Ron Hanks Stood with Colorado’s Top Election Deniers in support of Tina Peters
Last week, insurrectionist and GOP Senate candidate Ron Hanks joined Colorado’s top election deniers and top Trump ally John Eastman to show support for Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters after she was arrested.
Hanks criticized Secretary of State Jena Griswold for requesting money to ensure her safety, even though Griswold has received numerous threats thanks to Ron Hanks, Donald Trump, and the Big Lie. Insurrectionist and Mike Lindell ally Shawn Smith threatened Griswold and said, “if you’re involved in election fraud then you deserve to hang. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.”
Peters’ arrest amplified the growing election conspiracy movement inside of the Colorado GOP. Hanks’ election conspiracy theories have been at the center of the GOP Senate primary and now with Peters’ candidacy for Secretary of State, it will continue to be the main focus for Colorado Republicans.
Read excerpts below from 9News Denver and the Colorado Sun:
When Hanks spoke, he brought up Griswold's request for security money.
"A secretary of state who thinks she is so entitled to private security. It's $120,000," he said. "It passed. It'll be more next year."
Hanks told the crowd he is working on election integrity and talked about a couple of bills at the state Capitol that would drastically change how Colorado conducts elections. He knows they do not have a chance.
"We will prepare the battle space for the next session, and when we hit the majority, they can pull these bills out of archive," said Hanks.
Speakers included state representative and U.S. Senate candidate Ron Hanks, who was at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and who invokes the Big Lie at every campaign stop; John Eastman, the former University of Colorado Boulder visiting scholar and Donald Trump’s top legal adviser on how to steal the 2020 election; FEC United’s founder Joe Oltmann, who is most infamous for calling for some reporters and politicians, including Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, to be hanged; My Pillow Guy pal Shawn Smith, who responded to chants from the crowd to lock up Secretary of State Jena Griswold by saying that though he believed in due process, “if you’re involved in election fraud then you deserve to hang. Sometimes the old ways are the best ways.”
That’s a lot of lynching talk, but apparently those are the kinds of people that Hanks and Peters, um, hang around with.
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I don’t know what kind of chance Hanks has, but he has been winning a series of Republican straw votes, which isn’t that surprising given that a majority of Republicans, according to all the polls, say they believe in the Big Lie that Joe Biden stole the election.
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And before you try to put it down to fringe Republicans, remember that a majority of Colorado House Republicans voted for an amendment commending Hanks for going to the Capitol on Jan. 6.
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Colorado GOP Continues to Applaud Ron Hanks While Gino Campana Panders to Far-Right Base
Denver, CO – Elections were the main focus of last night’s GOP Senate primary forum which gave Ron Hanks the platform he needed to push conspiracy theories about the 2020 election being stolen. Hanks came into the forum with a fresh endorsement from Colorado election conspiracy theorist Joe Oltmann, and he was applauded at the forum for saying “Trump won this.”
Last month, two-thirds of the GOP House caucus voted to formally thank Hanks for attending the Jan. 6 insurrection and he also won straw polls after forums in El Paso County and Grand Junction.
“Ron Hanks and his election conspiracy theories continue to be the center of gravity and he’s transformed the Republican primary into an audition for Trump’s approval. Gino Campana is desperately trying to prove himself to Republican caucus-goers by flaunting Trump endorsements he got through his daughter – when in reality, he’s masquerading as a conservative who attacks government spending but shamelessly takes PPP loans and doesn’t pay them back.” –Colorado Democratic Party spokesperson Nico Delgado
While Hanks is ramping up his support with the far-right base, ultra wealthy CEO Gino Campana is trying to solidify his conservative bonafides with endorsements that he got through his daughter and the recent addition of Kellyanne Conway as senior advisor. Campana is desperate to prove to far-right caucus-goers that he’s one of them, when in reality he’s taken advantage of taxpayer-funded loans and was involved with the Obama administration.
When asked about his involvement with the Obama administration at the Weld County forum, Campana said “I had no time in the Obama administration,” but he lists working with the Obama admin on his campaign website and city councilman bio. In December 2020, Campana told the Coloradoan: “Not unlike in the Obama administration where I tried to pitch in where I could, working with them on sexual assault and domestic violence, I have been reaching out to the Trump administration since the beginning asking how I could help.”
At this point in the primary, the GOP is only able to offer Hanks’ election conspiracy theories and Campana’s deceptiveness – and it is too out of touch with Coloradans.
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Embracing Far-Right Rhetoric and Absence of Heidi Ganahl Gains Danielle Neuschwanger Momentum
Ganahl’s repeated absences from gubernatorial forums has allowed Danielle Neuschwanger to gain a groundswell of Republican support across Colorado
Denver, CO – GOP gubernatorial candidate and far-right extremist Danielle Neuschwanger has capitalized on Heidi Ganahl’s continuous absence from the primary debate stage. Neuschwanger has come out victorious in two separate post-debate straw polls that saw her beat out former Parker mayor, Greg Lopez.
