Colorado Delegates Give Controversial Democrat a Place on the Ballot, Barely
Written by: Terry Alexander
The rarely present Colorado Rep. Elisabeth Epps has barely secured a spot on the Democrat primary ballot in an attempt to retain her seat in the state House. However, things aren't looking good for her re-election prospects, as she faces a strong primary challenge from lawyer Sean Camacho.
The primary election is set for June, and the winner in this solid Democratic district will likely secure victory in the general election in November.
House District 6 encompasses Capitol Hill, Congress Park, and Lowry. Camacho emerged as the frontrunner, winning 68.1% of the total votes (81 votes), while Epps, the incumbent, received only 31.9% (38 votes).
It is surprising that Epps barely scraped by with the minimum votes required to secure a spot on the primary ballot. This outcome may have caught the first-term representative off guard, as she has always struggled to find allies within the state legislature.
In Colorado, candidates can also qualify for the primary ballot by gathering 1,000 signatures from voters in their district and obtaining 10% of the assembly vote.
While Camacho filed his petition with the secretary of state's office on March 8, Epps had her petition format approved on March 12 and has until March 19 to submit hers. However, given the outcome of the assembly decision, her petition efforts may now be inconsequential.
Camacho announced his candidacy for the seat back in December and has garnered the support of several current Democratic state lawmakers, including:
Senate President Steve Fenberg
Senator Chris Hansen
Senator Dafna Michaelson Jenet
Representative Karen McCormick
Representative Shannon Bird
Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser has also endorsed Camacho, signaling a lack of support for Epps within her own party.
Epps' first term as a legislator has been marked by controversy and strong reactions from fellow Democrats in the General Assembly. She has clashed with House leadership over transparency and open-meeting practices, leading to a settled lawsuit and an attempt to enshrine meeting practices into state law.
Democrat Socialist Elisabeth Epps disrupts order in the Colorado House from the Gallery. “You’re telling me the Speaker wants decorum… Do you know how racist that language is,” asked Rep. Epps after heckling the only Republican Jewish member from the House public gallery?
Additionally, Epps has introduced some of the most radical progressive legislation in the House, including a bill to ban semi-automatic rifles, a measure to allow cities to establish government sanctioned drug injection sites for intravenous drug users, and a bill aimed at overturning a pro-Israel investment policy in the state's public employee retirement agency.
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Epp’s antisemitic actions during a November special session also drew attention when she joined pro-Palestinian activists in the chamber gallery and disrupted a Jewish colleague's speech from the well – stopping House business for more than an hour.
As the primary election approaches, Rep. Elisabeth Epps finds herself facing an uphill battle to secure her party's nomination. Her controversial first term and lack of support within the Democratic Party may ultimately put an end to her unproductive political career.
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