Valerie Richardson

Ballot initiatives run gamut from marijuana to minimum wage

This may come as a surprise if you live in a state with the minimum wage, marijuana, genetically modified food labeling or election-rules measures on the ballot, but 2014 is actually a down year for state-ballot initiatives.

November 3, 2014

Colorado Republicans hang on to 100,000-vote lead as Democrats make final push

Republicans maintained their 100,000-vote lead in Colorado over the weekend even as Democrats mobilize their ground troops for a strong last-minute surge.

November 3, 2014

Americans believe politicos play ‘race card’ to snag votes

Voters of all races say most politicians play the "race card" to win elections rather than address actual race-related issues, according to a poll released Monday.

November 3, 2014

Thousands rally on behalf of Houston pastors hit with subpoenas

Thousands showed their support Sunday the five Houston pastors who drew national attention for challenging the city's now-withdrawn effort to subpoena their sermons.

November 3, 2014

Republican Ernst jumps out to 7-point lead in critical Iowa Senate race

Republican Joni Ernst surged to a 7-point lead in the Iowa Poll released Sunday, moving her outside the margin of error in the high-stakes Senate race against Democratic Rep. Bruce Braley.

November 2, 2014

Campaign flier tells blacks in Alabama to vote or face the honoring of ‘klansmen’

Campaign materials aimed at getting out the black vote are featuring references to lynchings, Jim Crow-era signs, racial unrest — and, as of last weekend, the Ku Klux Klan.

November 2, 2014

Utah’s Love poised to become first Haitian-American member of Congress

Fast-rising Republican star Mia Love could make history next week in her bid for a House seat from Utah, but first she'll have to beat back a surprising late surge from Democrat Doug Owens.

November 2, 2014

Out there: The wild, wacky and nasty from the 2014 campaign trail

Elections would be dull affairs indeed without the gaffes, glitches and outright weirdness that inevitably crop up before voters put an end to the madness on the first Tuesday in November. And the 2014 races, featuring pig testicles, personal fans and keg stands, were no exception.

November 1, 2014

Colorado GOP winning voter turnout battle as Democrats lag behind

Those counting on the Colorado Democratic Party's vaunted ground game to push their candidates to victory may be getting a little nervous.

October 31, 2014

English-speaking House hopefuls do first-of-kind all-Spanish debate

Two congressional candidates whose first language is English held a Spanish-language debate Thursday evening in a first for Colorado politics. Republican Rep. Mike Coffman and Democrat Andrew Romanoff squared off in a 30-minute live televised debate at Entravision studios in Denver, near the 6th Congressional District in the southern and eastern suburbs.

October 30, 2014

Most Americans say politics behind Obamacare rollout delay: poll

Two out of three Americans agree that politics influenced the Obama administration's decision to push this year's Obamacare enrollment until after the Nov. 4 election, according to a poll released Thursday.

October 30, 2014

Tom Steyer spends $76 million, fails to make climate change an election issue

San Francisco billionaire Tom Steyer has spent a staggering $76 million to promote climate change as a political issue in this year's elections, but the subject isn't exactly firing up the electorate.

October 29, 2014

Republicans gain ground in 4 of 5 Senate races in Rothenberg rating

The Rothenberg Political Report changed its predictions Wednesday in five Senate races, with four of the switches moving in the Republican candidates' favor.

October 29, 2014

Houston Mayor Annise Parker withdraws pastor subpoenas after national uproar

Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced Wednesday that she will withdraw subpoenas aimed at five local pastors after a national firestorm during which she was accused of anti-religious intimidation and abuse of power.

October 29, 2014

Republican takes lead in Colorado governor race

Republican Bob Beauprez pulled ahead of Gov. John Hickenlooper in a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday in Colorado's hard-fought gubernatorial contest.

October 29, 2014

Obamacare sends health premiums skyrocketing by as much as 78 percent

The Affordable Care Act was supposed to make health care more affordable, but a newly released study of insurance policies before and after Obamacare shows that average premiums have skyrocketed, for some groups by as much as 78 percent.

October 28, 2014

Reporter Sharyl Attkisson says feds hacked computer, CBS protected Obama

Those who suspect the worst about the Obama administration and the media won't have their beliefs contradicted by former CBS News reporter Sharyl Attkisson's explosive new book, "Stonewalled: My Fight for Truth Against the Forces of Obstruction, Intimidation and Harassment in Obama's Washington."

October 28, 2014

Another Udall slips in polls, this time New Mexico’s Tom Udall

A scion of the Udall family is losing ground in this year's Senate contest, but this time it's Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico.

October 28, 2014

Colorado Republicans outspent but getting more bang for buck

Colorado Republicans have grown accustomed to losing the fundraising battle with their Democratic opponents, and this year is no exception. What's different — at least so far — are the results.

October 27, 2014

Mass murderer’s life hangs in balance in Colo. governor’s race

Candidates have been known to characterize their campaigns as matters of life or death, but a man's life literally does hang in the balance in the Colorado governor's race.

October 27, 2014