Since then, Neuschwanger has ramped up her extremist rhetoric as recently as this week – vowing to ban all abortions in Colorado during an interview on the Dan Caplis Show. Neuschwanger claimed that, if elected, she would sign an abortion ban “in a heartbeat.” Neuschwanger’s comments come at a time when Republicans in the Colorado state legislature continue to attempt to restrict abortion-access in the state.
Neuschwanger is no stranger to extremist comments given her history with disavowing the results of the 2020 election, and conspiracy theories about Governor Jared Polis. Neuschwanger’s momentum continues to grow as shown by her strong grassroots support in Q4 reporting more donors than Ganahl.
Meanwhile, alleged GOP gubernatorial frontrunner Heidi Ganahl has been absent from the debate and forum stage. Clearly feeling the pressure from her party to stop hiding and save face, her campaign released an announcement about her upcoming appearances - none of which will be candidate debates. Ganahl’s carefully curated list of campaign events remain the only opportunities for voters to see what she truly offers Colorado. To no surprise, the Colorado GOP continues to put up extreme candidates that are too out-of-touch with Coloradans.
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GOP Senate Candidates Decry Gov’t Spending but Take PPP Loans
“Joe O’Dea and Gino Campana received significant federal coronavirus loans. The two have criticized spending by congressional Democrats.”
Denver, CO – Wealthy CEOs and GOP Senate candidates Joe O’Dea and Gino Campana took millions of dollars in PPP loans during the coronavirus pandemic, but they both accused the federal government of careless spending on the campaign trail. While O’Dea claims to have paid back a part of the taxpayer-funded loan, Campana had all of his loans forgiven despite paying himself $4.3 million and having a net worth of up to $140 million. Both candidates also have self-funded their campaigns with around $500,000 each.
Campana will gladly take advantage of a taxpayer-funded program and line his own pockets but he refuses to support the Child Tax Credit, a tax cut for working families. He continued to showcase his own hypocrisy when he complained about having to pay a dishwasher $25 an hour: “We’re trying to fill jobs that we can’t fill. We have a restaurant, it’s one of our businesses, we’re paying $25 an hour to get a dishwasher to show up. You shouldn’t have that in our country.”
Former right-wing radio host and Senate candidate Deborah Flora has also made similar claims about government spending yet she’s benefitted from unemployment, including from California, in 2020 – and she’s already poured $103,000 of her own money into her campaign.
How can Coloradans trust Campana, O’Dea, and Flora when they denounce government spending while having taken advantage of it? And why did Campana refuse to pay back his more than $700,000 loan when he paid himself $4.3 million?
Read excerpts below from the Colorado Sun:
Republicans running this year to win back one of Colorado’s U.S. Senate seats often extol their fiscal conservative bona fides and criticize government spending. A Colorado Sun analysis shows several received federal loans or unemployment payments to weather the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Joe O’Dea owns Denver construction company Concrete Express, which received a PPP loan of nearly $2.9 million in April 2020 to cover payroll for an estimated 240 jobs. The loan was repaid the following month, O’Dea spokesman Zack Roday said.
O’Dea, whose assets are worth between $17.5 million and $77.4 million, reported receiving $663,000 in salary from Concrete Express.
Mile High Station and Ironworks Events Center, another business O’Dea owns shares in, received more than $319,000 in PPP loans over two years. Those loans were forgiven, and helped keep at least 22 employees on the payroll when large events were prohibited, Roday said. O’Dea reported $25,000 in salary from the event center business, of which he serves as president.
In his Senate campaign announcement, O’Dea noted his support for the coronavirus aid programs. “Look, government intervention in the midst of a pandemic was both legitimate and necessary,” O’Dea said. “Nobody begrudges a safety net.”
But, he added, “this attempt to turn the hardships of this past year into a hard left fiscal policy is dead wrong.”
At a Senate debate last week, Fort Collins businessman Gino Campana bemoaned what he said has been reckless spending by congressional Democrats.
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The Sun identified $710,000 in PPP loans granted to five of his companies, all of which were forgiven. He owns apartments, restaurants and other businesses.
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But Campana also received income of $4.3 million in 2020, according to his financial disclosure. About half that came from businesses that received PPP loans. Campana’s net worth is between $44.8 million and $141 million.
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GOP Senate candidate Deborah Flora, a radio talk show host and actress, reported receiving $15,000 in unemployment compensation in 2020. Her financial disclosure said the money “was for being furloughed due to the COVID shutdown.”
She also reported receiving income of $13,000 from Salem Radio and about $52,000 from her business, Lamplight Entertainment, in 2020 and 2021.
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Flora has given about $103,000 to her campaign, $50,000 in loans and about $53,000 in direct payments.
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At last week’s Senate debate, Flora objected to high federal spending.
Read the full story in the Colorado Sun.
