Cary Kennedy Wins Strong Colorado Democratic Caucus Support

DENVER, CO -- Preliminary results from Tuesday's Democratic caucuses showed former state treasurer Cary Kennedy the winner of the raw votes in the grass-roots caucus process, the Colorado Democratic Party announced Wednesday. Party officials said 23,168 registered voters participated in this year's caucuses.

The Colorado Republican Party held caucuses, but did not release vote preferences or the number of attendees.

Caucuses were informal affairs where members of local precincts gathered in school gyms and community centers around the state and discussed the pros and cons of each candidate.

With 96.3 percent of precincts reporting, the Democratic totals were as follows:

• Noel Ginsburg: 400 (1.7%)
• Mike Johnston: 2,049 (8.8%)
• Cary Kennedy: 11,583 (50,0%)
• Jared Polis: 7,537 (32.5%)
• Erik Underwood: 95 (0.4%)
• Uncommitted: 1,504 (6.5%)

Lt. Governor Donna Lynne did not participate in the precinct caucuses, and is using only the signature process to get on the primary ballot.

“Thank you to all of the voters who participated in this year’s Colorado Democratic Caucus, and thank you to all of the volunteers and party officials who worked hard to make this year’s caucus a success," said Colorado Democratic Party Chair Morgan Carroll in a statement. "Tuesday’s turnout — which was stronger than turnout in both 2014 and 2010 — shows that Democrats are fired up and motivated to elect Democrats up-and-down the ballot in 2018.”

The turnout was smaller than the 2016 presidential year primary Democratic caucuses which drew record crowds of Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders supporters. The Colorado GOP declined to hold caucus meetings in 2016, fearing Donald Trump would take the Republican nomination. He did.

Past off-year election caucus numbers were approximately 6,000 in 2014 and 23,000 in 2010, state Democrats said.

"Thank you to all of the amazing caucusgoers that came out last night, and to my volunteers and precinct leaders for your hard work," Kennedy tweeted. "I am so grateful for the incredible showing of support. We won 50% of caucusgoers last night & we will carry this momentum to June!"

Congressman Jared Polis, who came in second, thanks his supporters and volunteers on Twitter.

Tonight thousands of Democrats showed up at their caucuses across the state to passionately support their candidates... [W]e are confident that we will be on the ballot for the June primary with over 27,000 signatures collected coupled with a strong showing across the state tonight. Our all-volunteer field effort and people powered campaign is propelling us full steam ahead to the June election.

For Democrats, the next step will be county-wide meetings at the end of March, then a statewide convention in April in Broomfield where delegates will choose the candidates who will appear on the June primary ballot.

Image: Democratic caucus members of Larimer County Precinct 320 meet in the Beattie School gymnasium March 6. via Patch.com