December 19, 2005
The Futures Market: Colorado
It's Hickenlooper's World, We're Just Lucky To Live In It
A number of the GOP stars we watched in '03 have already ascended to higher office by virtue of appointments. While two of our previous GOP stars flamed out in CO 03, another has turned out to be the best candidate to hold onto volatile CO 07 for GOPers. On the Dem side, while big-city mayors don't count as rising stars, a number of people -- including a prominent GOPer -- used the phrase "anything he wants" when referring to Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper, and COans had universal praise for House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a new addition to our watch list. Dems, however, will have a tough primary fight on their hands when Rep. Mark Udall moves on, as several heavyweights eye his seat. [REID WILSON]
The stars we've been watching since '03:
Treas. Mark Hillman (R): The State Sen. Asst Maj. Leader when we first spotted him in '03, Hillman was appointed by Gov. Bill Owens (R) to fill out the Treas. unexpired term. He's Running for a full term in '06.
State Sen. Shawn Mitchell (R): Promoted from the State House in 2004. His stature has gone down in the past few years.
LG Jane Norton (R): Not running for re-election. "She's done."
State Higher Ed. Commission Chair Rick O'Donnell (R): Formerly Owens' policy director, O'Donnell is now running in CO 07. "He's still on the up side" even after losing to Rep. Bob Beauprez (R) in the primary in '04. Beauprez, running for Gov, is supporting O'Donnell this year.
Ex-State Rep. Gregg Rippy (R): Ran for CO 03 in '04 instead of trying for re-election, Rippy lost in the primary. Says one GOPer: "He flamed out bad."
Ex-State Natural Resources Dir. Greg Walcher (R): Ran for CO 03 in '04 and won the GOP nod. But he lost to Rep. John Salazar (D) and nobody anticipates him making a return to politics.
State Rep. Mike Garcia (D): Still in the State House. "No buzz about him going anywhere else."
State Sen. Peter Groff (D): Still in the State Senate. "Has real stature in leadership in the Senate."
State Sen. Dan Grossman (D): Considered an '06 bid for AG but decided against a run earlier this year.
Denver D.A. Bill Ritter (D): Currently, Ritter is the only serious Dem running for Gov. His pro-life stance, however, makes some Dems nervous enough to continue actively recruiting other candidates for the race.
State Sen. Ron Tupa (D): Still in the State Senate. Rumored to be interested in a bid for CO 02 if and when Rep. Udall runs for SEN. "Would be a perfect candidate for Congress."
And the stars to watch in the future:
State Rep. Josh Penry (R): A 20-something from solidly GOP Grand Junction. Running for State Sen in '06. "That guy is a big-time rising star."
Ex-Greg Walcher Manager John Marshall: "A number of people were impressed with the job he did." Serves now as the Communications Dir. for Beauprez's Gov bid.
State Rep. Rob Witwer (R): Atty for Coors, has a long record of activism in the party. "A guy with some real solid skills."
State Rep. Corey Gardner (R): Appointed to his seat, but "uniquely qualified to be very effective state legislator very early."
House Speaker Andrew Romanoff (D): "Widely credited" with writing the fix to the Taxpayer Bill of Rights which passed statewide in 11/05. "Young, smart, and one charming individual." Currently being wooed into the GOV race, but he's thusfar declined.
Senate Pres. Joan Fitzgerald (D): "Joan will be a player in" CO "politics for years to come." Current pres. of the DLC, she'd been asked to run for GOV but declined. Instead, she's said to be "eyeing" Rep. Udall's seat when he runs for SEN.
State Sen. Jennifer Veiga (D): In her first term in the Senate after serving in leadership in the House. On DNC scheduling committee. "One of these days, could be a leading contender for Congress" when Rep. Diane DeGette moves on.
CO DNC member J.W. Postal: Vice Chair of the DNC's Western Caucus. "I believe he's probably going to run for something pretty significant in the near term."
Posted at 01:33 PM
Comments
FYI - Joan Fitz-Gerald is the leader of the DLCC (Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee -- the Dems' national organization committed to state legislative victories), NOT the DLC (a very different organization...
Dan | 12.19.05 04:20 PM
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Our mistake -- a typo that should have been caught. We hear that Fitz-Gerald is an important player in the DLCC, and that her opinions are well-regarded in DC.
Reid Wilson | 12.19.05 09:47 PM
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