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September 27, 2011 10:40 PM UTC

CD-6 Primary Rumors

  • 54 Comments
  • by: Libertad 2.0

( – promoted by Colorado Pols)

Courtesy of The Colorado Statesman:

The most prominent names mentioned as possible candidates belong to the last two Democrats to wield the speaker’s gavel, Andrew Romanoff and Terrance Carroll. Either of them would bring legions of fans, plenty of money and a note of serious intent to a Coffman challenge, but, though both have recently moved within Denver, word has it neither is paying much heed to the barrage of suggestions they pick up and move again to Aurora.

State Senate wunderkind Mike Johnston is also the recipient of some urging that he take a gander at the race if the district winds up favorable for Democrats, especially if its borders include the MESA campus where he made his reputation as an education reformer with results. He’s got his eye on the prize, but it’s a good question whether representing Aurora in Congress is a part of that vision.

The elephant in the room – that is, if Democrats could be elephants, and not donkeys – is Morgan Carroll, a ferocious campaigner and polarizing figure who sets Democratic hearts aflutter and drives Republicans frothing mad. A 6th CD centered on Aurora, and with enough Democrats and swing voters to make the race worthwhile, could be a powerful draw for the lawmaker, whose name gets mentioned for nearly every office above her current rank.

And then there’s Rhonda Fields, a freshman lawmaker whose name is being floated by king-maker Wellington Webb’s organization as the natural heir to the nomination, should the 6th CD include her address.

It’s noted in the article that Joe Miklosi, currently the sole Democratic challenger to incumbent Republican Mike Coffman, would have a significant head start, but at the very least it’s good fodder for the chattering class.

Well, chattering class, take it away! Do any of these candidates have a shot if this district ends up becoming competitive?

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54 thoughts on “CD-6 Primary Rumors”

    1. If the seat becomes competitive I have a hard time believing that any of them would be considered a “spoiler”. Joe is a nice guy, but I seriously doubt he could beat any of the names listed.

      Wait, aren’t you a Miklosi shill? Oh yeah, nevermind.

      1. That was very well thought out Libertad. Another astute post for the record books.

        This is a shot in the dark, at best. Name one Democrat who has even expressed interest? It’s just that, meaningless gossip.

        On the other had, i’ve heard some chatter in the Republican ranks that someone is going to end up challenging Coffman.  

        2. Exhibit A: Libertad. Nickname: Turd. Prohibited nickname: The other obvious play on ‘tad that we don’t like around here.

          Not a parody.

          Exhibit B: Libertad 2.0. Nickname: Dude, you rule.

          Parody.

          I get that you’re trying to adopt community norms to fit in, but it’s Turd who’s an idiot, not the Turd parody. Also: Read, dummy.

    2. If you’re working for oppo and this is a reverse shill, GJ.

      If you’re working for him, new account and more subtlety, please. Don’t fuck things up for him.

    3. Joe’s a good guy but odds are he’ll fall outside of the CD-6 boundary no matter how it’s drawn. He hardly has any sort of sole claim to the nomination.

      I like Rhonda Fields personally, but I think she would be better served staying in House leadership rather than risking her seat in CD-6.

  3. But, first things first.  We need a newly competitive CD-6 before it’s worth the effort.  

    That is needed ASAP.  Otherwise, Miklosi fans will be pissed if one of these “late comers” “steal” his nomination. (Based on recent experiences, I know how these people think.)

  4. He’s terrific.  He’s the kind of mainly moderate (real moderate, not conservative with a D) that any Dem running here, even in the proposed newly configured CD6, would have to be and he’s got it. He can hold a crowd and he exudes a very effective combination of the likeable with the quality of gravitas. Presents super well. Since his term ended I’ve hoped he’d be moving up the political ladder.  

    Don’t particularly want to see a fight and think well of Miklosi but would be very happy to support Terrance (not Morgan) Carroll for CD6.  Morgan Carroll is not the kind of Dem who could do well here.  It’s not like the new district is going to be heavy blue.

    Ditto for Andrew. Even though he’s as centrist as they come his supporters did a really good job of falsely packaging him as a crusading progressive/liberal champion and no perceived lefty is going to win CD6 in any of the possible configurations.

    1. on the cart before the horse mentality. We don’t even have a finalized map of CD6 so while the article makes for some interesting chat around the water cooler, that’s all it is.

      I will say, since I’m clearing joining in with my 2 cents worth, that Romanoff has, by far, the largest name recognition of the bunch which would be an advantage in that area. However, your point about how far left he ran during his Senate campaign will more than likely haunt him in that district, particularly depending on how it is redrawn.

      Okay, I’m done speculating.  