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Gino Campana’s Trump Endorsements are Signs of Support from His Daughter, Not Trump
“Despite Campana’s connections to Trump, Campana has never donated to either of Trump’s presidential campaigns”
Denver, CO – Wealthy CEO and GOP Senate candidate Gino Campana is posing as a Trump loyalist to try and win over the far-right base he needs to get on the primary ballot. Four out of the six Trump endorsers actually work with Campana’s daughter at the America First Policy Institute – signaling the support he has from his daughter, not Donald Trump.
According to the Colorado Times Recorder, “Campana has never donated to either of Trump’s presidential campaigns” and in his latest interview on right-wing radio, he admitted that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Campana is taking a page from Cory Gardner’s playbook of having it both ways when it comes to Trump, but Coloradans rejected Gardner’s two-faced strategy. How can Coloradans expect Campana to be honest with them when he’s already lying about his connections to Trump?
Campana has multiple connections to Trump. Six of the seven people who have endorsed Campana, according to his website, have worked for Trump in some capacity. The one who hasn’t is former U.S. Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-CO), whose last year in Congress was 2003.
In addition, two of Campana’s daughters worked in the Trump administration and co-wrote The 1776 Report, the administration’s response to The 1619 Project. Alexandra Campana, one of Gino Campana’s daughters, now works for the America First Policy Institute (AFPI), a non-profit D.C. policy group staffed with ex-Trump officials.
Four of Gino Campana’s seven endorsements are also listed in the AFPI’s employee directory. They are:
- Keith Kellogg, former national security advisor to Trump, is now the co-chair of the AFPI’s Center for American Security;
- David Bernhardt, former U.S. secretary of the interior under Trump, is now the chair of the AFPI’s Center for American Freedom;
- Phil Bryant, former governor of Mississippi who worked for Trump’s 2020 campaign, is now a senior advisor to the AFPI;
- and Chad Wolf, nominated by Trump to be the U.S. secretary of homeland security, is now the chair of the AFPI’s Center for Homeland Security.
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Political experts in Colorado have said that connections to Trump might help Republican candidates get through the party primary, but could hurt them in the general election.
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Despite Campana’s connections to Trump, Campana has never donated to either of Trump’s presidential campaigns. According to FEC filings and Colorado Secretary of State data, Campana has donated nearly $10,000 to Republicans nationally and in Colorado since 2000. None of those donations have gone to Trump.
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GOP Senate frontrunner Ron Hanks Gains Momentum, Wins Straw Poll in Grand Junction ahead of Tonight’s Debate
Denver, CO – Leading GOP Senate candidate and insurrectionist Ron Hanks and his election conspiracy theories were front and center at last night’s debate in Grand Junction.
While Hanks appealed to the majority of the crowd with extremism and the Big Lie, candidates Eli Bremer, Gino Campana, and Joe O’Dea were too afraid to face the far-right base they need to secure the GOP nomination.
Hanks won the straw poll taken right after the debate with 133 votes (60%). Listen HERE for the straw poll results [26:20].
KREX Grand Junction reported on last night’s debate:
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GOP Senate Candidates Blast Each Other Ahead of Primary Debates
Ron Hanks calls fellow Republicans “weak”, Campana and O’Dea throw nasty attacks
Denver, CO – GOP Senate candidates are already attacking each other and setting a nasty tone ahead of Monday and Tuesday primary debates.
Leading candidate and insurrectionist Ron Hanks blasted fellow Republicans during a podcast and in a campaign email for going soft on the Big Lie stating, “weak Republicans will say anything to GET elected, then sell-out or fall prey to newfound friends who invite them inside the inner circle.”
Hanks also accused GOP Chairwoman Kristi Burton Brown of rigging the straw poll ahead of Tuesday’s debate since the results of the poll won’t be shared until the next day. Burton Brown has already expressed some favoritism by liking a tweet that discredits Hanks’ frontrunner status.
Wealthy CEOs Gino Campana and Joe O’Dea are also adding to the chaos ahead of the debates. Campana blasted O’Dea for saying he’ll qualify for the ballot through petition signatures instead of the caucus assembly process. O’Dea immediately fired back at Campana calling him a “tax-and-spend liberal” for imposing taxes on grocery bags while he served as a city councilman.
It’s clear that GOP candidates will be coming into the debates focused on tearing each other down and they will offer nothing but an extreme agenda that is too out-of-touch for Colorado.
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GOP Senate Frontrunner Ron Hanks Cosponsors Extreme Bill to Abolish Abortion in CO
Repro rights groups call out Hanks for wanting to make abortion illegal
Denver, CO – On the same week of the anniversary of the Roe v. Wade decision, state Representative and leading GOP Senate candidate Ron Hanks cosponsored an extreme bill to abolish all abortion in Colorado – and reproductive rights groups are calling him out for it.
In Hanks’ launch video, he labeled himself as a “defender of the unborn” and now he’s using his platform as a state Representative to threaten reproductive rights.
Cobalt Advocates and COLOR Action Fund called out Hanks on social media for attacking abortion rights in Colorado.
While the conservative majority in the Supreme Court decides the fate of Roe v. Wade this year, Hanks’ extreme bill is especially dangerous for Coloradans who are fighting to protect their rightful access to abortion. See all of the far-right bills Hanks is sponsoring or cosponsoring so far in the 2022 legislative session HERE.
