Republicans are growing concerned that Colorado is slipping further into Democratic hands after recent losses and a string of close calls in the most conservative parts of the state.
The governing party of the Centennial State was dealt the latest blow this week when Republicans lost the mayoral race in Colorado Springs, which is the first time in decades that a Republican is not at the helm of the conservative stronghold.
It follows a surprising, almost shocking last year when Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert (Colo.) nearly lost her re-election bid in what was shaping up to be one of the biggest upsets of the midterms.
Colorado’s changing political landscape, which Republicans say is a confluence of factors, comes as the party tries to maintain a slim House majority in next year’s election.
Sandra Hagen Solin, the founder of Capitol Solutions, a lobbying firm, who has worked in Republican politics, shared that Colorado first experienced the “swing to the left” in the midterms.
Solon noted that “historically” Colorado is a state that votes for the person, with plenty of split votes, adding that in the most recent election cycle, ” it was largely an up-and-down-the-ticket vote for a party, for Democrats.”
On Tuesday (May 16), that trend continued when residents of Colorado Springs elected political newcomer and independent candidate Yemi Mobolade to lead the city over Republican Wayne Williams, who is a former Colorado secretary of state.
Mobolade’s win marks the first time in nearly fifty years that a Republican is not mayor.
Results from the initial 12-candidate mayoral race in April showed early signs that Mobolade was leading the race, but Tuesday’s runoff margin showed a remarkable 15-point victory in the once-Republican stronghold.
