In Colorado’s two congressional seats up for grabs this year, the conservative editorial board of The Gazette has endorsed economist Tim Reichert for the 7th Congressional District, and state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer for the 8th District Republican primary elections.

The 8th District is Colorado’s new congressional seat created after the 2020 Census.

It’s considered one of the hottest contested races in the nation, as Republicans fight to win control of the House and Senate and bring some balance to the progressive-dominated Biden administration.

The Gazette says Kirkmeyer is the ideal choice to land this district for the Republican Party because she checks all the right boxes on issues near and dear to conservative hearts in supporting 2nd Amendment rights, law and order, pro life and a fiscal conservative.

Where Kirkmeyer distinguishes herself is her seasoning in actually putting those principles to work. Currently a member of the state Senate, Kirkmeyer served previously as a Weld County Commissioner for two decades. She served, as well, in the cabinet of Republican former Gov. Bill Owens. In other words, she knows her way around government and public policy.

 

But she also is rooted firmly in private enterprise. A fourth-generation Coloradan from Brighton and CU grad who co-owned and operated a dairy farm, she understands the challenges facing small business as a longtime small-business owner herself.

In the 7th District being vacated by Democrat U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter, The Gazette says Reichert is the smart choice for Republicans to win that seat.

Reichert would be an ideal choice in the GOP primary — not only for the fall ballot but also to send all the way to D.C. His Main Street conservative positions as an economist could win support in the fall from unaffiliated voters as well as Republicans. He is a hawk on the inflation that is crushing Colorado consumers right now. He wants lower taxes and less regulation saddling small business. He wants to stop out-of-control crime, cut off the flow of fentanyl and other illegal drugs, and secure the nation’s borders. He supports education reform, including a return to holding schools accountable for academic performance.

About five minutes after Perlmutter announced his retirement, the Democrat Party establishment lined up like lemmings behind state Sen. Brittany Pettersen as the heir apparent to carry Colorado’s progressive banner back to Washington. 

In the 8th District, Democrats also cleared the field for state House Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Thornton to proceed to the General Election in November without having to deal with a messy primary.

Ballots hit mailboxes next week.