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Two-thirds of House GOP Vote to Formally Thank Insurrectionist and GOP Senate Frontrunner Ron Hanks
“Hanks’ views on the 2020 elections, a centerpiece of his U.S. Senate campaign, were on full display on Tuesday”
Denver, CO – Yesterday GOP Senate candidate Ron Hanks showed why he’s the frontrunner when two-thirds of the House GOP caucus voted to formally thank him for attending the Jan. 6th insurrection. Ernest Luning from Colorado Politics referred to Hanks as the “leading Republican Senate candidate” and pointed to Hanks winning the straw poll following the 2nd GOP Senate forum and his appearances on national TV.
When given the chance to urge Congress to pass legislation to protect voting rights, the state GOP House caucus doubled down on election conspiracy theories by validating Ron Hanks and his obsession with the 2020 election. The GOP is proving to Colorado voters that they’re more interested in pushing an extreme, anti-democracy agenda that serves Donald Trump than fighting for Coloradans.
Watch and read coverage below:
9 News Denver:
Denver 7:
Read more about GOP House Representatives voting to formally thank Ron Hanks for being an insurrectionist in Denver 7, 9 News Denver, Axios Denver, Colorado Newsline, Colorado Politics, and CPR News.
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Two-thirds of House GOP Thank Insurrectionist Ron Hanks and Hanks Cements Frontrunner Status at 2nd GOP Forum
Denver, CO – GOP Senate frontrunner Ron Hanks is showing sizable support for his campaign rooted in the Big Lie from the Republican base and support from his fellow members in the Colorado House of Representatives.
Today, two-thirds of the Colorado Republican House caucus voted to thank state Representative and GOP Senate frontrunner Ron Hanks for attending the Jan. 6th insurrection.He also won the straw poll following the second GOP Senate forum on Saturday.
The GOP’s growing support for Ron Hanks and his conspiracy theories sends a clear message to Colorado voters that Republicans are focused on pushing an extreme agenda that serves Donald Trump and hurts Coloradans.
Read excerpts from Colorado Politics, the Denver Post, the Colorado Sun, and Colorado Times Recorder below:
Colorado Politics: Colorado lawmakers spar over voting rights resolution
Rep. Ron Hanks, a Cañon City Republican who is seeking the nomination to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, drew criticism for joking about lynching and arguing that a constitutional provision that treated slaves as three-fifths of a human being wasn't "impugning anybody's humanity."
Hanks’ views on the 2020 elections, a centerpiece of his U.S. Senate campaign, were on full display on Tuesday.
After praising King and civil rights leaders from the 1960s, Hanks dove into “election integrity.” That featured a defense of people who, like Hanks, were in Washington, D.C. for the Jan. 6 but did not participate in the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“I am a little offended for some of the people I met in Washington, D.C.,” Hanks said. “These people did nothing wrong. They were afraid for their country.”
Hanks also ran an unsuccessful amendment seeking a non-governmental audit of the 2020 election.
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Nico Delgado, the spokesman for the Colorado Democratic Party, said "two-thirds of the Republican House members voted to thank the U.S. Senate front-runner (Hanks), for being an insurrectionist. The GOP showed their true colors with this vote and it's all part of an extreme agenda that only serves Donald Trump and hurts Coloradans."
Two-thirds of Colorado House GOP members voted Tuesday in favor of formally thanking state Rep. Ron Hanks and those who joined him at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 at the U.S. Capitol.
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Hanks, a Fremont County Republican and candidate to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in November, attended Trump’s rally on Jan. 6 and then marched to the U.S. Capitol, sparking a Colorado House Democrat to call for his removal early last year. He spoke well Tuesday of the people he met in D.C.
“They were such nice people, Mr. Speaker,” he said. “These people did nothing wrong. They were afraid for their country.”
The Republicans who voted for the amendment to support Hanks, which also called for the removal of dead people from voter rolls, were…
Fifteen backed a change that called into question Biden’s 2020 victory, supported Peters and asked county clerks in Colorado to stop using electronic voting systems, including ones made by Denver-based Dominion Voting Systems. Among the supporters of the amendment were state Rep. Dave Williams, R-Colorado Springs, who is running to represent Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, and state Rep. Ron Hanks, a Fremont County Republican running for U.S. Senate.
Sixteen Republican members in the House voted for an amendment thanking state Rep. Ron Hanks and “millions of others” who joined him to “peacefully assemble” on Jan. 6, 2021, when a violent mob attacked the U.S. Capitol. Williams and Hanks supported that amendment, as well. Hanks traveled to Washington, D.C., for the rally held by former President Donald Trump and that preceded the U.S. Capitol riot.
Hanks also brought an amendment that replaced the language reasserting the validity of the 2020 election with language requesting a full forensic audit of the 2020 and 2021 elections in Colorado and a review of the voter rolls.
