BY Blake Biegalski
Vice Chair, Executive Committee – Forward Party – Colorado
In the Colorado General Assembly, there are 35 seats in the Senate. There is currently a split of 12 Republicans (34.3%) and 23 Democrats (65.7%). As things stand, the Democratic Party is one seat short of having a supermajority in the Senate. And that breaks down to mean that Democrats would not need approval from any Republican Senators and could pass whatever legislation they so choose. Combine this potential situation with the fact that the Democratic Party already has a supermajority in the House of Representatives, and that chief executive Governor Polis is a Democrat, and the Democratic Party is poised to establish a Trifecta. This lock on the legislative structure in Colorado would lead to being able to pass legislation with ease in both the House and the Senate, and all but guarantee a signature from Governor Polis. Democrats could effectively pass whatever laws they see fit for the state of Colorado without any meaningful involvement of or resistance from the Republican Party.
For about 25% of readers, that may seem ideal. If the Party that most aligns with their values is in power, it can seem like a good thing. For another 25% (approximately), it will seem like the worst situation possible, because the political party that they identify with would have no meaningful power. And for the remaining 50%, it’s a bad situation. There may be things they like about the Democratic Party’s values, but there are other issues on which they’d prefer a more conservative approach. The majority of the voters are disadvantaged by such an imbalance in power, having their voice minimized or silenced completely.
To further illustrate the dangers of a supermajority, let’s look at a superpower on the international stage. Officially, China has nine political parties. Eight of them are considered to be minor parties, and the “ruling” party is the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). The CCP has a supermajority in their legislative control, and the power of the chief executive. Whatever legislation is proposed by the CCP is passed with no meaningful discourse or resistance from any other party..
Chris Kolker is the incumbent for the State Senate seat for District 16. His voting record is highly partisan. In a recent questionnaire with Colorado Politics, Mr. Kolker stated that members of the GOP seek him out and ask his help managing solutions to problems. His voting record, however, indicates that he has very rarely supported GOP backed bills. Despite claims of bipartisanship, he has no endorsements from any organization or individuals on the right side of the aisle. Additionally, he voted to keep secret meetings between lawmakers secret. When Bob Marshal (D) introduced a bill to make secret meetings open to transparency, Mr. Kolker opposed this disclosure to the public and supported a bill to make those secret meetings legal.
The GOP nominee for the Colorado Senate Seat in District 16 is Robyn Carnes. Ms. Carnes is different from your average Republican Candidate, and speaks on the need to be more “Purple” – symbolic of working in a more bipartisan way and “mixing” Red and Blue interests. She talks extensively about collaboration, the fact that no one political party has all the answers, and that no one political party should have all the power. She strongly advocates working across the aisle, and has made it abundantly clear that her dedication will be to the constituency she represents rather than to party lines. This is the primary factor that secured her Forward Party endorsement.
Ms. Carnes is a clear divergence from typical party politics, understanding and collaborating with Democrats. She is on the front lines in advocating for a lower cost of living and directly addressing the housing crisis that is plaguing Colorado. The unhoused population is on the rise, and she is committed to identifying and addressing root causes rather than applying band-aid solutions to symptoms. Immigration is another hot button issue this election cycle, and Ms. Carnes presents herself as a problem solver for this complex issue rather than pointing fingers. Additionally, she aligns with Forward Party values by being a supporter of voters and voting rights and understanding the need for election reform. Casting your vote for Candidate Carnes will not be only a benefit for democracy in Colorado, but a step forward in solving the wider issues that face our state today.