From: Kevin Grantham <This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.;
Sent: Thursday, September 16, 2021 10:15 AM
Subject: The Wrong Direction
In Colorado, where the scales already tip away from Republicans, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to appeal to voters.
Members of the SCC,
When I was President of the Senate in Colorado, one of my primary responsibilities as the head of our caucus was winning elections for Republicans.
In Colorado, where the scales already tip away from Republicans, we need to take advantage of every opportunity to appeal to voters. The primary process provides that opportunity.
Especially in swing districts where unaffiliateds outnumber Republicans, the primary provides a chance to appeal to swing voters early on in the election cycle, well before November.
If we opt out of our primary, those 1.5 million unaffiliated voters who determine the outcome of Colorado’s elections will receive only a Democratic primary ballot.
That means months of name recognition for Democratic candidates before voters hear the Republican candidate's name.
When the general election cycle does begin, how will it go? The Democratic candidate will have had months of campaigning experience, having defeated the other candidates in their primary.
The Republican, meanwhile, will be untested. Navigating a caucus and navigating a general election are wildly different tasks. Our candidates will enter the general election lacking the invaluable experience gained from testing their message against other Republican candidates in the primary.
In battleground districts, when unaffiliated voters have only heard of Democratic candidates and untested Republicans face off against more experienced Democrats, it would end in disaster.
For the sake of our party, I urge you to oppose opting out of the primary on Saturday.
Best,
Kevin J. Grantham
Former President of the Colorado Senate
Fremont County Commissioner
