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Trying to get noticed
The race to replace outgoing U.S. Rep. Tom Tancredo hits its first checkpoint this weekend, when Republicans in the 6th Congressional District hold their assembly.

Five Republicans are vying to replace Tancredo, a sometimes controversial conservative who decided not to seek re-election.

Saturday's assembly, at the Douglas County Events Center, provides the first chance to winnow the field. But the event has lost a little of its luster because the two heavyweights in the race in terms of fundraising — Secretary of State Mike Coffman and mortgage banker Wil Armstrong — are forgoing the assembly and petitioning onto the ballot.

That leaves state Sens. Ted Harvey and Steve Ward and Aurora electrical engineer Pepito Castellanes fighting it out to secure the 30 percent of the votes at the assembly needed to make the primary ballot. (John Ingold, The Denver Post)

Applauding the decision
Thursday night's banquet held by the Boulder chapter of Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians and Gays was put on to recognize community members, but a court decision several states away was also at the center of the night.

The California Supreme Court struck down state laws against same-sex marriage Thursday, effectively declaring that gay couples can now marry in the nation's biggest state. The decision was greeted with happiness at the Boulder PFLAG's annual appreciation banquet.

"We're very pleased to see the gay marriage ban overturned," said Boulder's Connie Coleman, a member of the group.

The Castle Rock-based Colorado Family Institute released a statement Thursday saying, "This is a sad day for the people of California. ... Instead of interpreting the law, they are making law which is beyond their authority to do. It is a travesty and serves as a wake-up call to all of us that we need to protect this vital institution of marriage with a Federal Marriage Amendment."

Colorado voters decided against Referendum I in 2006, which would have allowed same-sex couples to form legal partnerships. They also voted for Amendment 43, which sought to ban same-sex marriages.

Thursday, all three Democrats in the race for Colorado's 2nd Congressional District said they would like to see legal same-sex marriages in Colorado. Scott Starin, the only Republican candidate in the race, couldn't be reached for comment Thursday night.

"I was thrilled with the decision, and hopefully Colorado follows suit," said candidate Jared Polis, who is gay. "I think as we see more states make these decisions, we will begin to lose a lot of our gay and lesbian population if we don't follow suit."

Joan Fitz-Gerald, another 2nd CD candidate, was the Senate sponsor for Referendum I when she was in the Colorado legislature and called Thursday's decision in California "a giant step in the right direction."

"I think this tells people that civil rights and equal rights can't be compromised," she said. "It's a fundamental civic and economic right."

Will Shafroth, the other Democratic candidate in the district, said he was "glad to see it." (Zak Brown, The Daily Camera)

Look out, Colorado Springs
El Paso County: Brace yourself.

About 10,000 Democrats will converge this weekend in Colorado Springs for what is being billed as the largest gathering of Democrats in state history.

"It is kind of indescribable," said Pat Waak, chairwoman of the Colorado Democratic Party.

The party is holding its assembly and state convention in the heart of Republican territory.

Conventioneers will elect the final delegates to attend the Democratic National Convention in Denver in August.

And assemblygoers will nominate candidates, including Mark Udall for the U.S. Senate. (Lynn Bartels, Rocky Mountain News)

A one-horse race
This fall's election for district attorney is shaping up to be a one-horse race featuring incumbent Bill Thiebaut.

According to Pueblo County Clerk Gilbert Ortiz, no one but Thiebaut has filed for candidacy. That doesn't mean that others can't toss their hats in the ring.

Candidates for district attorney can still get their names on the ballot by petition. The deadline to submit signatures is May 31.

The format of nomination petitions must be approved by the Colorado Secretary of State's office or the designated election official in advance of collecting signatures. Major party candidates nominated by petition are placed on the ballot for the primary election. (Patrick Malone, Pueblo Chieftain)

Not much time to get their act together
Soon, so soon, they will be here. Thousands of delegates, hundreds of campaign staffers, bunches of bloggers, and all of them potentially divided.

After more than a year and a half on the campaign trail, fueled by an unprecedented total half-billion dollars, worn by 16-hour- plus days on buses and planes to stadiums and churches and greasy spoons in every corner of the United States, teams Hillary Rodham Clinton and Barack Obama finally will come to town.

In but 101 days.

And if Democrats don't use that time to figure out how to heal the wounds and bring the teams together for the teary-eyed, hearts- aflutter historic coronation that is supposed to be the 2008 Democratic National Convention, the audience will notice. (Chuck Plunkett, The Denver Post)

Brown’s new job
DENVER — Former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, who stepped down as president of the University of Colorado in March, has joined the Denver law firm of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck.

The law firm said Thursday that Brown will focus on banking, water, natural resources and public affairs. (Associated Press)

With the PolitickerCO.com Wake-Up Call e-mailed to your inbox, phone, Blackberry or PDA first thing in the morning, you can get a rundown of Colorado's top political headlines. Sign up to get the Wake-Up Call delivered every morning.