Feb. 7, 2012 Colorado Precinct Caucuses

RNC Conference Call-Feb. 7
Key Dates Colorado Republican Party
Feb. 7:                    Precinct Caucuses
Feb. 17-March 28:  County Assemblies
March 29-April 13:  Congressional District Assemblies 
April 14:                  State Republican Assembly at Denver University Ritchie Center  update

ReactionsRomney  Democrats

This was a fairly stunning result.  Mitt Romney had won the Feb. 5, 2008 presidential preference poll resoundingly with 42,218 votes (60.11%) to McCain 12,918 (18.39%), Huckabee 8,960 (12.76%), Paul 5,910 (8.42%) and a scattering of votes for others for a total of 70,229.  Participation in 2012 fell to 66,027, and Romney's vote total was 19,206 fewer than in 2008.

Republican Caucuses
2,917 of 2,917 precincts reporting

BACHMANN
GINGRICH
HUNTSMAN
PAUL PERRY
ROMNEY
SANTORUM
OTHERS
TOTAL

28
0.04%
8,445
12.79%
46
0.07%
7,759
11.75%
52
0.08%
23,012
34.85%
26,614
40.31%
71
0.11%
66,027

PRESS RELEASE from Colorado Republican Party
For Immediate Release
February 8, 2012

Colorado Republican Party Announces Certified 2012 Caucus Results

Greenwood Village, CO – Today the Colorado Republican Party announced its final caucus results, with Senator Rick Santorum certified as the winner of the 2012 Colorado Republican Caucuses. Across the state nearly 3,000 Republican volunteers helped facilitate a successful caucus in what will be a springboard to a Republican victory in Colorado in the general election.  Colorado Republican Party Chairman Ryan Call issued the following statement:

“Last night, Colorado Republicans took an enthusiastic  first step in nominating our candidate to defeat Barack Obama in November. I congratulate Senator Rick Santorum on his victory and I’m confident that no matter who our eventual nominee is, Colorado will do its part this November to elect a Republican President. Poll after poll shows that after three years of broken promises and failed economic policies, Coloradans have soured on Barack Obama, and tonight we proved that we have the momentum heading into November.”

The official results with 100% of precincts reporting are as follows:

Rick Santorum: 26,614 - 40.31%

Mitt Romney: 23,012 – 34.85%

Newt Gingrich: 8,445 – 12.79%

Ron Paul: 7,759 – 11.75%

Write In: 71 - .11%

Rick Perry: 52 - .08%

Jon Huntsman: 46 - .07%

Michele Bachmann: 28 - .04%

Total turnout: 66,027



FAQ:  Republican Precinct Caucus Information

When is the Republican Precinct Caucus?

-Colorado Republican Precinct caucuses will be held throughout the state on the first Tuesday in February - on February 7, 2012 - beginning promptly at 7:00 pm.  We recommend that participants arrive at their designated Precinct Caucus location no later than 6:30 pm to allow for registration and check-in.

What is a Precinct Caucus?

In Colorado, the process of nominating candidates for elective office begins with precinct caucuses organized by the major political parties.  Since Colorado does not hold a Presidential primary election, the only opportunity for voters to directly influence the selection of the major party candidates for President of the United States is through precinct caucuses and political party assemblies.

Precinct caucuses are local neighborhood meetings of registered voters held every general election year.  At each precinct caucus meeting, a Presidential preference poll is held, local political party leaders are selected, and delegates to county and district assemblies are elected.  Delegates chosen at precinct caucuses will vote in later political party assemblies to designate partisan candidates to the primary election ballot for U.S. Congress, the state legislature, and other district and county offices. Delegates to State and Congressional district assemblies will also vote to elect delegates to national political conventions and will vote on political party platforms.

With the exception of the Republican candidates for President and Vice-President who are nominated at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida in August 2012, registered Republican voters will then have the opportunity to vote on the Republican candidates designated to the primary election ballot by party assembly or by petition in connection with the June 26, 2012 primary election.

Precinct caucus attendees must be registered to vote and affiliated with the Republican Party at least two months prior to the precinct caucus (no later than Dec. 7, 2011), and must be a resident of their precinct for at least thirty days (no later than Jan. 7, 2012) to be eligible to participate in their precinct caucus meeting or to be elected as a delegate or precinct committeeperson.  Participation in the precinct caucus by absentee ballot or by proxy is not allowed, but a person may be elected as a delegate or precinct committeeperson in absentia if they are unable to attend the meeting in person.

Republican precinct caucus meetings will start promptly at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, February 7, 2012, and generally last about an hour and a half.  Registered Republican voters may find their precinct caucus location at caucus.cologop.org, and caucus participants are encouraged to pre-register and arrive at their caucus location no later than 6:30 p.m.

