Behind party lines: Democrats change party registration ahead of GOP primary
by Cami Mondeaux, Breaking News Reporter |
| June 08, 2022 08:27 AM
Thousands of registered Colorado Democrats are changing their party affiliation ahead of the GOP primaries, with some citing it as an effort to oust Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) from office.
The Democratic Party’s voter rolls in Boebert’s 3rd Congressional District decreased by about 2.7%, or 3,700 voters, between February and May, according to an analysis by CPR News. The district simultaneously saw growth in its unaffiliated voter population — an unusual shift, as no other Colorado district has seen more than a few hundred voters change their registration over the same time period.
Colorado operates through an “open primary” system, meaning unaffiliated voters can participate in either primary election without having to register with a party. It’s impossible to tell whether the voters who dropped their party affiliation are hoping to oust Boebert, but several former Democrats have told local outlets they are taking measures into their own hands.
“Well, I'm a lifelong Democrat, and now I'm unaffiliated,” Steven Hallenborg told CPR. “It's very unfortunate what's going on in this state. So, I mean, she has to go.”
It’s not clear whether the shift in party affiliation will have a major effect on Boebert’s reelection chances, as the Democrats-turned-independents make up only a small percentage of the overall electorate. Even if they all voted for Boebert’s challenger, state Sen. Don Coram, the 3,700 voters would account for less than 1% of all registered voters, according to the outlet.
Boebert won her first primary in 2020 by almost 10,000 votes.
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https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/behind-party-lines-democrats-change-party-registration-ahead-of-gop-primary
