• Town Talk

This past weekend we drove up to Riverton, Wyo., so I could speak to their annual Jefferson-Jackson Day dinner. I had a little trepidation at accepting the invitation. You don’t want to jinx your momentum by acting as if the job is done.

Wyoming is a very Republican state in registration, although they do have a Democrat in the governor’s office, and they are slowly making in-roads into the state Legislature. They also have one of the most vibrant and exciting group of young Democrats I have met anywhere. 

My job was to review Colorado’s gains and draw some lessons that might be used by Wyoming. It was an opportunity for me to review our accomplishments as Colorado Democrats and to bring a word of caution back to my colleagues and friends.

The story of the past decade goes back to 1998 when Ken Salazar ran and won the Attorney General’s race in Colorado. He would be the only statewide elected Democrat by 2002. Out of seven Congressional Districts, Democrats Diana DeGette and Mark Udall were serving in the U.S. House of Representatives from Congressional Districts 1 and 2.

Turning tide

By 2004 the tide began to turn. U.S. Reps. DeGette and Udall were joined by John Salazar from CD3. And Ken Salazar won a U.S. Senate seat. Colorado was still a Republican state in the national view because it carried for President Bush. The light came from the majorities gained in the Colorado General Assembly — both the House and Senate.

Gov. Bill Ritter won his seat in 2006. So did Cary Kennedy, who was elected as Colorado State Treasurer. Steve Ludwig surprised everyone by winning a statewide Colorado Regents race. The Colorado General Assembly added seats to both House and Senate.  U.S. Rep.  Ed Perlmutter was elected to represent CD7.

In 2008 we saw a historic turnout for the caucuses.  People stayed involved in races up and down the ticket.  U.S. Rep. Mark Udall became U.S. Sen. Mark Udall. U.S. Rep. Jared Polis won Udall’s House seat. And U.S. Rep. Betsy Markey became the newest addition to the Colorado’s Congressional delegation by winning the CD4 seat.  Majorities in the State House and Senate were maintained.  But most significant Colorado carried the Presidential race for Barack Obama. 

Big change

From 2002 to 2008, Democrats had gone from no U.S. Senate seats to both; from two out of seven seats in the U.S. House of Representatives to five out of seven.  Democrats went from having one statewide office — Attorney General — to having all statewide offices (with the appointment of Bernie Buescher) to all but one — Attorney General.

Many have written about what the key factors were in this transformation. Here is my perspective. We have been operating on a set of principles: Show up everywhere, train everyone, communicate internally and externally, build your candidate bench, and make sure you have the best candidates. 

Democrats have been helped by a large donor pool that not only gives to the state party but also to candidates. We cannot coordinate with separate donor coalitions, but we do recognize that they have made a significant difference.

Last year we registered more than 250,000 new Democrats.  Unaffiliated voters still dominate the registration pool, but we will continue to register voters to build our strength. Early voting and mail ballots have helped prevent the long lines that sent many home without voting in 2006. 

But all success is fragile in politics. We have economic challenges and the battle over providing the best way to make sure that Colorado and American citizens are most healthy, educated and have the opportunity make a good living.  

Democrats take seriously their responsibility for governance.  If you don’t know your public officials, take an opportunity to visit, call or go to a town meeting. In the end politics are about people. The only gain that counts is that we are better off than before.  That is the challenge.

Pat Waak is chair of the Colorado Democratic Party. The views expressed in this guest column are those of Waak’s and not necessarily those of the Denver Daily News. Respond to this guest column at editor@thedenverdailynews.com.

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