Am I eligible to vote in the Republican precinct caucus?

-You must be a registered Colorado voter, affiliated with the Republican Party no later than December 7, 2011 (at least two months prior to the Precinct Caucus).

-You must also have been a resident of your precinct for at least thirty (30) days.  If you moved into the precinct or registered to vote less than thirty days prior to the Precinct Caucuses, you must attend the precinct caucus that corresponds to your prior address, but you may be ineligible to be elected as a delegate or precinct committeeperson.

-For key dates and additional information, please click here.

Where is my precinct caucus?

-Most Precinct Caucus meetings are held in local schools, community meeting rooms, churches, and sometimes in private homes that are ADA-accessible.  The Precinct Caucus location for your neighborhood is set by your local county Republican Party, and can be found on our Colorado Republican Caucus Assembly System website found at http://caucus.cologop.org

What happens at a precinct caucus?

-At every Precinct Caucus, the basic agenda is as follows:

-Elect a chairman and secretary to help run the caucus meeting that night;

-Vote in the Presidential Preference Poll, and tally and announce the results to caucus participants;

- Elect two precinct committeepersons who will serve as local officers of the Republican Party and help coordinate voter registration and get-out-the-vote efforts in the precinct for the next two years;

-Elect delegates and alternate delegates to the County Assembly, and in some cases to certain district assemblies and higher assemblies and conventions;

-Discuss, and approve or reject certain resolutions relating to the Party platform.

If I’m not a registered Republican voter can I still attend my Precinct Caucus as an observer?

-Yes you can attend as an observer, but you will not be allowed to vote in the Presidential Preference Poll or participate in the election of precinct committeepersons or delegates to political party assemblies.


FAQ: Delegate Information

What is a delegate and what do they do?

-Delegates and alternate delegates are elected by eligible Precinct Caucus voters to advance to their County Assembly, and potentially to certain higher assemblies including legislative and judicial district assemblies, Congressional district assemblies and the state assembly and convention.  At these political party assemblies, delegates will vote to designate candidates to the 2012 Republican Primary Election ballot. Delegates selected at the Precinct Caucuses may but are not required to pledge their votes to their preferred candidates for elective office.

How do I become a delegate to the National Convention?

-Colorado is allowed to send 36 delegates and 33 alternate delegates to the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Florida on August 27-30, 2012.  At each of Colorado’s seven congressional districts assemblies, 3 delegates and 3 alternate delegates are elected, and the remaining 12 delegates and 12 alternate delegates are elected at the Colorado Republican State Assembly and Convention held on April 14, 2012.  The members of the Republican National Committee from Colorado are also delegates to the Republican National Convention.

Do I have to run as a pledged delegate for a specific presidential candidate?

-No. You can run as an unpledged delegate. However, if you wish to be considered as a candidate for National Delegate, you must be first elected as a delegate or alternate delegate to your local county assembly and to the State and/or Congressional District assembly from which you wish to be elected, and you must notify the Colorado Republican Party of your interest by filing a “National Delegate Intent Form” no later than thirteen (13) days prior to the State or Congressional District Assembly. You can obtain the “National Delegate Intent Form” from your local Republican party leaders on the day of your county assembly. Pledged candidates for National Delegate remain pledged to their candidate unless their candidate withdraws from the Presidential contest, releases their delegates, or is not nominated.

When and where is my:

-County Assembly:  Please visit your local County Party website to find information regarding your county assembly location and meeting time. To find your county Party’s website, click here.

-House District Assembly: to be announced

-Senate District Assembly: to be announced

-Congressional District Assembly: to be announced

-State Assembly: Ritchie Center, Denver University, Saturday, April 14, 2012

When and where is the National Convention?

-Tampa Bay Times Forum in Tampa, Florida on August 27-30, 2012.


Congressional District Republican Assemblies and Conventions:

Congressional Districts 1 - 6:
Friday, April 13, 2012 at 2:00 p.m.
Colorado Convention Center, 700 14th Street, Denver

Congressional District 7:
Thursday, April 12, 2012 at 6:00 p.m.
Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 15200 West 6th Ave. Service Road, Golden

Official Business of the Congressional District Assemblies and Conventions will include:

Deadline to Submit National Delegate Intent to Run Form: no later than 13 days before Assembly


Colorado Republican State Assembly and Convention:

Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 9:00 a.m.
Magness Arena, Ritchie Center at the University of Denver
2201 East Asbury Avenue, Denver, Colorado
Check‐in and credentialing will begin at 7:00 a.m.

Official Business of the State Assembly and Convention will include:

Deadline to Submit National Delegate Intent to Run Form: March 31, 2012

Guest Credentials will be available to request online beginning April 1, 2012

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