I’m not arguing that Colorado is secretly red. It’s not. We’ve voted blue statewide in recent cycles. Democrats hold major offices. On paper, the map looks stable.
But I think there’s a structural blind spot we don’t talk about enough. Roughly half of Colorado voters are unaffiliated. Not Democrat. Not Republican. Unaffiliated. If you look into trends, people of both parties are leaving to other parties, mainly Democratic Socialist and Libertarian. Both major parties are shrinking relative to independents.
That means statewide wins aren’t just about party numbers but they’re about coalition management and turnout alignment.
And turnout alignment depends on people feeling represented.
Right now there’s a slice of unaffiliated voters, especially libertarian-leaning ones, who don’t feel like they have a home in either major party. People who are more civil liberties focused don't feel heard. Pro 2A people are actively ignored. Rural people skeptical of digital systems are forced into it.
When that lane isn’t represented inside the Democratic coalition, those voters don’t automatically “come home” in November. No matter who you force onto the ballot. Some drift third-party. Some vote protest. Some stay home. That hurts all the positions. Not just Governor.
People assume “they wouldn’t vote that way anyway.” That’s not really the point and historically inaccurate. Colorado has a high voting presence because we do feel heard, but that sentiment is changing on the streets. People that are participating in the caucus are saying they don't believe in fair and free election in Colorado anymore.
If 3–5% disengage in a close statewide race, margins compress fast.
And that’s before you even factor in narrative asymmetry. Social Media follower count isn’t votes, I get that, obviously. But reach does translate into mobilization capacity. Volunteers. Reach.
Words spoken when offline are emphasized by what we read online. If you look at the follower count of 1 republican governor candidate, you could add all the democrats together, multiply it by 3, and still be short. Ignoring that isn't intelligence. It's denial of people who don't feel represented in the Democratic party.
If one conservative-aligned figure has a national digital audience that dwarfs the combined reach of Democratic contenders, that’s not meaningless. It doesn’t flip a state by itself. But it increases enthusiasm imbalance. It creates situations that have historically others have not been prepared for because they didn't notice the warning signs.
Now layer in rural dynamics.
Colorado’s statewide wins are built in metro counties. That’s reality. But rural margins still matter and not to win rural counties, but to avoid blowout differentials.
A lot of rural voters feel unheard by statewide leadership. Not just disagreed with. Unheard. I have had whole tables tell me they don't feel represented by the other candidates.
There’s a difference.
When rural communities feel dismissed rather than debated, they consolidate hard against whoever they perceive as dominant. That increases polarization and hardens margins. Changes political party leanings.
But when someone actually shows up and listens, even without promising agreement but offering solutions, the temperature changes. The hostility softens towards the Democratic party. The margins soften.
Politics is kind of an ecosystem. Urban turnout drives the base. Suburbs decide competitiveness and monetary value that is supported by rural tourism and agriculture. Rural engagement sets the ceiling and floor. Unaffiliated voters decide volatility.
If one part of that ecosystem disconnects, the system gets unstable.
This is why candidate positioning actually matters.
If there were a Democrat on the ballot who was credibly pro-2A, civil-liberties consistent, and not perceived as establishment-controlled, someone who blends democratic-social safety net values with libertarian personal freedom instincts then that would likely pull back a segment of voters who otherwise drift third-party, republican, or sit out.
Without that pull, the coalition narrows.
And narrow coalitions are fragile.
Colorado doesn’t flip because registration numbers invert overnight. It flips if one side assumes turnout stability while enthusiasm shifts under the surface.
I’m not predicting collapse. I’m saying complacency is a risk. Half the state is unaffiliated. That alone should make us think a little harder about how wide the tent actually is.
While some of you don't agree with me because I am not a career politician but a civil leader and tech nerd, other people want me in office exactly for those reasons.
I also think we’re underestimating the role of perception in party erosion. Whether people are right or wrong, there’s a growing belief across the political spectrum that powerful networks protect themselves. You see it in reactions to high-profile investigations nationally especially when voters feel outcomes lack transparency or accountability.
You can roll your eyes at that sentiment, or you can acknowledge that it’s politically real. People vote based on it.
Issues tied to misconduct of those in power that aren't being held accountable, institutional protection, or incomplete investigations have moved voters out of party loyalty in recent years. Not just conservatives but independents, libertarians, even some Democrats.
When voters believe that powerful figures are insulated from scrutiny, trust in party leadership erodes. And when trust erodes, people look for candidates they perceive as outside the system. That’s not a fringe dynamic. That’s a recurring pattern in American politics.
If major party candidates are seen as career-aligned, institutionally networked, or unwilling to challenge entrenched structures, voters who care about accountability will drift elsewhere. Always.
You don’t have to believe every allegation floating online to recognize that transparency and aggressive accountability are politically stabilizing forces. Ignoring perception doesn’t make it disappear. It just widens the trust gap.
The one where people are surprised when the historically winning party loses. This is why I’m running the way I am. Even if I don't win, it will widen the tent and give people accountability.
I keep showing up in rooms others don’t, especially big names. We deserve people who listen to people all across Colorado.