UPDATE: AP’s James Anderson:
Darryl Glenn, a county commissioner from deeply conservative Colorado Springs, rode endorsements from Sen. Ted Cruz and other big names on the right to win Colorado’s Republican Senate primary and face a well-funded Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet in November.
Glenn’s decisive victory in Tuesday’s five-way primary set up an uphill battle with Bennet, once considered vulnerable in this swing state for his close association with President Barack Obama. Only two years ago, Coloradans ousted Democratic Sen. Mark Udall and replaced him with then-U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner.
Having outflanked his fellow conservatives to secure the nomination, Glenn now has to tack to the center — as Gardner did in 2014 — to woo enough of Colorado’s independent voters, who outnumber both registered Republicans and Democrats.
The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is, well, pretty psyched about Darryl Glenn:
“After one of the most divisive and bizarre primaries of 2016, Colorado Republicans must now rally behind their ultraconservative, nightmare-scenario candidate Darryl Glenn. Glenn denies that climate change exists, believes Ted Cruz should be the next Supreme Court Justice and has called Donald Trump, ‘a patriot.’ It’s no surprise he stands ready to enact the Trump agenda that would hurt Colorado’s hardworking families and move our country backward. Glenn was not the first or even fifth choice of national Republicans, whose recruitment meltdown was shocking, and he begins this general election ill-prepared to face Senator Michael Bennet, who has fought and delivered for the people of Colorado. We look forward to celebrating Senator Bennet’s re-election in November.”
—–
9News is calling the Republican Senate Primary for Darryl Glenn, who jumped out to a big early lead when numbers showed he had a 20,000-vote advantage in El Paso County alone.
ProgressNow Colorado issued the following statement as the news was breaking:
With Republican U.S. Senate primary returns showing El Paso County Commissioner Darryl “Gridlock” Glenn winning that party’s nomination to run against Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, ProgressNow Colorado, the state’s largest online progressive advocacy organization, decried the result as further proof of the right wing’s complete leadership breakdown at every level of government.
“From Ted Cruz to Donald Trump and now Darryl Glenn, Colorado Republicans appear determined to make the worst possible choices in 2016,” said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Ian Silverii. “Glenn is the least qualified candidate to win a statewide Republican nomination since Dan Maes in 2010, and we all remember how well that worked out for the GOP. Glenn’s arch-right conservatism, refusal to reach across the aisle, and outright hostility to even the idea of compromise has earned him the nickname ‘Gridlock Glenn.’”
“Tonight, the far right in Colorado once again picked a candidate who can’t win,” said Silverii. “While Democrats are rightfully cheering this outcome, the real losers are reasonable Colorado conservatives who have no one left to support in either the presidential or the U.S. Senate race.”
“Darryl Glenn’s nomination shows how little Colorado conservatives have learned from their mistakes,” said Silverii.
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And, the other bald black guy comes in last. Behind Jon Keyser. Sad trombone. My vote was ineffective.
And, with a flick of the internet wrist, I am no longer a member of the GOP: Party of Hate®.
Let the battle of the Super PACs commence.
Poor Ryan Frazier. From GOP rising star in 2010 to the guy who couldn't even beat the guy who's only on the ballot because of fraud in 2016.
Props to the Colorado GOP for fielding two African-Americans in the Senate primary who combined secured 45% of the Colorado GOP vote. (And for being a strong base for support for Ben Carson and for having elected African-Americans on the GOP ticket to statewide office in the recent past).
There are very few U.S. States where this is possible. It certainly wouldn't have been possible, for example, in North Carolina, where there are barely more than two African-American Republicans in the entire state. The Colorado GOP has KKK roots (often surprisingly direct ones with grandchildren of KKK leaders among current Colorado GOP leaders running for office), but has largely shed them.
This probably has a lot to do with the strong military presence in Colorado GOP heartland, Colorado Springs, where Glenn is part of a large cadre of current and former military officers (who are overwhelmingly, i.e. like 90%+ Republican) many of whom of African-American.
It is also notable that another 25% of Colorado Republicans voting in the primary (and hence typically more partisan and extreme) were willing to support a socially liberal RINO.
The GOP may be a party of hate, but Colorado’s GOP is less virulent than in many states.
aaaaaaaaaaand they've moved Bennet's race to Safe Dem. Best of luck in Nevada, ya red morons. =P
So, a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy wins the primary to face off against Bennett in November ….
… and he doesn't have a Bronze Star.
Congrats to Glenn
It's kind of nice that all graham's money. couldn't by the nomination.
Got sick of looking at the long face during NCIS. Glad he's gone.
He did come in a distant second, unlike Keyser at second to last. And Chaps got trounced so I guess there is a such thing as being too batshit crazy for Colorado Springs after all. It's just really tough to get there this side of a rubber room.
Yes, Chap's defeat is a small glimmer of hope that there is a line even the most "conservative" of Republican voters will not cross. Hopefully, Trump will cross that one as well, getting a similar unwelcome message.
As for Chappy, guess he'll just go back to scamming money off of the weak-minded and elderly for a living.
Yup. He's already on that.
Chaps' FB today:
You couldn't make this guy up.