Heavy turnout at Democratic caucuses in Southwest Colorado and throughout the state Tuesday was grass-roots politics at its finest – and sometimes most chaotic.

The numbers at the simultaneous Republican caucuses were much lower, and the chaos generally replaced with dissatisfaction over the lack of a straw vote for presidential candidates.

“Across Colorado, Democrats are excited and energized by our two great presidential candidates, who are talking about growing the middle class and moving our country forward,” said Colorado Democratic Party Chairman Rick Palacio, “while the Republican presidential candidates continue their race to the bottom with fear-mongering and demagoguery.”

Final numbers weren’t available late Tuesday, as voting at many caucuses ran late because of the overwhelming turnout. But it appeared as of 10 p.m. that Bernie Sanders was leading by about 53 percent over Hillary Clinton. Several national news organizations projected Sanders as the winner.

“I’m getting reports of auditoriums, libraries and gyms, they were all full,” said Dulce Saenz, state director for the Bernie Sanders campaign. “I think that’s indicative of the spark he is generating.”

In La Plata County, Sanders was a clear winner at Precinct 4, which was one of three Democratic caucuses meeting at Needham Elementary School, each with attendance of about 100 people. Sanders received 75 votes to Clinton’s 31.

“It’s nice to see so many young people at the caucuses because of ‘Feel the Bern,’” said Sarah Sumner.

Sanders was the clear winner at Precinct 21 at Sunnyside Elementary School, where about 50 voters showed up. In 2014, the precinct caucus drew three voters. The precinct awarded Sanders 3 delegates and Clinton one after Sanders won 65 percent of the turnout with 34 votes to Clinton’s 18.

“We have an individual with unbelievable knowledge of every aspect of what it is to be a president of the U.S.,” said La Plata County resident B.J. Boucher, a Clinton supporter. “I think it is time for us to really open up to the fact that women need to be in power.”

A Sanders supporter had another take.

“Bernie represents what I’ve been saying my whole life,” said Enrique Orozco, a 31-year old La Plata County resident. “If we vote for Hillary, yes, she has a lot of experience, but she also has a lot of dirt. To say Bernie is un-electable, I disagree 100 percent.”

As Democrats made pleas for their preferred candidate, the issue of “electability” arose several times. La Plata County resident Ross Worley said Sanders is the best choice to give people who are not in the “protected class” a chance to succeed.

“I think Sanders is the guy to do that,” Ross said. “Congress won’t be any easier for Hillary or Bernie to deal with. It probably won’t be any easier for (Donald) Trump to deal with.”

Clinton supporters stressed the need for a candidate with experience and a working knowledge of government, though the fact that she would be the first woman president played no small role.

In the race for the Democratic nomination for 6th Judicial district attorney, Precinct 21 cast 19 votes for Christian Champagne and 1 vote for Ben Lammons. Champagne had overwhelming support at Precinct 4 at Needham Elementary, although Precinct 6 was more evenly divided.

At Republican precincts 32 and 21, frustration mounted over rules that effectively removed the delegation process from Colorado Republicans, a conversation held at Republican caucuses across the county.

“It frustrates me because I feel like we no longer have a voice in Colorado early in the voting process,” said Precinct 32 chairwoman Michelle Gilleland. “I think it really dampens people’s involvement because they can’t vote for a candidate when it really matters.”

The Colorado Republican Committee decided in August that it would not conduct a preference poll for presidential candidates because of a fear that delegates would be committed to a candidate that later dropped out of the race. The committee decided to have an uncommitted delegation, which will give it flexibility come national convention time at the end of July.

In Durango, 11 Republicans caucused for precincts 1, 2 and 3, including two young people who came to observe.

“This doesn’t mean anything, why are we here?” said Ray Baranowski, one of several first-time attendees.

Katie Aggeler said she has attended every caucus where she was eligible.

“What happened?” she asked. “I’m really disappointed we’re not voting.”

A number of precincts planned to conduct an unofficial straw poll, said La Plata County Republican Central Committee Vice Chair Ginny Chambers, but the committee did not expect to have the results tabulated until Wednesday or Thursday.

Several La Plata County Republicans submitted resolutions to make Colorado a primary state for Super Tuesday because they were not happy with the state GOP’s decision.

“It’s kind of ironic,” said La Plata County Democrats Chairwoman Jean Walter, “because if we didn’t have caucuses, if we just had a primary, they couldn’t submit a resolution.”

The group of in-town Republicans considered a resolution saying the 24 Colorado Republican Committee members cannot make changes to procedure without a vote by registered Republican voters and another that would move Colorado to an online primary.

“If we have a group of people in far-off places making decisions,” said Jon Alsdorf, “we don’t have a democracy. I would definitely want a digital primary to have a voice.”

The Democrats at Precinct 4 offered three resolutions, including getting rid of Citizens United, the Supreme Court ruling that said corporations are people and opened the doors to significant campaign contributions and updating the Mining Law of 1872.

“I move we support a Western-state block primary that votes before Super Tuesday,” said Marsha Porter-Norton, “so we can be heard on issues like water, wildfires and agriculture.”

abutler@durangoherald.com

La Plata County results

At 11 p.m. Tuesday, the La Plata County Democrats reported results from 30 of 32 precincts:

Bernie Sanders: 1,466 – 65 percent

Hillary Clinton: 819 – 35 percent

Total: 2,285

“We had an incredible turnout,” La Plata County Democrats Chairwoman Jean Walter said. “We’re only missing the two smallest precincts.”