Campaign Spotlight: Candidates in Colorado

September 20, 2016

Colorado’s 6th District

Our endorsee: Morgan Carroll

The former president of Colorado’s State Senate, Carroll is one of the most impressive House challengers in the 2016 cycle, running against an incumbent Republican in a district that voted Democrat for President in both 2008 and 2012. She identifies strongly as a member of the progressive Jewish community, and has made many trips to Israel, where she lived on a Kibbutz and tutored Hebrew for several years. 
Carroll supported the Obama administration’s Iran nuclear deal while also calling for US action to counter Iran’s nefarious influence in the region. She’s said she would be committed to strengthening the US-Israel strategic partnership and advancing a negotiated two-state solution.

Key quote:

If we reject…negotiations and multinationalism, the likelihood for unilateral military action becomes greater. The United States must not send troops into harm’s way without exhausting all diplomatic options.

The opponent: Four-term incumbent Rep. Mike Coffman

Coffman joined with House Republicans who attacked the Iran nuclear agreement and the diplomacy led by President Obama. He echoed Donald Trump’s outlandish accusation that the administration had paid a “ransom payment” to free hostages in Iran, charging that “the Administration has given cash-strapped terrorists around the world a green light to seize Americans.”

The Race

Currently listed by Cook Report as a Tossup. Polls show a tight race within just a few points.

Colorado’s Third District

Our endorsee: Gail Schwartz

Schwartz has served in the Colorado State Senate since 2006. She strongly aligns with J Street on the issue of American leadership towards peace between Israelis and Palestinians, and has given her support to the JCPOA nuclear agreement with Iran. 

The opponent: Two-term incumbent Scott Tipton

Tipton has been a hawk in Congress, opposing the Iran nuclear agreement. After Republicans helped arrange Prime Minister Netanyahu’s speech to Congress in March 2015 without consulting with Democrats, Tipton incredibly accused Democrats who skipped the address of “play[ing] politics.” After President Obama reaffirmed in 2011 that a two-state solution should be based on the 1967 borders, Tipton joined 29 other Members of Congress to demand the President retract this “misguided and inappropriate” statement.

The polls

The race is currently listed by Cook Report as “Likely Republican.”

Colorado’s 1st District

Our endorsee: Rep. Diana DeGette

Rep. DeGette has represented the Denver metro area in Congress since 1997, and currently serves as a Chief Deputy Whip. A strong believer in the two-state solution, she has been a J Street endorsee since 2012. In 2015 she joined the J Street Education Fund’s weeklong delegation to Israel and the Palestinian territory, along with Reps. Luis Gutierrez and Mark Takano.

Rep. DeGette supported the Iran nuclear agreement, and has been an advocate for the power of diplomacy to advance our national security.

Key quote:

If this agreement is fully carried out, it will mark a major change in the security and diplomatic environment in the Middle East. There is no trust involved in this effort, because our nation’s security is not built on trust; it is built on our ability to strictly verify our safety and the safety of our allies.

The opponent: Casper Stockham.

The Race

Currently listed by Cook Report as a “Solid Democrat”