Colorado Election Watch 2014

Why Should I Care?

Colorado's this-close Senate race could be the difference between whether the GOP gets the Senate majority or not. And a popular, down-the-middle Democratic governor is suddenly fighting to keep his job. High stakes in a high state.

Who Do I Need To Know?

Senate
Sen. Mark Udall (D, Incumbent): One of many Dems who got the Senate job in '08 back when everything was hopey changey. Udall's got politics in his genes—his dad was a popular AZ congressman with a bipartisan rep that Udall's trying to protect.

Rep. Cory Gardner (R): One of many Republicans who got elected in '10 when everything was less hopey changey. He’s a rising GOP star with a Tea Party streak.

Governor
Gov. John Hickenlooper (D, Incumbent): Considers himself a "can't we all just get along?" kinda guy, but has rubbed voters the wrong way on issues like the death penalty and fracking (read: shooting liquids deep in the ground to free up oil and gas).

Bob Beauprez (R): Former congressman who gave up the job in 2006 to run for governor. That didn’t work out. He’s hoping second time’s a charm.

What Are The Issues?

Obama: Colorado voters are riding the anti-Obama train right now, and it's rubbing off on Udall. When Gardner tries to tie him to Obama, Udall tries to say 'that's not my name. That’s not my name.'

Social Issues: Gardner recently decided he's OK with over-the-counter birth control, which might have something to do with the fact that he’s got a women problem—polls have shown Udall leading double-digits among women voters.

Environment: Colorado’s gotten a big economic boost from the US natural gas boom, but there's also been a big debate over whether it's actually good for the environment. Dems wanted to vote on whether to ban a kind of natural gas production called "fracking," but called it off when they saw focus on the issue could hurt Dems Hickenlooper and Udall.

Obamacare: Udall used to be a sure-thing for re-election, until the botched Obamacare rollout last year put a big, ugly spotlight on Udall's 'yes' vote for the law. It's Gardner's favorite issue to hit his opponent with.

Gimme Something to Say

Are you drinking the fracking Kool-Aid? Gov. John Hickenlooper (D) is. He told a Senate Committee in 2013 that he drank fracking liquid "almost ritual-like, in a funny way." LOL?

I’m from Colorado. What Do I Need to Know About Voting?

October 14th is your deadline to register in person.

October 27th is your deadline to register online. click here, and git 'er done.

October 31st is your deadline to submit an absentee ballot if you're going to be out of state on Election Day. To get an absentee ballot, fill this out, and mail it to the address on the form.

November 4th is Election Day. Get it done before you light up—voting closes at 7 p.m. local time.