In an informal straw poll taken at the Palmer Ridge High School auditorium Saturday, Republicans picked state Rep. Ron Hanks (R-Canon City) as their choice to challenge Michael Bennet for U.S. Senate.
Shortly before the audience that about 150 at the Republican forum had handed in their votes, they cheered Hanks after he restated his belief that Donald Trump won the 2020 election.
“A lot of people say the next election is the most important of our lifetime and it becomes kind of cliché,” Hanks said at the event, hosted by the Sunrise Republican Women. “I still contend the 2020 election was the most important election of our lifetime, and we had better work to fix it.”
Hanks points to baseless evidence of widespread fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
The remaining four Senate primary candidates at the event gave their ideas for repairing a system they believe to have been flawed for many years, whereas Hanks continued to emphasize what he believed caused the 2020 election to be rigged in favor of Joe Biden.
None of the other four candidates, Eli Bremer, Gino Campano, Deborah Flora and Peter Yu, went so far as to explicitly say that Trump lost. However, each stated that the country needs to restore election integrity.
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“Ron Hanks cemented his frontrunner status in the GOP Senate primary after winning the straw poll following their second forum,” read a portion of the Delgado’s statement. “The field of candidates are desperate for Trump’s endorsement, but only Hanks will claim that Trump won the 2020 election. This is proof that candidates will have to embrace the Big Lie since this is a message that clearly resonates with the Republican base.”
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Colorado Set to Receive Millions to Repair Bridges Thanks to Infrastructure Law
All GOP Senate candidates oppose the popular bill with the exception of Joe O’Dea
Denver, CO – Today the White House announced a new program to repair bridges across the country through the bipartisan infrastructure law that was signed by President Biden two months ago. Colorado is set to receive $225 million to repair damaged bridges over the next five years. According to the White House, "this represents the single largest dedicated bridge investment since the interstate highway system."
Colorado Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll applauded today’s announcement:
“President Biden is continuing to deliver for the American people. Thanks to the hard work of Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper and our Democratic House delegation for getting the bipartisan infrastructure law across the finish line, this program will revive the 481 bridges in poor condition across our state which could help remedy future supply chain issues and lift up Colorado families by creating thousands of good-paying jobs.”
All GOP candidates running for U.S. Senate, with the exception of Joe O'Dea, would've voted against the bipartisan infrastructure law despite the thousands of jobs the law will bring to Colorado.
O’Dea’s breakaway decision triggered a nasty start to the GOP Senate primary and Gino Campana blasted O’Dea for his support of the infrastructure bill stating “Colorado Republicans don’t want someone who worked against Ken Buck and would spend trillions more as their nominee.”
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Ron Hanks Makes National News on Jan. 6 Anniversary for Campaigning on Big Lie
“Asked why he is still spreading debunked conspiracies, Hanks says nothing has been debunked”
Denver, CO – Colorado Republicans’ plan of staying radio silent on the anniversary of the insurrection failed when leading GOP Senate candidate Ron Hanks made national news for attending the insurrection last year, suing the Secretary of State over the results of the 2020 election, and running on the Big Lie. This is all part of an extreme agenda that is out of step with Colorado.
Hanks also put out an unhinged letter ahead of the anniversary, doubling down on his commitment to the Big Lie and earning mentions in various state news outlets.
Hanks was interviewed by CNN and mentioned in CBS News, 9News Denver, the Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, Colorado Newsline, 5280 Magazine, Axios Denver, and the Colorado Times Recorder.
Watch and read highlights from the national coverage below:
Transcript Excerpts:
[00:00] JAKE TAPPER: Trump allies are still pressuring local election officials to revisit the past election and to recount the 2020 vote as CNN’s Sarah Murray reports. There are a lot of people running for office and observers are concerned that they want to make it easier to overturn election victories that they don't like, in the future.
[00:22] RON HANKS AD: I'm Ron Hanks, and I approve this message
[00:23] SARAH MURRAY: US Senate hopeful Ron Hanks is shooting at fake Dominion voting machines and calling for an audit in Colorado. A state Joe Biden won in 2020 by more than 13 points. In Liberal Washington State. A local Republican Party is knocking on doors trying to uncover voter fraud.
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[01:54] MURRAY: Efforts to undermine confidence in election results began in hotly contested battleground states. But have since ballooned into a nationwide crusade. In Colorado, election officials like Justin Grantham are aware of Hank’s ad.
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02:12] MURRAY: But State Representative Hanks rebuffed offers to learn about the voting systems. firsthand.
[02:16] GRANTHAM: I have extended multiple offers for him to come into my office and talk to me about the election. He’s not responded and not come in.
[02:30] MURRAY: Hanks told CNN, he appreciates the offers, but he did his own research.
[02:34] HANKS: I didn't really need it. I was at other locations and so that made it rather redundant.
[02:41] MURRAY: Asked why he is still spreading debunked conspiracies, Hank says nothing has been debunked.
[02:46] HANKS: I think that is a false argument. We have found evidence and it is compounding daily.
