By Jerry White
When Colorado voters passed Proposition 108 in 2016, they fundamentally changed the way political parties select their candidates. Beginning in 2018, unaffiliated voters were given the right to participate in the Republican and Democratic primaries. Supporters claimed it would increase voter participation and give independents a stronger voice. In practice, it has weakened the Republican Party and divided it from within.
Before this change, Colorado’s primaries were closed — only registered Republicans could choose the Republican nominee. That system reflected a simple principle: party members should decide who represents their party. Proposition 108 replaced that clarity with confusion. Unaffiliated voters, many of whom have no stake in the GOP’s values or long-term direction, now play a direct role in determining its candidates.
The results have not been good for Republicans. Since open primaries began, moderate or left-leaning Republicans have consistently advanced to the general election — only to lose statewide races that a more grounded, conservative candidate might have won. Grassroots Republicans have watched as the state party drifted away from its principles, chasing after voters who rarely reward the effort.
The Colorado GOP is now locked in a bitter internal debate over whether to opt out of the open primary system altogether. The party’s bylaws require a 75% vote of its state central committee to make that change — an almost impossible bar to clear. A strong majority of Republican delegates and local activists favor returning to closed primaries, but a small group of party insiders and establishment figures continue to block reform. They insist that open primaries are more “inclusive,” that they appeal to moderates, and that broadening the base is the only path to victory.
Yet, that strategy continues to fail. Colorado Republicans have not won a major statewide office in years. The so-called “reach out to moderates” approach has not strengthened the GOP — it has watered it down. Instead of inspiring confidence, it has alienated the base and produced candidates who struggle to connect with conservative voters once the general election begins.
Supporters of closed primaries argue that the issue is not about excluding anyone — it’s about preserving the integrity of the party. If an unaffiliated voter wants to help choose the Republican candidate, they can register as a Republican before the primary and unaffiliate afterward. That’s fair, transparent, and consistent with how the majority of states operate. The notion that outsiders should help determine a party’s nominee is contrary to the entire idea of party identity.
Closed primaries keep accountability where it belongs: with the party’s members. They ensure that candidates must earn the trust of their own base before asking for the votes of independents in November. It’s a system that respects both principle and process.
The Colorado Republican Party must decide whether it wants to continue diluting its message in pursuit of voters who will never fully support it — or return to representing the conservatives who built it. The 75% rule should not be used as a shield to protect failed strategies. Instead, it should be the foundation for restoring unity and strength.
A party without a core cannot lead. If the GOP wants to win again in Colorado, it must first define who it is and who it stands for. That starts by letting Republicans choose their own candidates — and closing the primaries once and for all.
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