<\/p>\n
In the aftermath of Tuesday\u2019s election, Democratic and Republican leaders share different narratives about how the results played out for Colorado.<\/p>\n
Republicans point to a \u201cwave\u201d that swept the nation over displeasure with President Barack Obama; Democrats say the re-election of Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper over Republican Bob Beauprez dispels that notion.<\/p>\n
But Republicans experienced huge wins on Tuesday, ousting Democratic incumbent Mark Udall in the U.S. Senate race, replacing him with U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, a Republican from Yuma, who is considered a GOP star.<\/p>\n
Republican Mike Coffman held on to his 6th Congressional District seat against an aggressive challenge by Democrat Andrew Romanoff.<\/p>\n
Republicans also took all the major statewide races in Colorado, as well as the state Senate, which was determined Saturday morning. The chamber has flipped from 18 Democrats and 17 Republicans to 18 Republicans and 17 Democrats.<\/p>\n
Democrats, meanwhile, will hang onto the House by a razor-thin majority, losing at least three seats. Some of those races remain in flux.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think the people of Colorado spoke loud and clear, and Democrats are trying to do their best to put on a happy face,\u201d Gardner told The Durango Herald in an interview Friday.<\/p>\n
It has been a whirlwind for Gardner beginning Tuesday. He has spoken with top Republican and Democratic leaders, including President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush.<\/p>\n
Gardner laughed that when he was out to lunch with his wife, Jaime, on Tuesday, he noticed a call from a Texas number that he didn\u2019t recognize, so he pressed the ignore button. His press secretary then called Jaime and told her that her husband should keep his phone near him. When it rang again, it was George W. Bush wishing him good luck.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe just ended the call, \u2018Talk to ya,\u2019\u201d Gardner chuckled.<\/p>\n
During his call with Obama on Wednesday, Gardner said he and the president talked about working together.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe said, \u2018Get some rest because we\u2019re going to keep you busy,\u2019\u201d Gardner recalled.<\/p>\n
The senator-elect said the decisive victory did not come as a surprise to his campaign, with turnout and polling numbers both leaning in their favor.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe really focused on the issues that every Coloradan is focused on. The economy, on the energy issues that our state faces,\u201d Gardner said. \u201cWe really represented a better vision for the state of Colorado.\u201d<\/p>\n
Colorado Democrats, however, aren\u2019t smiling as much as Gardner. But they\u2019re not willing to admit that a Republican wave swept Colorado. In fact, they say the GOP wave broke on the Centennial State.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe surge was not as great as I think it\u2019s being painted as,\u201d said Rick Palacio, chairman of the Colorado Democratic Party.<\/p>\n
He pointed out that Democrats held the governor\u2019s office and House in Colorado. But Palacio said his party could have done better with get-out-the-vote efforts.<\/p>\n
\u201cPerhaps there was a little bit of an enthusiasm gap,\u201d Palacio said, pointing out that voter turnout remained relatively stagnant, despite a new law that mailed ballots to all registered voters in Colorado.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s just a bit of a bump in the road,\u201d he added. \u201cNot to say that we don\u2019t respect the will of the voters, because obviously the voters spoke. We just wish more had turned out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hickenlooper said much of the Democrats\u2019 woes is just a reflection of the mood of the nation.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was an especially tough year for incumbents everywhere,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are a lot of people out there that are frustrated that their life hasn\u2019t been moving forward the way they always thought it will.\u201d<\/p>\n
Progressives shared similar thoughts, suggesting that Hickenlooper\u2019s re-election is proof that Democrats survived.<\/p>\n
\u201cA giant red wave swept across our country last night, but progressives in Colorado stood strong against it,\u201d said ProgressNow Colorado executive director Amy Runyon-Harms.<\/p>\n
But there are larger questions to answer, such as whether the Democrats\u2019 campaign strategy was effective. The Udall campaign and progressives largely put all their eggs into one basket, which was to paint a \u201cwar on women\u201d waged by Republican candidates. That was successful in 2012 and 2010. But was it effective this year?<\/p>\n
Long-time Colorado political analyst Bob Loevy said Democrats simply had few narratives to work with this election cycle.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere literally was nothing else for Udall to run on,\u201d Loevy said. \u201cHe couldn\u2019t run on how good things were, he couldn\u2019t brag about his support for President Obama. It was the only issue they had.\u201d<\/p>\n
Udall\u2019s camp said the senator was not available for interviews.<\/p>\n
Loevy believes it is pretty clear that Democrats were swept in Colorado by a six-year wave that revolts against the president\u2019s party.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf the only good news for the Democrats is the fact that their governor survived by a whisker, you\u2019ve been the victim of a sweep, and a bad one,\u201d Loevy said.<\/p>\n