Hanks said he was outside of the east side of the Capitol, and claims the federal government put "commandos" and instigators in the crowd of protesters. He is suing Colorado Secretary of State Jen Griswold in order to establish a third-party audit of the state's elections.
"I'm not hiding from that – it was something I was drawn to do, as was going to the Arizona audit. I'll talk about those things to anybody," he responded, when asked if he brings up his January 6 experience on the campaign trail. He also noted that he has encountered Colorado voters that were in Washington that day.
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Insurrectionist and Leading Senate Candidate Doubles Down on Big Lie in Unhinged Letter on Jan. 6 Anniversary
Denver, CO – While the Colorado GOP deflects and downplays the anniversary of the insurrection, their leading GOP Senate candidate Ron Hanks doubled down on his claims that the election was stolen in an unhinged letter.
The election conspiracy rant consisted of lies about polling, promotion of his own Big Lie lawsuit against the Secretary of State, and attacks on the media.
Hanks goes further to claim without evidence that “the weaponized federal government of the Biden Regime and the mockingbird media thought they could control the story and brand Patriots as rioters and cop killers,” and that the evidence of fraud “has compounded.”
“The weaponized federal government of the Biden Regime and the mockingbird media thought they could control the story and brand Patriots as rioters and cop killers”
He also referred to the media as “fake journalists” and said that his own reporting of the insurrection “stood the test of time.”
“My report and observations of that day have stood the test of time. A note to the fake journalists: It is an easy thing to achieve, if they report the truth – not the pre-built talking points of their media masters”
It’s clear Ron Hanks is too extreme for Colorado. Read the full letter here.
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GOP Candidates Plagued with Ties to Jan. 6th Insurrection and Election Denial
Candidate and insurrectionist Ron Hanks leads the GOP Senate primary
The Colorado Republican Party is still knee-deep in election conspiracy one year after the January 6th insurrection. Their frontrunner in the Senate primary, Ron Hanks, actually attended the insurrection and crossed police lines. He’s also parading around the state spreading and fundraising off of Trump’s Big Lie.
Most of the rest of the candidates in the Senate and gubernatorial races have either defended capitol rioters, amplified the voices of violent conspiracy theorists, or endorsed false claims that there were problems with the 2020 election.
See below for candidate ties to January 6th and election denialism:
Ron Hanks
- Hanks attended the January 6th insurrection last year and crossed police lines.
- He’s continuing his commitment to election conspiracy theories by fundraising off of the Big Lie, suing the Secretary of State over the 2020 election results, and supporting Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters who’s currently under federal investigation for allegedly leaking election information to extremists.
Eli Bremer
- Bremer said he accepted the results of the 2020 election in Colorado, but has been silent on the national results.
- He defended fellow former olympian Klete Keller who has pleaded guilty to storming the Capitol on January 6th and said he didn’t believe Keller went to the Capitol with “malicious intent,” and called him a “goofball.”
Gino Campana
- Campana has repeatedly claimed there were “tons of issues” with the 2020 election and wrote the question of whether he thought it was stolen or not off as a “got you type question.”
Deborah Flora
- Flora has dodged questions about the 2020 election and said she supported Arizona’s politically-motivated “audit.”
- During her time as a host on conservative radio, she gave a platform to election conspiracy theorists, including Joe Oltmann, and January 6th attendees and had them on as guests.
Heidi Ganahl
- Since her launch in September, Ganahl has continued to dodge questions about the 2020 election calling it “divisive”, but her actions are leading voters to believe that she thinks they were fraudulent.
- At a private fundraiser in Durango, Ganahl revealed that Republicans will have to “win big” to override election rigging.
- Ganahl claimed that a national election conspiracy group is “doing great things”
- Ganahl proudly announced that she’s bringing a group of conservative moms with ties to election conspiracies to Colorado to help her combat“election fraud.”
Danielle Neuschwanger
- Neuschwanger attended the election conspiracy rally in support of Tina Peters and Lauren Boebert’s former campaign manager Sheronna Bishop.
Greg Lopez
- Lopez attended the election conspiracy rally in support of Tina Peters and questions the national results of the 2020 election.
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Colorado Dems Statement on SCOTUS Decision to Leave in Place Dangerous Texas Abortion Ban
Colorado Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll reacted to the U.S. Supreme Court refusing to block Texas’ dangerous abortion ban today:
“The U.S. Supreme Court failed Americans with today’s horrifying decision to leave in place a draconian, unconstitutional law that wrongly strips away abortion access from millions. It is a stark reminder of the consequences of Republican leadership. Coloradans will not forget about today’s decision when they vote in 2022 and they will reject anti-choice candidates.
“Now more than ever we need our congressional delegation to act swiftly to pass the Women’s Health Protection Act and ensure access to critical reproductive health care.”
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Leading GOP Senate Candidate Ron Hanks Speaks at Election Conspiracy Rally to Bolster Campaign Rooted in Big Lie
“Hanks… wants to eliminate Colorado’s successful and popular mail in ballot option”
Insurrectionist and GOP Senate primary frontrunner Ron Hanks’ quest for a coveted Donald Trump endorsement was center stage yesterday at a rally in support of fellow election conspiracy theorists Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters and former Lauren Boebert campaign manager Sherronna Bishop.
