What a marathon day it was on Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Colorado Republican State Assembly held at CSU Pueblo’s Massari Arena!
Sarah and I kicked things off bright and early at 8:30 a.m. with a brisk walk across the beautiful CSU Pueblo campus. The energy was already building (as well as the crowds and lines) as delegates from all over Colorado converged for what would become a very long but ultimately rewarding day of party business, candidate speeches, and grassroots enthusiasm.
We parked at the far end of the campus because we knew the traffic at the end of the day would be unbearable. The walk was invigorating and knowing we had a much quicker exit later that day was to me especially important. My planning ahead was not shared by the days events, little did we know.
Unfortunately, internet and credentialing problems plagued the process from the start, turning a planned 9 a.m. opening into hours of waiting in line. We didn’t make it inside until around noon. Even in the long queue, the spirit remained high—delegates were chatting, networking, and staying positive despite the tech hiccups.
While we waited, I pulled out my 360 camera and filmed episode after episode documenting our hands-on civics experience. This was our first year participating at this level – or any level besides voting. We started at the precinct caucus, became delegates (and alternates), and worked our way up the process.
“In for a penny, in for a pound,” as they say.
Every caucus meeting was a new learning experience, and I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to better understand our political system. It gives you a completely different perspective on the representative process.
We stood in line for about three hours and, at the time, swore we’d never do it again. In hindsight, though, it wasn’t all that bad. In fact, we feel far more invested in this election cycle because our candidates are now running for the primary—and hopefully the general election in November 2026.
Here we are…this is what our civic duty comes down to. We are in one of the two lines that snaked toward the arena entrance. The sun beating down on us but it was better than the intermittent clouds that brought a chill to the air.
Delegates were patient and friendly throughout. One highlight was shaking hands with gubernatorial candidate Victor Marx as he worked the line greeting delegates. It was a genuine moment of connection. Marx, a Marine Corps veteran and founder of All Things Possible Ministries, came across as humble and focused more on leadership than politics. Just before him, one of Scott Bottoms’ supporters inserted herself into the moment. It felt a bit petty at the time, but overall the day was marked by cordiality and mutual respect among supporters of all the candidates. There was no real drama—just Colorado Republicans coming together.
I also captured a lively parade of support for Victor Marx as we waited for the main event. His backers marched through with signs and high energy—only for some Scott Bottoms supporters to insert themselves into the middle of it again. Still, it was all in good fun and showed the passion everyone brought to the floor.
Once inside, the program finally got underway. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert delivered a fiery speech that energized the crowd, and I filmed the entire thing. Conservative activist Scott Presler followed (introduced by Boebert), and his remarks on the SAVE America Act—pushing for proof of citizenship and photo voter ID—drew thunderous applause. Presler asked the delegates what they thought of the legislation, and the response was electric. He called it the single most important bill Americans want right now, citing strong poll numbers across all demographics. I filmed that too.
We almost missed our chance to meet Scott Presler. We had resigned ourselves to the disappointment when, later that day and quite unexpectedly, he appeared on the second tier of the arena—the “nosebleed” section near the ceiling. We were thrilled for the second chance and quickly got in line before most others noticed. It was a true blessing to thank him personally for his work in Pennsylvania and across the country. His speech also included his upcoming travel itinerary, all focused on pushing Congress—especially the Senate—to take productive action. Scott is a gracious, energetic, and incredibly important activist who brings fresh energy to the party. Thank you again, Scott, for everything you did to help make the 2024 election what it was!
The heart of the day was the candidate speeches and nominations. I filmed the nomination and acceptance speeches for the key races, including those from Scott Bottoms, Victor Marx, and Michael Allen (who was running for Attorney General). I was a bit slow on the record button and missed Mark Baisley’s nomination, but it was met with tremendous support as well.
The arena buzzed with unity even as the party navigated its internal challenges—recent leadership changes, lawsuits, and election-integrity discussions filled the air. “FREE Tina Peters” stickers and yellow ribbons were everywhere in support of the former Mesa County clerk. Both Victor Marx and Scott Bottoms pledged in their speeches to free her on day one if elected governor.
2026 Colorado Republican State Assembly Results
| Governor | |
| Scott Bottoms | 45.13% (Top line on the ballot) |
| Victor Marx | 39.02% |
|
Both qualified for the June 30, 2026 Republican primary. State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer is also expected on the ballot via petition signatures. |
|
| U.S. Senate | |
| Mark Baisley | ~46% (950 votes) |
| Only Mark Baisley cleared the 30% threshold. He will face the Democratic nominee in November 2026. | |
| Attorney General | |
| Michael Allen | 63.97% |
| David Wilson | 35.59% |
| Both qualified for the Republican primary. | |
| Secretary of State | |
| James Wiley | 71% |
| Only James Wiley qualified. He spoke passionately about election security, paper ballots, same-day voting, and gave a shout-out to Tina Peters. | |
| State Treasurer | |
| Kevin Grantham was unopposed and nominated by voice vote. | |
Results from the Colorado Republican State Assembly held April 11, 2026 at CSU Pueblo.
In hindsight, the frustrations of the day were temporary. Would we do it again? Maybe. Possibly. It would definitely be better with friends!
I would strongly encourage every Republican to get engaged and be part of the process. It makes you truly appreciate the grueling work candidates undertake to serve our communities, state, and nation. We have a high privilege in this republic—one that must be protected, fostered, and improved.
In no small way, our future depends on it.
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