News

Planned Parenthood Votes Colorado Endorses Matthew Martinez!

With an abortion ban on the ballot this year, it is more important than ever that we elect reproductive rights champions who will protects and expand access to health care in our state instead of undermining it.

That’s why we’re supporting Matthew Martinez for House District 62.

County Assembly Locations

For the most up to date county assembly locations and times, please follow the link below:

https://www.coloradodems.org/2020-county-assembly-and-convention-locations/

A quick note from Chair Morgan Carroll on COVID-19:

Good evening, everyone. It’s not hyperbole to say that we’re dealing with an unprecedented situation with the coronavirus (COVID-19). While I am thankful that we have steady leadership in the state capitol with Governor Jared Polis, and our Democratic majorities in the General Assembly, there are still a lot of questions out there, and understandably a lot of fear and uncertainty.

I would like to echo what our elected leaders have been saying here in Colorado: this is a scary situation, but we will get through this together. We’re in this together, and it’s up to all of us to practice smart habits to keep ourselves and our neighbors safe.

As you all are likely have been wondering, COVID-19 is indeed impacting our assembly and convention process. I want to be clear: Our focus is on protecting public health and safety, while ensuring the wheels of democracy continue to move forward fairly.

The law and rules at the time of the COVID-19 outbreak did not allow dates to be changed or remote or electronic meetings or voting. Therefore, the state party pursued emergency legislation, emergency executive orders and emergency rules to allow us to make the necessary changes to protect public health and safety, while also ensuring that voters can still exercise their right to vote.

The legislature is moving quickly to pass this emergency legislation before they suspend their activities for two weeks in the interest of public safety. As the state party, we are prepared to assist our county parties in every way possible to ensure that — pending the legislation’s passage — they will be able to allow remote participation in their assemblies and conventions.

Why is this being done?

Personal and Public Safety. We want to keep everyone healthy and safe.
Every Vote Matters. Every person entitled to vote in the assembly and convention process should be able to do so without putting themselves, their loved ones, or others at risk.
Fair Ballot Access for Candidates. Every candidate going through the assembly process can still be nominated and seconded. Meetings should accommodate a way to hear from candidates to determine who gets on the ballot.
Delegate Fairness. Coloradans elected to be delegates should still have a chance to run and be elected to a subsequent assembly or convention.
Fair Representation. Delegates elected to a subsequent assembly should still reflect the proportion of support a candidate earned to the maximum extent possible.
Democracy and Democratic Processes Must Be Protected. Despite the challenges, we must still allow democratic processes and elections to continue. Cancelling voting and elections would set an alarming precedent.

I want to emphasize that in the wake of COVID-19, it is imperative for our country’s future that our democratic processes aren’t frozen or scrapped. Under the circumstances, elections must still be held to choose the leaders who will represent Colorado both in Washington and here at home.

Stay safe and stay well. Please feel free to reach out to me via email at mcarroll@coloradodems.org with any questions. We will get through this together.

In Solidarity,

Morgan Carroll, Chair
Colorado Democratic Party

Colorado legislature shuts down for 2 weeks because of coronavirus

All pending legislation will remain in place until lawmakers return to finish the 120-day lawmaking term

“I think all 100 members of this General Assembly want to do their job, we don’t want to go home,” said Senate Majority Leader Steve Fenberg, a Boulder Democrat who sits on the executive committee. “But we also want to make sure people are safe and we are modeling the appropriate behavior that should be happening and take this situation very seriously — because it is very serious.”

The decision was formalized Friday in a resolution by the Executive Committee of the Legislative Council, a group of six top Democrats — including Fenberg — and Republicans in the statehouse. It still has to pass both chambers of the legislature, but is expected to be adopted with ease.

“This is the most appropriate decision for the legislature,” said House Majority Leader Alec Garnett, a Denver Democrat who also sits on the Executive Committee.

The pause in lawmaking had been expected, but it wasn’t clear until Friday afternoon when the Capitol would close and for how long. The decision was made about an hour after Colorado’s first death from the coronavirus was announced, an El Paso County woman in her 80s. 

All pending legislation will remain in place until lawmakers return on March 30. They may decide to elongate the recess if the coronavirus continues to spread and leadership decides it remains unsafe to resume lawmaking. 

“It’s possible we could extend that,” said House Speaker KC Becker, a Boulder Democrat.


A note on the door of the Colorado Senate Wednesday, March 11, 2020, asking visitors to send emails to lawmakers instead of passing them business cards or notes. “I’m not a health expert,” said Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, a Parker Republican. “But if large groups of people congregating in a confined area increases the chance of spreading it, it kind of seems like something we ought to avoid.” (Jesse Paul, The Colorado Sun)
Senate Minority Leader Chris Holbert, a Parker Republican, stressed that the GOP was not planning to play politics with the legislative pause.

“This is not a political discussion, this is not about trying to burn the clock, to run down the clock,” said Holbert. “… This is about doing what’s right for the people of Colorado. This is about protecting the people.”

Lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Saturday for a rare day of weekend lawmaking to finish passing several measures — including the resolution shutting down the legislature — they say must be completed before they can take a break. It’s likely that the recess will begin about midday. 

The General Assembly cannot adjourn indefinitely. Lawmakers must return to pass the estimated $32 billion state budget by June 30. 

The Joint Budget Committee, the panel that writes the budget, is expected to continue working during the recess. It will receive an economic forecast on Monday a key step toward finishing the budget, which is expected to be ready for introduction when lawmakers return.

The forecast could paint a grim picture of state revenues as the economy slumps because of the virus and the budget committee also could have to set aside money to address the public health emergency. It’s likely that budget writers will spend the next two weeks rewriting their almost-finished document accordingly.

Becker told her Democratic colleagues to plan for a dearth of dollars and it’s possible that some priorities could see reduced funding. “Don’t plan on having a lot of money to spend” on legislation, she told them Thursday.

The legislature was originally scheduled to wrap up the 120-day session on May 6. But the recess could push that date back.

The legislature is asking the Colorado Supreme Court for clarity on whether they can extend the lawmaking term beyond that date.

Martinez Announces Candidacy

Martinez Announces Candidacy for House District 62

7th Generation Colorado Native Matthew Martinez is announcing his candidacy for Colorado’s House District 62 on October 5, 2019. Martinez is a United States Marine Corps and Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran and a graduate of Adams State University.

Announcement locations:
Campaign Kick Off - Pueblo, Colorado
Sunday October 6, 2019 - 11am
Do Drop Inn
1201 S Santa Fe Ave
Pueblo, CO 81006

Campaign Kick Off - Walsenburg, Colorado
Saturday October 5, 2019 - 1:30pm
Heritage Park
Walsenburg, CO 81089

Campaign Kick Off - Alamosa, Colorado
Saturday October 5, 2019 - 7pm
Oscar's Mexican Restaurant
520 Main Street
Alamosa, CO 81101

Adams State names Matthew Martinez Exceptional New Alumnus