Hanks used the rally as an opportunity to bolster his Big Lie campaign,spoke in support of Peters and he revealed his plan to introduce legislation to get rid of Colorado’s popular mail ballot option.
Read and watch coverage from KREX, KKCO, and Colorado Times Recorder, and see excerpts below:
KREX Grand Junction: Hundreds gather for Support Tina Peters rally
Republican State Representative for District 60, Ron Hanks showed up for Peters.
Hanks, who is running for US Senate, announced he’s working on legislation to create watermarked paper ballots like currency and wants to eliminate Colorado’s successful and popular mail in ballot option. “It’ll have watermarks, it’ll have holographic images within, and they will not be able to be duplicated” Representative Hanks says, “It’s time has come and those ballots by the way need to be returned in person, and with an ID, there’s no more mail in ballots.”
He didn’t attend Wednesday’s rally but, Colorado Democratic party Representative, Nico Delgado responded to Hank’s remarks, saying: “Insurrectionist and leading Republican Senate candidate Ron Hanks is using this election conspiracy rally to prop up his campaign that’s rooted in the big lie.”
KKCO Grand Junction: Tina Peters supporters hold “Truth and Justice Rally”
In addition to her loyal supporters, the event had key speakers who voiced their opinions on what they say is unfair treatment to Peters. One such speaker was Republican state Rep. Ron Hanks, who is also running for senate. He’s an outspoken Peters supporter, calling the clerk a “gold star mom and public servant.”
Read and watch more at KREX, KKCO, and the Colorado Times Recorder.
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House Dems Pass Build Back Back Act!
Boebert, Buck, and Lamborn Vote ‘No’ on Lowering Healthcare Costs, Lowering Housing Costs, and Cutting Taxes for Low-Income and Middle-Income Families
Denver, CO - To close out the week, after President Biden signed the historic bipartisan infrastructure bill into law on Monday, House Democrats passed the Build Back Better Act this morning, moving the bill one step closer to becoming law. The Build Back Better Act will cut costs for families, create jobs, and keep the economic recovery going.
Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party:
“Once again, President Biden and Democrats took the lead on a monumental investment in our country’s middle and low-income families. By passing the Build Back Better Act out of the House, we are one step closer to lowering costs and cutting taxes for Colorado’s working families, all while creating good-paying jobs. While Colorado is still recovering from the damage caused by the pandemic, with the Build Back Better Act, in addition to the infrastructure bill and the American Rescue Plan, Democrats are delivering to continue our recovery.
“Meanwhile, Colorado Republicans continue to be all talk and no action. Congressmen Buck and Lamborn need to explain to their constituents why they would vote ‘Yes’ on a $2 trillion tax giveaway for billionaires, but adamantly oppose supporting the hard-working families in their districts. Meanwhile, when Congresswoman Boebert isn’t screaming on the House floor and making an embarrassment of herself, she should explain why she opposes cutting taxes for working families, but apparently uses her office to enrich herself and her husband.”
The BBB Act will deliver for Colorado by:
- Cutting taxes for working families: The BBB act will extend the expanded Child Tax Credit, which was championed by Senator Michael Bennet. Working families will continue to see increases of up to $300 per month per child under 6 or $250/month per child ages 6 to 17. More than 293,000 low-wage workers across our state will see a tax cut of up to $1,500.
- Lowering health care costs: Closing the Medicaid coverage gap to help millions of Americans gain health insurance, extend through 2025 the American Rescue Plan’s health insurance premium reductions for those who buy coverage on their own, and help older Americans access affordable hearing care by expanding Medicare.
- In Colorado, 87,000 uninsured people will gain coverage and more than 88,000 will on average save hundreds of dollars per year. In addition, the Build Back Better Act will support maternal health and invest in national preparedness for future pandemics
- Lowering child care & family care costs: This legislation will provide access to child care for 342,300 young children (ages 0-5) per year from families earning under 2.5 times the state median income (about $251,900 for a family of 4), ensuring these families pay no more than 7% of their income on high-quality child care. It will also expand access to free, high-quality preschool to more than 91,200 additional 3- and 4-year-olds per year and increase the quality of preschool for children who are already enrolled.
- Reduce housing costs and expand housing options. 379,000 renters in Colorado are rent-burdened, meaning they spend more than 30% of their income on rent, while homeownership remains out of reach for many Colorado families. The Build Back Better Act will expand rental assistance for Colorado renters, while also increasing the supply of high-quality, affordable housing through the construction and rehabilitation of over 1 million affordable housing units nationwide. It will address the capital needs of the entire public housing stock in America and it includes one of the largest investments in down payment assistance in history, enabling more first-generation homebuyers to purchase their first home.
