Can you feel it? The energy momentum, the excitement, the hope, the joy? I have seen a paradigm shift in the Democratic Party and that change has certainly reached Weld County. We experienced some amazing energy at our Roosevelt Dinner. We were overjoyed that powerful Democrats came to our dinner. Congressman Joe Neguse and Senator Michael Bennet were there. Our State Treasurer, Dave Young and Secretary of State, Jenna Griswold came and all of them spoke. We had candidates from all over the State come to our dinner. Trisha Calvarese from CD4, Elliott Hood, our CU Regent candidate, Will Walters for HD65, Mary Young HD50, Matt Johnston for SD13, Rhonda Solis for State School Board CD8, and Manny Rutinel, HD32. Our speaker, Karen Middleton of COBALT was an amazing speaker. All of them mentioned how Weld County is a key player in taking a Democratic majority in Congress and to maintain our majorities in Colorado. If you missed this event, you missed the best program of the year. We had over 100 attendees.
I would like to especially thank all who had a hand in putting on this event; Pat Kiovsky, Julie Elmquist, Becki Logsdon, Trish Smith, the events committee, Crescent Moon Catering, the BBK trio for their great music, Knotty Pine Liquor and Mixology, and the Evans Library and Cultural Center. They all worked very hard to put on a great event. Thanks too to everyone who donated to our silent auction.
In addition to this wonderful fundraising event, there have been several candidate meet and greet events and more will be coming. We will also have many events that need your participation. The Evans Parade, the Miner days in Frederick/Firestone, The Fiesta de la Genta on September 7th can use your help and participation. We will be having voter registration and canvassing events continuously for the next 2 months. Please call the Dems office or go to the Weldcountydems.org website to sign up to volunteer. Dr. Mark Mathews has 1000 postcards, and he needs help in sending these out. Please contact his campaign to sign up to help with this postcard campaign.
The excitement and energy of the party just keeps growing and the change in our county is very evident. I came across this map a few days ago that shows the political makeup of our state. The map is from a website called Best Neighborhoods and they carry out research on all kinds of datapoints regarding neighborhoods to find the best places to live and work. The site shows many kinds of data and also shows a lot of other states as well. The political maps show each county’s political diversity represented by a color of red or blue, and shades of color in between depending on how evenly split the diversity is or if it is leaning slightly more to one party. To my surprise and joy, Weld County is not listed as red, not even pink, but a lovely shade of light lavender blue. The data is recent, 2023, so it is picking up on the extreme growth we have experienced here. This map is very encouraging. We have a real chance of turning Weld Blue. If we can get all Democrats to vote, If Unaffiliated voters in Weld will vote like Unaffiliated in the rest of the State, Weld could turn blue. If the last school board race in Greeley is any indication, Greeley is getting tired of the conspiracy theories and ridiculousness of the Right. We have a good chance to make Greeley and Weld more blue than red and improve that lavender blue to really dark blue like Boulder, Larimer and Adams. Even Fort Morgan is light pink and El Paso too is more lavender than red. We are not going back!
Presidential elections have leaned blue in our county. Down ballot not so much. Please spread the word on your local candidates. Post on your social media, write letters to the editor, put out yard signs. Please emphasize to your neighbors and friends that it is crucial to vote blue all down the ballot.
We can do this, but not without your help, your involvement. If not you, then who? We need canvassers, writers, phone bank callers, texters, office help, committee leaders, election judges and poll watchers, event planners and workers, we need donations and media warriors. Please find a niche and fill it. We can find something important for you to do. As Michelle Obama said in her speech, “Do Something!”
Bev Wallace
Chair