisis. That Friday, John met with seniors in Pueblo who not only are scared of our current health crisis, but also of Washington Republicans' proposed cuts to Medicare. They discussed how the Senate hasn't done anything to help with the cost of prescription drugs. |
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The Pueblo Chieftain wrote:
The former governor and Denver mayor was there to talk about issues including Medicare, Social Security, lowering prescription drug costs and other issues facing older citizens. “A lot of people are having a lot of trouble making rent and putting food on the table. Washington, (D.C.) is stuck. It’s still broken,” Hickenlooper said.
Hickenlooper said nearly three months after the Heroes Act came out of the House of Representatives, nothing is happening.
“Nobody did anything. Then they took a recess for two weeks knowing that after that two-week period, the rent support’s going to run out. And unemployment’s going to run out. No one has a sense of urgency.” The act was still being debated Friday. He said he ran for mayor in 2003 because he felt government had to work.
“It’s not about the politicians getting reelected. It’s about solving problems and making people’s lives better and doing it efficiently and not wasting money,” Hickenlooper said. “Washington is ... It just is a mess.”
Hickenlooper said President Donald Trump has recently been trying to cut back on Medicare and Social Security. “And (Sen.) Mitch McConnell and (Sen.) Cory Gardner haven’t said a peep. That’s concerning to people,” he said.
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Neguse: Get Your Census Turned In, Colorado! |
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Opinion | Joe Neguse: It is vital every one of us complete the 2020 census From the Summit Daily
As Colorado’s population grows and becomes more diverse, an accurate 2020 census count is more important than ever. Every 10 years, the Constitution requires us to count our population. The results determine where billions of dollars in federal funding are allocated: funding for our hospitals, fire departments, schools, roads and other critical resources that Coloradans use every day. Funding for programs like Head Start, Medicaid and the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program are all informed by the results of the census — critical programs that serve families and individuals throughout our community and lift up our most vulnerable populations.
Put simply, an accurate count of Coloradans will shape our future and ensure our communities have the resources they need.
While Colorado’s overall response rate is 66.5%, above the national average of 63.2%, only 26.3% of Summit County residents have filled out their 2020 census forms. We have a long way to go to ensure we are all counted. We must each do our duty and make sure our families, friends and neighbors all participate, too. You can track the response rates by state, county and congressional district at 2020Census.gov/en/response-rates.
Additionally, the new realities of COVID-19 have made it important for individuals to self-respond rather than waiting to be contacted by a census official. The U.S. Census Bureau has had to push back the start date for its in-person operations and only began hand-delivering census invitations to households with a post office box on May 18.
The people of Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, Keystone, Copper Mountain, Montezuma and throughout Summit County are depending on all of us to fill out our census forms so that we do not miss out on federal funds.
The census is confidential. It counts every person living in the U.S., regardless of age or citizenship status. Your data is safe and confidential, protected by law from being shared with law enforcement, immigration agencies or housing authorities.
It is easier than ever before to complete the census online, by phone or by mail. You can even respond in 13 languages online or by phone. You can fill out the census by visiting My2020Census.gov, calling 844-330-2020 or by filling out and mailing back a printed questionnaire, which tends to be sent to the households of people who have not responded online. However you choose to respond, the process takes minutes.
We are living in stressful and uncertain times, there is no doubt about that. But even now, we must take a few minutes to ensure that our communities are accurately represented for the next 10 years. The census is quick and easy: In just 10 minutes, you can fill out your questionnaire and help your community access the resources that they deserve. You can find the questions on the form at 2020Census.gov/en/about-questions. The deadline to complete this is Sept. 30.
It’s up to each of us to respond to the census and ensure an accurate count — our community is relying on it.
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Crow Calls Out Washington's "Empathy Gap" |
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Congressman Jason Crow joined Morning Joe on MSNBC to talk about the need for Congress to act on COVID-19 relief for working people, the importance of voting by mail, and protecting the Postal Service. Click here to watch! |
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Trump, Gardner, & GOP Watch |
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Trump Calls for Cuts to Social Security, Medicare |
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Trump Calls for Making Permanent Cuts to Both the Medicare and Social Security Payroll Taxes From Forbes Magazine
President Trump said over the weekend, "If I'm victorious on November 3rd, I plan to forgive these [payroll taxes for Social Security and Medicare] and make permanent cuts to the payroll tax."
