Colorado GOP Assembly Opt Out of Semi Open Primary and Lakewood Citizen-Led Referendum
Guests, Ray Garcia and Karen Gordey
Hundreds of Colorado Republicans overturn RINO Chair Horn’s attempt to sabotage efforts to opt out of the disastrous semi open primary. Ray Garcia checks in with results from the chaotic State Assembly.
In this episode of The Chuck & Julie Show, hosts Julie Hayden and Chuck Boniwell dissect the chaotic 2026 Colorado Republican State Assembly, highlighting a major grassroots victory regarding the primary election system. The program also features a deep dive into a landmark citizen-led referendum in Lakewood that successfully overturned high-density "upzoning" mandates despite significant opposition spending.
The Colorado GOP State Assembly: Chaos and Grassroots Defiance
The recent Colorado Republican State Assembly was characterized by significant logistical failures, with delegates waiting over four hours for credentials because badges and ballots were not prepared in advance. Despite these hurdles, the grassroots wing of the party achieved a major tactical win. Raymond Garcia, Chairman of the Colorado Hispanic Republicans, detailed how the assembly body moved to overrule the Executive Committee (ExCom). Specifically, the delegates overwhelmingly supported a motion to censure 15 ExCom members who had previously blocked legal efforts to opt out of Colorado’s open primary system. This move authorizes attorneys Randy Corporon and John Eastman to proceed with a preliminary injunction aimed at preventing the Secretary of State from sending Republican primary ballots to unaffiliated voters for the June 2026 election.
Legal Strategy and the "RINO" Establishment Conflict
The discussion centered on the tension between "establishment" Republicans and the grassroots. Hosts argued that the current open primary system allows Democrats and unaffiliated voters to "meddle" in Republican selections, favoring candidates backed by "dark money" donors. Raymond Garcia and the hosts pointed out that since the open primary took effect in 2016, no Republican has won a statewide office in Colorado. The assembly also saw a contentious moment involving Kathleen Chandler of the Independence Institute, who was booed by the crowd after asserting that the ExCom knew better than the general body of delegates. Furthermore, logistical anomalies were reported in the governor's race, including a discrepancy of approximately 77–80 ballots compared to the number of credentialed voters.
Lakewood’s David vs. Goliath Referendum Victory
Karen Gaudet of the Lakewood Citizens Alliance shared the results of a "two-to-one" victory in a special election held on April 7th. Citizens successfully overturned four city ordinances intended to "upzone" the entire city for high-density housing. The alliance faced a massive financial disadvantage, with the "No" side (supported by developers and prominent Democratic politicians) raising nearly 300,000 compared to the Citizens Alliance's 42,000. Despite this, the grassroots "ground game" of 84 volunteers secured more votes for the referendum than the mayor received in her own election. The victory is seen as a rejection of "social engineering" and a defense of single-family zoning and local "home rule" against state-mandated densification.
National Security and Future Previews
The show concluded with a brief discussion on President Trump’s "economic war" strategy against Iran, specifically the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz to cripple Iran's financial capabilities. The hosts also previewed an upcoming segment with Sue Moore of the Liberty Scorecard, who will address recent "libelous" comments made by gubernatorial candidate Barbara Kirkmeyer regarding the organization’s integrity.
The episode paints a picture of a resurgent grassroots movement in Colorado, successfully challenging both state-level party leadership and local municipal overreach. Whether through the "rabid" energy of the GOP Assembly or the "grit and determination" of Lakewood’s suburban voters, the hosts emphasize that organized citizen action is currently outmaneuvering well-funded establishment interests.
