Last year two Colorado lawmakers who supported stricter new gun control laws were recalled out of office. This year is a different story. The pair of pro-gun Republicans were defeated by Democratic candidates. Analysts say the seesawing results are due to increased voter participation using a new mail-in ballot process reported the New York Times.
Democrat Michael Merrifield defeated Republican State Senator Bernie Herpin in Colorado Springs. Merrifield has worked for the gun-control group founded by Mayor Michael Bloomberg of New York City. The retired teacher is also the Colorado Coordinator for Mayors Against Illegal Guns, a group bankrolled by Bloomberg.
In Pueblo, Leroy Garcia, the Democratic challenger, unseated George Rivera, a Republican and a recall-elected senator. Garcia says he has been an N.R.A. member since leaving the Marine Reserve, and is an avid hunter and gun collector. He also voted for the state’s new background check system, but not magazine limits while serving as a state representative.
The election divides the power between a Democratic House, a Republican Senate, and a Democratic governor.
