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Head of Colorado GOP addresses national party in-fighting and its impact on Colorado politics

Posted at 10:38 AM, Oct 30, 2017
and last updated 2017-10-30 12:38:08-04

DENVER -- With at least two Republican senators announcing they’re not going to run for re-election and then criticizing the president, there are an increasing number of questions about what this in-fighting on the national level means locally.

“It’s probably a mosaic of personalities, of policies, of ambition, all those things always come to a nexus in politics,” Jeff Hays, the chair of the Colorado GOP told Nicole Brady on this weekend’s Politics Unplugged.  “It does cascade down because a lot of people pay attention to national politics and so one of my challenges is to differentiate between our impact and that’s the thing… we try to control the things we have control over.”

Hays says the fact the fighting seems to be so personality focused makes it seem worse.

“If it were more policy issues, I think the people would accept it as being a normal part of governance.  Important decisions, people have different perspectives,” he said.  “But it just looks like it’s infighting and silliness and people are frankly a little bit disgusted with that from my perspective.” 

One of the things the Colorado GOP is focusing on is next year’s governor’s race.

“It really is important because the gubernatorial candidate tends to drag other people along with him, basking in the reflective glory,” Hays said.  “We have a holy host of candidates right now and we’re doing everything we can to support them fairly, equitably but thoroughly.”

Politics Unplugged airs Sundays at 4:30am & 4pm on Denver7.