Currently, employers and employees split the 12.4% payroll tax on the first $137,700 of 2020 earnings and also split the 2.9% Medicare tax on all earnings. The self-employed pay the entire tax.
Trump not only wants to suspend these taxes during the pandemic crisis, he says he wants to make permanent cuts to these taxes.
First, the only people who pay these taxes are people who still have their jobs and their earnings. With millions unemployed it can be argued that it would make more sense to increase deficit spending by providing help directly to those who don't have any earnings––the unemployed.
But the bigger question revolves around the suspension of funding to Medicare and Social Security––particularly permanent cuts.
Both the Medicare and Social Security trust funds are running out of money––both face an inability to pay full benefits if their problems aren't solved by either increasing funding or cutting benefits. That is projected by the Congressional Budget Office to happen for Medicare in 2025 and Social Security in 2031.
So, with their solvency teetering, why would you cut their taxpayer provided funding sources?
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"A vote for Cory Gardner is a vote for Donald Trump.” |
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(Photo Credit: Mark Reis) |
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From the Colorado Sun
Republicans in Colorado are becoming increasingly nervous about U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner’s reelection odds as President Donald Trump’s poll numbers crater in the state and across the nation.
That’s because Gardner’s reelection strategy hinges on his ability to win support from voters unwilling to back the president but who are enamored enough with the Republican senator’s record to give him a second term. And the worse Trump does in the state, the harder that becomes.
An average of the latest public polling in Colorado shows Trump down by 14.5 percentage points to former Vice President Joe Biden, according to the political data site FiveThirtyEight. Republican operatives say that margin is far too large for Gardner to bridge with so-called split-ticket voters who back both him and Biden.
Anything more than a 10 percentage point split between Trump and Biden could spell disaster.
“Jesus Christ himself couldn’t overperform Trump by double digits,” said Tyler Sandberg, a Republican operative.
But the Trump campaign isn’t investing in Colorado. Unlike in other states, Trump hasn’t reserved television ad time, according to a Colorado Sun analysis of Federal Communications Commission records. Major national groups that are backing the president’s reelection bid haven’t opened their purse strings for Colorado either.
It’s a sign that Colorado has lost its status as a presidential battleground state. And with Trump’s campaign needing to direct resources to shore up support in other parts of the country, there are Republican anxieties about whether Trump will be willing or able to spend in Colorado to close the gap enough to give Gardner a chance.
Other down-ballot Republicans also could suffer if the Trump campaign can’t keep the election in Colorado within striking distance, leading to another difficult election year after the disastrous 2018 cycle. ... Democrat Ken Salazar won election to the U.S. Senate in 2004 despite President George W. Bush taking Colorado — another example of ticket splitting in the state.
But Salazar thinks persuading voters to split their ticket requires a streak of independence. That was a key component to Coffman’s successful campaigns up until 2018, when the five-term congressman’s work to brand himself as independent of national politics wasn’t enough to escape Trump’s shadow.
“Ticket splitting does happen,” said Salazar, who is supporting Hickenlooper’s campaign. “The reality today, though, in 2020, is that the positions between Donald Trump and Cory Gardner are essentially one in the same. They’re two peas in one pod. If there were marked differences between Cory Gardner and Donald Trump, you could see that kind of ticket splitting going on. But, here, there is no difference. A vote for Cory Gardner is a vote for Donald Trump.”
Republicans have long worried that Gardner could run a flawless 2020 campaign and still come up short because of the political tides working against him.
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Join the Elbow Bumpers Club! |
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What's the Elbow Bumpers Club (formerly known as the High Fivers Club), you ask? It started with a simple idea: There are nearly 1.2 million registered Democrats in Colorado -- what if every single one of them gave just $5 a month to the Colorado Democratic Party (CDP)?
Answer: The CDP would be the best-funded state party in the country -- with zero dollars from corporate PACs and plenty for flipping red seats to blue!
Here's the reality -- the Colorado Dems are working in overdrive to keep the wheels of democracy moving forward, and now is a time when we could really use your help! If you haven't joined the High Fivers Club (temporarily known as the Elbow Bumpers Club now) -- please consider a few reasons to give!
Click the gif below to join the Elbow Bumpers Club! |
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The Funnies! |
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Contributions or gifts to the Democratic Party of Colorado are not tax deductible |
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