Mesa County Democrats Gather for Colorado Caucus and Assembly

On Saturday, March 7, 2026, registered Democrats across Mesa County gathered for the Colorado Caucus and county assembly, joining thousands of voters statewide in one of Colorado’s most important grassroots political traditions.

Mesa County Colorado Caucus Turnout

A total of 251 registered Democrats in Mesa County attended caucus locations throughout the county. Another 25 observers were present, and 134 caucus participants volunteered to serve as delegates to the Mesa County Assembly later that afternoon.

The Colorado Caucus gives voters a chance to do something rare in modern politics: meet with their neighbors, talk face-to-face about the future of their community, and participate directly in the democratic process.

In Mesa County, caucus was not just about formal business. Many attendees stayed after the meetings ended to continue conversations, exchange contact information, and make plans for future organizing. Groups discussed hosting debate watch parties, letter-writing campaigns, and neighborhood gatherings. For Democrats in Mesa County, building those local connections matters.

Mesa County Assembly Following the Colorado Caucus

After caucus, delegates and proxies gathered at the Clifton Community Center for the Mesa County Democrats Assembly. In total, 134 delegates or their proxies took part, joined by observers, volunteers, and candidates.

In Colorado, caucus and assembly is one of the two ways candidates can access the primary election ballot. The other is the petition process, which requires collecting signatures. For many candidates, the Colorado caucus and assembly route offers a more accessible path to the ballot without the high cost and large-scale effort of signature gathering.

That makes the caucus process especially important for candidates who are not backed by major financial resources.

At the assembly, candidates Mallory Martin, Brittni Packard, Dave Edwards, and Alex Kelloff spoke about their campaigns, values, and vision for the future. Several statewide candidates also submitted videos that were played for attendees.

Technology at the 2026 Colorado Caucus

For the first time, Mesa County Democrats used technology tools to help register votes in straw polls and delegate selections for Governor and CD3 candidates. Over the last year, the Colorado Democratic Party has invested heavily in modernizing the Colorado Caucus and Assembly process and bringing more people into participation after several years of pandemic-era Zoom events.

That investment helped drive turnout, but it also created challenges.

Statewide turnout on Saturday was approximately 13,000 people. That is more than double the turnout from the previous midterm cycle in 2022 (6,390) and nearly double the turnout during the last presidential election year in 2024 (6,799). While that level of participation is encouraging, it also placed significant strain on QR-code-based vote counting systems across the state.

Mesa County Democrats recognize that those technical slowdowns caused delays and frustration. We appreciate the patience of everyone who participated, especially the volunteers who helped attendees navigate QR codes, manage proxy votes, and distribute backup paper ballots when needed.

Democracy can be messy, and this year offered real lessons about how to improve the process. While many of the technology issues were outside local control, there are still changes we can make before the next Colorado Caucus cycle in 2028 to create a smoother experience for everyone.

Candidates and Delegates Chosen at the Mesa County Assembly

At the assembly, the Mesa County Democrats accepted the nominations of:

• Brittni Packard for House District 55

• Dave Edwards for Mesa County Treasurer

Both will appear on the ballot for the June 30 primary.

The assembly also accepted the nomination of Mallory Martin for House District 54 and awarded her 10 delegates, who will join 3 delegates from Delta County at the multi-county assembly for HD 54 on April 11.

Mesa County will send 28 delegates to the State Assembly in Pueblo on March 28. State delegate allocation is based on the percentage of votes each candidate receives from county delegates, along with meeting the required support thresholds.

Colorado Caucus Results: U.S. Senate

Per the vote count for U.S. Senator for Colorado, the results were:

• Karen Breslin: 42 votes (33.9%) for a possible 10 delegates

• Julie Gonzales: 28 votes (22.6%) for a possible 6 delegates

• John Hickenlooper: 53 votes (42.7%) for a possible 12 delegates

Colorado Caucus Results: U.S. House of Representatives

Per the vote count for Colorado’s 3rd Congressional District, the results were:

• Alex Kelloff: 98 votes (78.4%) for a possible 22 delegates

• Dwayne Romero: 24 votes (19.2%) for a possible 6 delegates

Why the Colorado Caucus Still Matters

The Colorado Caucus remains one of the clearest examples of local democracy in action. It is where neighbors meet neighbors, where candidates connect directly with voters, and where grassroots participation can still shape what happens next.

In Mesa County, the March 7 caucus and assembly showed both the challenges and the promise of this process: strong turnout, real community engagement, and a continued commitment to making democracy work better for everyone.