If there was a surprise in Tuesday’s election, it was that Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper survived a strong challenge by Bob Beauprez. Right up to Election Day, polls showed Beauprez leading.
Seeing a chance to claim a governor’s seat, the Republican party hit Hickenlooper with all it had, including a claim that he was “threatening to set a mass murderer free.” In truth, the governor had granted Chuck E. Cheese killer Nathan Dunlap a temporary reprieve from the death penalty, an action far more about capital punishment than about Dunlap, who will spend his life in prison.
It is hard to know what swayed voters in Hickenlooper’s direction – analysts will parse that for months – but in the end voters apparently could not stomach Beauprez’ extreme positions and hard-hitting campaign style, contrasting with Hickenlooper’s firm resolve to remain positive. The Republican wave was not strong enough in Colorado to lift Beauprez, who has had more than one chance to alienate voters.
The race should not have been as close as it was. Hickenlooper has been a moderate, pragmatic governor, which is exactly what Colorado needs. In supporting both energy development and environmental controls, he offered something for everyone to dislike, but those were the right moves. The state’s economy is healthier than most others. Hickenlooper will understand the messages voters sent in this close call, and that shows he is the right governor for this time in history.
Sen. Mark Udall was not so fortunate. Swept into office in a year when voters across the country were disgusted with Republican actions, he was swept back out when voters grew disgusted that Democrats could not do any better. Udall always was more liberal than his state, and he let himself be too closely associated with the president at a time when that was not beneficial. He is also part of what voters consider a political dynasty. The people of Colorado should not forget his accomplishments, though, and Cory Gardner should remember that Coloradans do value environmental protection.
Gardner managed to distance himself from worrisome statements he had made in the past, and he convinced voters that he had their best interests in mind. Gardner presents himself as a nice, friendly guy whose libertarian bent will result in sensible government. But there is more to him than that, and voters, especially women, may regret believing that he has changed his spots. He was, however, a compelling candidate at the right time. We hope he, too, learns the lessons of his tight race, because Colorado is still a purple state.
Congressman Scott Tipton had no trouble winning re-election against a weak opponent who nonetheless earned a strong third of the vote. There is a message in that for Tipton, who has not always represented his geographically vast and economically diverse district as well as he could. By adhering to the party line, he sometimes does not acknowledge that Southwest Colorado and Washington are very different from one another. He will be part of a strengthened coalition this year; let’s hope he uses that power wisely.
Closer to home, Steve Nowlin cruised to victory against write-in candidate Michael Steele in the Montezuma County sheriff’s race. Steele could have been a contender, had he just met the deadline to get his name on the ballot, and tallying as many write-in votes as he did was an accomplishment. His supporters tried to cast doubt on Nowlin’s character by resurrecting 2008 allegations that were dismissed by a judge at the time. Their timing was exquisite, but the tactic came across as desperate, sleazy politics.
Nowlin, like Hickenlooper, ran a positive and ethical campaign. He will run the sheriff’s office in the same way. That job does not need to be nearly as political as Dennis Spruell has made it, nor should it be nearly as much about the sheriff himself. Nowlin will be a good, calm leader, and he will surround himself with good people who will guide him as he learns his new job — one he’s been prepping for since the primary. Voters made the right choice; Nowlin will serve the county well.
That James Lambert will be the next Montezuma County commissioner is a surprise to no one, although unaffiliated challenger Bill Utrup garnered major support with his good-natured, low-key campaign. Lambert has studied the issues carefully, and his positions appeal to the Republican majority in the county. More than 3,000 people voted for Utrup, though, in a year when Republicans had a strong advantage. That should tell Lambert that he needs to listen to, and respect, opinions that are far different from his own, because he now represents thousands of people who hold them.
That is going to be the issue to watch in the next two years. Now that the pendulum has swung, again, will the Republicans move forward with important issues, or will they be content to oppose anything they can label as a Democratic policy? There is real work to be done, and done well, it will mean compromises and practical moves that may not play well on the campaign trail. We hope that those we have elected to lead us will serve their constituents and not spend their time looking toward the next election.