- Making the largest effort to combat climate change in American history. From 2010 to 2020, Colorado experienced 30 extreme weather events, costing up to $50 billion in damages. The Build Back Better Act will cut pollution, reduce energy costs, and create good-paying jobs with a transformational investment to ensure America leads the clean energy economy.
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#DemsDeliver -- Biden Signs Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Package Into Law
Colorado Republicans Boebert, Buck, and Lamborn All Opposed Infrastructure Funding That Will Help Their Districts
Denver, CO -- This afternoon, President Biden fulfilled a major priority for his administration and signed a historic, bipartisan bill that will make generational investments in infrastructure all across the country.
Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party:
“Coloradans voted for Joe Biden because they wanted better opportunities and a stronger America – and today, President Biden is delivering on his promise of making America work for everyone and not just those up at the top. Too many Coloradans are still struggling as we recover from the pandemic, and today, Democrats are delivering on their promise to support working families. This generational, bipartisan infrastructure package will make overdue, major investments in creating jobs, tackling climate change, fixing our roads and bridges, and boosting Colorado’s economy.
“Thank you to Senators Bennet and Hickenlooper, and our Democratic House delegation for including initiatives that will improve the lives of Coloradans and for getting this historic legislation to the finish line.”
Based on funding formula alone, Colorado expects to receive:
- $3.7 billion to improve highways and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.
- $916 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state.
- A minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across Colorado, including providing access to the at least 85,000 Coloradans who currently lack it.
- 1,282,000 (or 22% of) Coloradans will also be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
- $688 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
- $35 million over five years to protect against wildfires.
- $57 over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. We in Colorado will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
- $16 million to protect against cyberattacks.
- $432 million over five years to improve Colorado airports.
For more information on how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will Deliver for Colorado and states across the country, click here for information from the White House.
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#DemsDeliver -- Dems Pass Historic Bipartisan Infrastructure Package, Set to be Signed Into Law
Colorado Republicans Boebert, Buck, and Lamborn All Opposed Generational Infrastructure Funding
Denver, CO - Last night, the U.S. House passed President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, bringing the country one step closer to a once-in-a-generation investment in our infrastructure.
Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party:
“President Biden and Democrats took the lead on a once-in-a-generation investment in our country’s infrastructure, while working across the aisle to earn Republican support, and President Biden and Democrats delivered. With the passage of this bill, we are one step closer to growing our economy, creating good-paying jobs, and making much-needed improvements to critical infrastructure like our nation’s roads and highways, bridges and transit, and high-speed broadband internet. Thanks to President Biden and Democrats, our state, our country, and our economy are primed to continue to recover while positioning American workers, businesses, and farmers to compete and win.
“While Colorado Republicans talk, Democrats actually deliver for working families. Congressmen Buck and Lamborn are going to have to explain to their constituents why they had no problem voting for a $2 trillion tax giveaway for billionaires, but adamantly opposed an infrastructure package that will rebuild roads and bridges right in their own districts. Congresswoman Boebert needs to explain why she opposed investing in roads, bridges, and broadband for her district, yet apparently uses her office to enrich herself and her husband.”
Based on funding formula alone, Colorado would expect to receive:
- $3.7 billion to improve highways and $225 million for bridge replacement and repairs over five years.
- $916 million over five years to improve public transportation options across the state.
- A minimum of $100 million to help provide broadband coverage across Colorado, including providing access to the at least 85,000 Coloradans who currently lack it.
- 1,282,000 (or 22% of) Coloradans will also be eligible for the Affordability Connectivity Benefit, which will help low-income families afford internet access.
- $688 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state and ensure that clean, safe drinking water is a right in all communities.
- $35 million over five years to protect against wildfires.
- $57 over five years to support the expansion of an EV charging network in the state. We in Colorado will also have the opportunity to apply for the $2.5 billion in grant funding dedicated to EV charging in the bill.
- $16 million to protect against cyberattacks.
- $432 million over five years to improve Colorado airports.
For more information on how the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act will Deliver for Colorado and states across the country, click here for information from the White House.
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Colorado Dems Statement on the 2021 Election
Denver, CO - The Colorado Democratic Party released the following statement reacting to last night’s election:
Morgan Carroll, Chair of the Colorado Democratic Party:
“While there are still many Colorado ballots that need to be counted for a number of races that are currently too close to call, we are proud of the great wins we saw in Jefferson and Larimer County School Boards, and municipal races in Delta County, Cañon City, Englewood, Broomfield, Pueblo, and Montrose County, among others. Additionally, we are very pleased that voters soundly rejected the Republican-backed measures of Amendment 78 and Proposition 120, and the backdoor voucher program of Proposition 119. We are also pleased to see that many bond measures for public school funding are passing in counties across the state, from Mesa to Morgan County.
“That being said, last night’s election showed what we’ve always believed, that we can take no vote or election for granted. Here in Colorado, it’s more obvious than ever that the Republican dark money machine is alive and well. Just like we have successfully done over the past few election cycles, Colorado Democrats will campaign on our better candidates, our better policies, and our record of delivering for working people all across our state.”
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