Today is the deadline for candidates planning to petition on the 2016 primary or general election ballot to turn in their required signatures. There are several races worth watching in which the candidates either opted to go straight petition route or did not make the ballot via the caucus and assembly process and chose to gather the required signatures to make the ballot. Here are a few updates on those who are going the petition route as of 3:30 p.m. today.
Republican U.S. Senate Primary
These three Republicans have turned in their signatures:
- Jack Graham
- Jon Keyser
- Robert Blaha
Jefferson County Commissioner Don Rosier and former Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier have less than an hour to turn in signatures. Will they or won’t they? We’ve heard Team Frazier has worked incredibly hard to get those signatures, but we haven’t heard anything from Don Rosier. Is he still in the race?
Republican Primary for State Senate District 12
Former Rep. Bob Gardner turned in his petitions on March 16. His petitions were deemed sufficient on March 25. He is in a primary with Rep. Gordon Klingenschmitt. Yes, that Gordon.
Democratic Primary for State Senate District 31
Steve Sherick swept the Arapahoe County Democratic Assembly and took 58 percent of the Denver Democratic Assembly, but it wasn’t enough to keep Rep. Lois Court (D-The Maths) off the ballot. Today, Erin Bennett submitted her signatures for the SD31 ballot. It’s a crowded race, folks.
Republican Primary for State House District 51
Tom Lucero today submitted signatures after his surprise upset at the HD51 Assembly. Lucero came up just shy of the 30 percent needed to get on the ballot.
Democratic Primary for District Attorney District 17
Incumbent District Attorney Dave Young was knocked off the ballot by Caryn Datz, who garnered 74 percent of the vote to his 26 percent. Today, he turned in his signatures to keep his job.
Democratic Primary for District Attorney District 2
In this open seat, Denver Mayor Hancock endorsed Michael Carrigan and he took top line, upsetting former state Rep. Beth McCann. Their opponent, Kenneth Boyd, submitted his signatures today for the seat.
UPDATE 1:
Republican Larry Liston, who is challenging Rep. Janak Joshi, also turned in signatures and those signatures have been deemed sufficient by the Secretary of State.
UPDATE 2:
Ryan Frazier also reportedly has turned in signatures.