The Great Colorado Opt-Out: Colorado GOP Primary Showdown Explained w/ Steve Schleiker & Jason Lupo

The Great Colorado Opt-Out is here — and it could change the way elections work in Colorado forever.

In this video, we break down what’s really happening behind the Colorado Republican Party’s vote to opt out of the state’s open primary system. Under Colorado law, both Democrats and Republicans must allow unaffiliated voters to participate in their primaries. But there’s a catch: each party has the right to “opt out” and instead nominate candidates through caucus, assembly, or a party-run primary.

So what’s at stake?

Unaffiliated voters make up nearly 52% of the electorate in El Paso County — and 65% of them usually request the Republican ballot. If the GOP opts out, those voters would no longer participate in the Republican primary unless they switch party affiliation.

Critics argue this hands Democrats a huge advantage, giving them first access to unaffiliated voters while the GOP risks shrinking its influence.

Supporters of the opt-out say this is about protecting the Republican “club” from outsiders who don’t share its values — much like how HOA members wouldn’t want outsiders voting on their dues.

You’ll also hear discussion about Kent Thiry’s influence in Colorado politics — from supporting the end of the Gallagher Amendment (which limited property taxes) to pushing for ranked-choice voting and marijuana legalization. These political moves, backed by big money, have reshaped Colorado’s political landscape.

The big question:
➡️ Will opting out protect Republican values and give the party a stronger identity?
➡️ Or will it alienate voters and push unaffiliated Coloradans toward Democrats and ranked-choice voting in the future?

This debate is more than just procedure. It’s about who gets to decide Colorado’s future.

📌 Key Topics in this video:

How Colorado’s open primary works

What it means to “opt out” of the primary

The role of unaffiliated voters in elections

Why critics say the opt-out could backfire

Concerns about disenfranchisement

The influence of Kent Thiry and outside money

What’s at stake for 2024 and beyond

Whether you’re a Republican, Democrat, unaffiliated voter, or just someone watching the shifting dynamics of U.S. elections, this is a story that matters.

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