      2. likelihood for the new CD6, that anything but a moderate Dem and a Dem perceived as moderate will be the first Dem in history elected to represent CD6. No way. No how.  Period.  I’ve been politically active in this district for long enough to be able to tell you that beyond a shadow of a doubt.  

        And name recognition is so low for state legislators in the general voting public that when you say Andrew’s is by far the largest, trust me, not enough to be a significant factor.  You’ll knock on a bunch of doors in Arapahoe County before you collect two or three who have heard of him or any of the others.

        All the D candidates in the mix will need lots of funding to establish name recognition. The old centrist Romanoff who  pushed through tough anti-illegal immigrant legislation would have been a much better candidate than the most recent incarnation who wouldn’t fly at all. I’ve seen people here react to Terrance Caroll. He kills.

            1. I guess it all depends on how competitively the district is redrawn but I am not holding out much hope for CD6, particularly after seeing the latest maps for my district, CD4.  

    2. fiscally conservative candidate, Ali. I would think the other Caroll would be more up your alley. But this really is castle in the air building anyway as many have pointed out.

      1. Character and convictions come before fiscal conservatism – and I don’t think there’s a legislator in Colorado who is more conviction-oriented than Morgan Carroll

        And yes – my convictions aren’t exactly the same as Morgan Carroll’s, but voting for people who are grounded within their convictions, produces the most honest politicians

      1. I’m a CD6er and my kind of Dem pol is one who can seriously challenge an incumbent R here. If we can get someone to break through the usual 2 to 1 drubbing and lose by a much closer margin we can get serious future targeting. Less frothing, more broad appeal. Sorry. You have to work with the district you’ve got and bluer doesn’t mean blue.

          1. CD6 has never, ever, elected a Dem. No likely reconfiguration will make it a liberal district, just a not entirely hopeless one for Dems. And the Markey example actually supports my point, Markey being a much more conservative Dem running against a battered and extreme candidate. And she didn’t last long.  

            Coffman is not battered and not considered so extreme.  He hasn’t been involved in any major gaffes or scandals. He will not be defeated by anyone considered too left leaning.  We have lots of old style Main Street Rs and R leaning Indies who who have voted D for the right kind of candidate in other than US Rep. elections.  Many went for Salazar for Senate, for instance, and for Hick.  Those voters won’t go for a perceived “liberal” and we’ll still have plenty of that type of voter in a new district.  

            Running someone who makes Rs “froth at the mouth” might be fun but wouldn’t get us anywhere. Not all Rs are lunatic fringe and, particularly in the Littleton area, we have many old style pretty reasonable Rs but R is there natural default vote.  You need a particular kind of D to get them.

            1. I have never canvassed in CD6, for instance and I, having read your comment below and many others of yours, know that you are intimately involved there.

              But, if Markey’s first reelection campaign had not been in ’10 I think she’d still be there. I just think CD5 is even more of a struggle. But, I’m on your side and I think they are both very important.

        3. Are we not confusing the CD-6 electorate’s rightwinginess (anger, victimhood, fear of change, obsession with self[ish]interest) with every person’s desire for reassuring, strong, directed leadership; optimism; believable, structured economic progress? And courage?

          So it makes party leadership (TeaPubs in CD-6) mess their pants? Voters (admittedly, perhaps not a majority this cycle) are (there and all over this wonderful nation), I believe, ready for forthright, convicted, citizen oriented persons to lead them.

          I don’t know Morgan persaonally, but she seems the kind of person who could appeal to a wider base than just left wingers.

          But what do I know? I’m a parenthesis addict is too-safe CD-1.

  8. One of the criticisms of Miklosi is that people worry he can’t raise enough to win.  Romanoff and TC can probably both raise enough to push Miklosi out, unless of course Miklosi turns around and posts amazing numbers these next two reporting periods. He got in first, so it’s on him to prove he’s up for the job and no one else should step in.

    Even with money, those two would be stiff competition (especially Romanoff, who is the only one of those 3 who is the only person who could say he’s campaigned in the district — no matter what it looks like — before).

    I love Morgan Carroll, and think she would be great, except for the whole being able to get elected part.  Maybe if she moved to Denver when Degette was done…

    Mike Johnston and Rhonda Fields might be bigger players down the road, but not today.

      1. Romanoff ran for senate, building quite a base for himself.  Unless he’s an idiot, those donor and supporter lists are sitting in a drawer for when he runs again.  He can raise from outside the district because he’s better known.

        It’s not unlike what’s going on there with Frazier.  He ran for higher office, lost, and is not the frontrunner for Mayor (since Debbie Stafford’s campaign seemed to crash and burn).  Mike Coffman held two state-wide offices, and then jumped down to CD6.  As the cellphone ad says, it’s about the network.

