How Undemocratic Is Colorado's Legislature? Plus, Inside the Latest Vacancy Election
What really goes down inside the shadowy backroom where political deals are made? Nearly a third of our state lawmakers have been elected by small groups of party leaders known as “vacancy committees,” and typically all that wheeling and dealing plays out behind closed doors. So today, as about 110 Democrats in central Denver prepare to elect a replacement for State Sen. Chris Hansen, we’re taking you inside the proverbial shadowy backroom. Our newest politics correspondent Deep Singh Badhesha is on with producer Paul Karolyi to talk about the latest drama surrounding vacancy committees and share highlights, analysis, and predictions from the debate they moderated Tuesday night for the candidates running to replace Hansen in the SD31 vacancy election.
Paul mentioned Monica VanBuskirk’s shoes, which were made by Nix & Ness.
The Denver Democrats streamed the debate on YouTube, so if you want to watch and see for yourself what we’re talking about, you can find the video recording here. To hear from Hansen himself, he sat for an interview about his surprise resignation with Denver7 last month.
For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm.
Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver
Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver
Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm
What do you think? Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: 720-500-5418
Learn more about the sponsors of this December 19th episode:
- Meow Wolf - Use code 4PACK at checkout when you purchase your tickets online.
- PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first delivery
- Denver Health
- University of Denver
Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Subscribe To Our Newsletter
Stay connected to City Cast Denver and get ready to join the local conversation.
Latest Episodes
‘Quid Pro Quo Corruption’ in the Governor’s Race? Plus, Kiros’ Late Surge and More Primary Madness!
Why did Democratic gubernatorial candidate Michael Bennet just lend his campaign nearly $1 million? And is “former barista” Melat Kiros’s...
Inside Alma Fonda Fina: How Johnny and Kasie Curiel Are Beating the Odds As Many Restaurants Close
After racking up two Michelin stars and opening six restaurants in less than three years, Johnny and Kasie Curiel are the Denver restaura...
Zombies Are Attacking Denver! Where Do You Go? Who Do You Team Up With?
It’s officially summer in the Mile High City, and for many Denverites that means it’s time to high-tail it to the nearest shady spot on t...
Denver State Senate Candidates Beef over Dark Money, Data Centers, and RTD's Budget
While there’s been plenty of coverage of the gubernatorial, congressional, and U.S. Senate primaries, smaller but equally important battl...
New Rules for City Council Lobbyists, Primary Ballot Conspiracies, and Winning Wontons
This week Denver City Council passed new lobbying rules aimed at increasing transparency and tracking who lobbyists work for, how much th...
Why Some Cherry Creek Trail Art Got 'The Landlord Special.' Plus, Downtown's Perception Problem and Our Summer Concert Picks
What makes a piece of public art “legitimate”? Denverite recently profiled artist Tom Dorsa, an appliance repairman by day who also insta...
Why Three Venues Cancelled on The Kiros/Piker Rally, a Conservative's Tour of Downtown, and Juneteenth Expands
Over the weekend, a rally featuring congressional candidate Melat Kiros and leftist political pundit Hasan Piker was booted from three lo...
How to Survive a Denver Summer
The National Weather Service and Climate Prediction Center are forecasting a warm and wet summer this year. So, how do you cope with incr...
'Your City Could Be Better': Why Every Region Needs A Park Map Tool Like Salt Lake’s — Presented By City Cast Denver
Do you know how many parks Denver has? Residents of Salt Lake County have wondered about their parks for years — that is, until City Cast...
Kyle Clark on GOP Exorcisms, CD-8 Switcheroos, and Tornado False Alarms
Can Victor Marx conduct exorcisms over the phone? The ordained minister and front-runner in the GOP primary for governor says so, and mad...