DENVER – Democrats in the 3rd Congressional District on Friday will be asked to choose candidates to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton this fall.
The district’s assembly will take place Friday night in Loveland, a day ahead of the state convention, also in Loveland.
Three candidates have filed to seek the party’s support in the 3rd district. They will need at least 30 percent of the delegate vote to make the June 28 primary ballot.
Former state Sen. Gail Schwartz announced her run last week. She has perhaps the top name recognition in the district and lives in Gunnison County.
Others seeking the party’s support are Aspen political consultant Gordon Bronson and Eagle veterinarian and small business owner Steve Sheldon.
Sheldon, 55, said he plans to stick it out through Friday. He said Schwartz asked him to drop out so that she could have a clear path forward, but he said he declined to do so.
“She left a message on my phone and said, ‘Steve, I’m in the race, and I want to talk to you about some of the issues and party unity,’” Sheldon said. “Her idea of issues was she has an issue with me being in the race, and her idea of party unity is for me to drop out.”
Sheldon went on to say that he has “nothing disparaging to say about Gail, but I do not think she is the right candidate to win back the seat.”
Schwartz said her focus is surviving Friday. She must convince about 600 delegates that she is the right person for the job.
“It’s really important that people know and hear from me, and we’ll see what happens on Friday night at the assembly. That will define our path forward,” Schwartz said. “I’m running against one person, that’s Scott Tipton.”
Tipton himself is facing a primary. At last week’s Republican 3rd district assembly, 27-year-old recent law school graduate Alex Beinstein earned 40 percent of the delegate vote – enough to make the June primary ballot.
Observers believe Tipton will defeat Beinstein, which is why Democrats say Tipton remains the target.
Still, defeating a Republican in the district is an uphill battle. It includes most of the western slope and southern portions of the eastern plains. It is one of the geographically largest congressional districts in the nation.
There are 174,460 registered Republicans, compared with 148,636 registered Democrats. Republicans make up 34 percent of the district, while Democrats comprise 29 percent.
But the district often swings between Republicans and Democrats. The deciders might be the 178,563 unaffiliated voters, standing at about 35 percent of the district.
“I am a strong voice for western and southern Colorado and rural communities,” Schwartz said. “I have a record as an independent leader ... someone that will work for the communities and for the constituents and not be a person that’s going to be influenced by parties or donors.”
Bronson, 27, did not return requests for comment left by The Durango Herald on Thursday.
Last week, he said “the most important thing is we put forward the strongest candidate to take on Tipton in the fall,” suggesting that he would support whoever wins the primary.
He stopped short of saying he would drop out to make way for Schwartz.
Sheldon also said he would “most likely” support the Democrat that wins the primary.
“Americans are ready for politicians who will be true representatives,” Sheldon said. “By sending someone like me – who is one of them, a small businessman, a father, a local member of the community, who is not beholden to any special interest groups or lobbyists, and who has agreed not to take industry money – we will get some true representation.”
pmarcus@durangoherald.com
