Recall Of Colorado Sen. Priola, Now A Democrat, Would Happen In New Republican-Leaning District

By Sara Wilson, Colorado Newsline

August 30, 2022

A potential recall election of state Sen. Kevin Priola would take place in his newly drawn, Republican-leaning district, state officials announced Monday.

After Priola switched his party registration from Republican to Democrat last week, advocates began seeking a recall petition, claiming that the newly Democratic senator does not represent his district?s views. The question then was whether the potential recall election would occur in Senate District 25, which Priola currently represents, or Senate District 13, which he will represent beginning next year due to the redistricting process.

"The secretary of state?s office decided the recall would happen in the new district, which runs along U.S. 85 from Henderson into Greeley. That district has a 4-percentage point Republican advantage," according to election result analysis from the state?s independent redistricting staff.

Senate District 25, however, is more of a tossup district based in Denver?s northeast suburbs. If a recall were to happen there, Democrats could celebrate a likely addition to their caucus as they try to hold on to power. But by having the potential recall in a more Republican-leaning district, Priola could get voted out and replaced by a conservative senator.

Democrats currently control both chambers of the Colorado Legislature. They have a comfortable majority in the House, but Republicans, before Priola?s party switch, needed to flip only three seats in the Senate to win a majority in that chamber.

While the secretary of state?s office based the petition signature threshold from voter counts in Senate District 25, recall proponents will need to gather the necessary 18,291 signatures from voters in the new Senate District 13. The office worked with the attorney general?s office in its determination.

"A recall election would cost approximately $200,000," the office said.

Once a petition format is approved, recall proponents have 60 days to gather and submit signatures. The recall committee is registered under Michael Fields, the senior adviser for the conservative nonprofit Advance Colorado Action. The committee formed two days after Priola announced his party switch.

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