Political systems

Democratic Party

New chairs of La Plata County political parties chart courses after 2024

Lehto, a Democrat, and Vanessa Ruggles, a Republican, took the helm of their respective parties in February

March 30, 2025 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Local News

Colorado Republican leaders try to clinch power with bylaw amendments

Proposed changes are ‘detrimental to democracy,’ La Plata County Republican says

January 8, 2025 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

ColoradoSun.com

A bylaw amendment could make it more difficult to dislodge Colorado GOP chairman

would make it harder to call a special meeting to vote on whether to remove Dave Williams

August 13, 2024 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Colorado

How Colorado’s delegates to the Democratic National Convention are feeling about Joe Biden

of the state’s delegates polled said they plan on abandoning Biden

July 15, 2024 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Election

What do voters want candidates to focus on this election?

respondents express frustration with polarization and attack politics

June 5, 2024 • Tina Griego, Colorado News Collaborative and Megan Verlee, CPR News

Election

Youths could swing the election. Will they turn out to vote?

young people grow disillusioned with national politics, some turn to local engagement

April 23, 2024 • Eliza DuBose — Herald Staff Writer

Fort Lewis College

Fort Lewis College students explore ways to have more civil political discourse

Misinformed stereotypes among reasons for divisiveness

March 29, 2024 • Tyler Brown — Herald Staff Writer

Local News

Protesters picket The Durango Herald

Leaders from La Plata County GOP showed up to protest coverage, bar reporters entry from events

September 12, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Local News

La Plata County GOP leader elected state party vice chair

Scheppelman of Bayfield will serve 2-year term

August 9, 2023 • Reuben M. Schafir — Herald Staff Writer

Democratic Party

Kent Thiry’s next political focus: Big changes to Colorado’s primary election process

deep-pocketed former DaVita CEO has already spent millions on democracy-related initiatives in Colorado in recent years

February 15, 2023 • Jesse Paul and Sandra Fish — The Colorado Sun

ColoradoSun.com

Bid to make Colorado among first for Democratic presidential primary appears to fall short

calls for South Carolina to go first in 2024, followed by Nevada and New Hampshire

December 7, 2022 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Citizens initiative and recall

Republicans initiate recall of Colorado senator two days after he announces he’s becoming a Democrat

‘It’s strange how the way you affiliate changes people’s perceptions of you,’ says Sen. Kevin Priola

August 25, 2022 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Election

Unaffiliated candidates submit petitions for La Plata County ballot

Turner, Tiffany Lee and Erin Hutchins look to secure their places in November races

July 15, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Democratic Party

Unaffiliated voters heavily favor Republican races in 2022 La Plata County primaries

Democrats eye U.S. Supreme Court decisions as a motivator toward November

July 7, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

ColoradoSun.com

Republican primary voters in Colorado reject slate of candidates who embraced election conspiracies

‘I think the Republican Party returned to sanity tonight,’ said Dick Wadhams, former chairman of the state GOP

June 30, 2022 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Bayfield

Primary turnout in La Plata County outpaces 2018

for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, statewide and national offices bring out voters

June 21, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

ColoradoSun.com

Colorado’s June 28 primary will test just how much Republicans embrace 2020 election conspiracies

in most races will have choice between those who dispute 2020 presidential results and those who don’t

May 31, 2022 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Election

Gloves come off in first debate between congressional candidates Don Coram and Lauren Boebert

Republican primary opponents offered voters a glimpse of their different approaches to legislating

May 27, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Colorado

State Sen. Don Coram and U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert to debate Thursday in Ignacio

Republican candidates will meet as they campaign for Congressional District 3

May 25, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Barbara McLachlan

State Rep. Barbara McLachlan looks back on 2022 legislative session

on education, Fort Lewis marked accomplishments while climate change legislation faltered

May 21, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

ColoradoSun.com

Democrats want Colorado to be one of the nation’s first presidential primary states in 2024

move comes as the Democratic National Committee looks to move the spotlight away from Iowa and New Hampshire

May 14, 2022 • Jesse Paul — The Colorado Sun

Abortion

Durango reacts to draft decision that would overturn Roe v. Wade

express despair and elation, but acknowledge ruling would have limited impact in Southwest Colorado

May 4, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer

Colorado

Efforts underway on Western Slope to quell political extremism and restore civility

Hundreds have signed a pledge to continue disagreeing, but to do so politely and with the public good as the…

April 18, 2022 • Nancy Lofholm — The Colorado Sun

Barbara McLachlan

Colorado Rep. Barbara McLachlan eyes fourth term

Longtime representative from Durango touts her work at the Capitol as campaign season nears

March 26, 2022 • Aedan Hannon — Herald Staff Writer