        That said, Terrance Carroll or Mike Johnston could probably pull a lot of Ed Reform money.  Big piles of money are always a quick way to up your name ID and be considered a serious candidate.

        1. Romanoff went too far left, at least in rhetoric, never as centrist state legislator, to have a snowball’s chance in my CD. I know my CD. I’ve canvassed I don’t know how many miles and put in I don’t know how much phone banking and when you compare name recognition between former state legislators among the general presidential year voting public you’re comparing next to none with a tiny bit better than next to none.  Getting CD6 will also require more than local money raising prowess.  We need major targeting.

        2. Sorry, but either he or his campaign manager was an idiot last time around. I like the guy, but his campaign sucked. I’m glad he and his advisors aren’t representing me in Washington now. Now, above all times, we need pros. Andrew didn’t conduct himself or his campaign as a confident professioal leader.

          If he’s grown, let’s see it. In a political era when teabagger bullshitters with no name recognition can win elections against well known, respectable incumbents (ultra-conservatives, yet!), names don’t mean much.  

    1. I want to support him the next time he runs (as do a lot of other Bennet Dems, I’m sure). If he runs against Diana, I will have to fight like hell to defeat him again. Yuck. “Don’t do it, Andrew. Pick a seat with an R in it, and all the Dems will rally ’round you.”

      MADCO, did you get a chance to see the exhibit put on by his foundation, “The other 90%”? It was very moving, to say the least. Andrew is doing some amazing work in Africa!

      1. Andrew could have a political future. I’ll back him against any Repub out there. If he stays active locally.

        But

        What is his work in Africa worth on the Colorado political scene? I mean, Jimmy Carter is a wonderful humanitarian, but…. What’s the political point? Ambasador? Cabinet post? I think Andrew is worth more than that. But maybe he’ll make his mark outside the political arena. Frankly, as long as he’s happy and comfortable in whatever he chooses….

        1. He is doing work that improves and even saves lives for thousands of people in Africa. He should get a prominent national or international job if he wants one. If he really wants a Colorado job in his future, I would support him strongly as long as he didn’t run against one of our already-seated great Dems.

  10. You don’t have to live in a congressional district to run for the seat. It doesn’t make any official difference where any of these folks actually reside.  

    1. Intelligent

      Studious

      Articulate

      Responsive

      Empathetic

      Hard working

      Results driven

      Unselfcounciously genuine

      And not abrasively progressive (dammit). I hope I don’t lose him in all this redistricting hassle.

  12. I’d like to be on his side and help him win.

    That said, I think I am not the only Dem who would be ticked off to see a good Democratic legislator or candidate primaried by another good Dem. It divided Colorado the last time, and I don’t agree it is good for any race.

    Joe Miklosi is a great candidate for CD6. He has both the policy and field experience to give Coffman a much-needed run for his money. He grew up in a working class home (Dad was a teacher and Mom was a waitress) in a small town in rural MI, so he can relate to regular people. His progressive stripes have been earned — he was instrumental in building and growing a school for kids in Rawanda, among other things.

    Joe is the real deal, and is the perfect candidate for CD6. All he needs is cash. Lots of it. As BlueCat has said, CD6 is a very red district at the moment (it may change) and only a moderate would do well here. (R+10, I believe.) Joe can pull if off. Mike Johnston — maybe. Rhonda Fields, Terrance Carroll, Andrew Romanoff — no way (unless the lines were drawn very differently). Their images are much too progressive for CD6, regardless of their actual records.

    Morgan Carroll is one of the smartest and hardest-working Democrats in Colorado. She is respected by Dems and Republicans alike. Anyone who ever attended a Senate Judiciary Committee Meeting she chaired was probably blown away by her professionalism and abililty to get to the point efficiently and effectively. I would love to see Morgan run for any position she has her heart set on. She’d make an amazing Attorney General, Secretary of State, Governor, or just about anything else.

    I do not think Morgan would run against Joe, though. Morgan, if you read this, could you jump in?  

    1. If she stays active, the sky’s the limit for her. If I had her ear, I’d whisper, “Run, Morgan, run.” Lose there? Win somewhere else tomorrow.

      We’ve got a terible problem here in the Denver metro area: too many good, good Dem. pols at the moment. (Peace, my Western Slope brethren.) You guys in her political districts have to keep her in somehow, heep her name out there, support her. And, frankly, if she has to primary against another progressive, support her.

      Maybe governor? She wouldn’t be running against an actual Democrat, would she?

      1. Everyone has her ear. Morgan is one of the most responsive State Senators we have. Everyone has her ear. Just call her. She’s as “real” as they get. She is constantly knocking on the doors of her constituents, and the first thing you’ll see on her webpage is, “Survey — I want to know what you’re thinking”.  http://senmorgancarroll.com/

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