Slam-Dunk For Gilchrist
Fireworks In House District 8 Primary As Kwon Atlas Throws A Last-Ditch Desperation Shot
Story and photos by Cara DeGette
GPHN Editor
In a stunning development, Lindsay Gilchrist shut out three other Democratic candidates running to succeed Rep. Leslie Herod in the Colorado Legislature.
Gilchrist emerged from the March 16 Democratic County Assembly with 42 percent of the votes cast — the only candidate with enough votes to qualify for the June 25 primary election. Three other Democrats running for House District 8— Kwan Atlas, Victor Bencomo and Sharron Pettiford — failed to meet the required threshold to make the ballot.
Initial results indicated that Gilchrist won with 47 votes. Atlas had 33 votes, or 29.5 percent. Pettiford had 20.5 percent and Victor Bencomo trailed with 8 percent. The initial results indicated Atlas failed to make the ballot by just one vote.
After that things got even more interesting. That night, Atlas blasted out a mass email alleging a multitude of improprieties.
“There has been a clear miscount of the HD8 County Assembly and we do not accept the results of the Assembly vote,” he wrote. “The process was fraught with problems and the rules were undemocratic. We are asking for a recount and an audit.”
The next day, after a recount and a “curing” of the votes by the Denver Democratic Party, the numbers altered just slightly. Instead of losing by one vote, Atlas missed the ballot by two votes. Gilchrist won the primary with 45 votes — not 47.
Atlas’s assertion — that the process had been “undemocratic” or worse — was met with disgust by party leaders and volunteers.
“We followed the rules and the letter of the law,” said Pat Moreland, co-chair of House District 8. “He was throwing the leadership of House District 8 under the bus and that really ticked me off.”
“It was just sour grapes — absolute sour grapes — and a clear case of ‘We did not get what we thought we were going to get, so we’ll blame the [Democratic] Party.’ ”
1,200 signatures in 48 hours
HD8 includes Park Hill as well as parts of Central Park, Whittier, Clayton, Cole, Skyland and Five Points neighborhoods
In a second email sent March 18, Atlas acknowledged he had fallen short. He announced a plan to — with the help of volunteers and staffers — collect 1,000 signatures in just 48 hours, in an effort to petition onto the ballot. (Democratic Party rules stipulate that candidates who receive more than 10 percent in the assembly can petition on by submitting signatures of support from 1,000 registered voters living in the district.)
“45 people should not be able to decide the election!,” Atlas wrote. “Thousands need to have a say!”
Atlas said he needed $10,000 to fund his effort, and he asked supporters for immediate donations. In a “P.S.” at the end of his email, he offered an olive branch to those he offended by his initial suggestion of impropriety — and instead blamed the rules themselves.
“I want to apologize if any of our great Democratic volunteers felt attacked,” he wrote.”I am not attacking the people of the Party, I am calling out the rules that suppressed the number of choices we are getting in our primaries.”
Veteran politicos will attest that gathering 1,000 valid signatures in two days is a Herculean endeavor. Yet on March 20, Atlas reported he submitted 1,200 signatures. Those signatures will now be reviewed by the Secretary of State, who will determine how many are valid.
Atlas could have circulated petitions for months before the assembly. It is unclear at press time why he did not do so in the event he did not garner the support he needed at the assembly.
In a final update, Atlas asserted, incorrectly, that “If I don’t get on the ballot Lindsay Gilchrist will become the State Representative without any election.”
Actually, there are two elections ahead: The June 25 primary and the Nov. 5 general election. But Atlas’s statement has some utility: As it stands as of press time, Gilchrist will be the sole Democrat on the ballot. No Republican challenger has filed to run for HD8 — which is an overwhelmingly Democratic district.
So barring an even more stunning development between now and Nov. 5, Gilchrist, a public policy advocate and lobbyist, is the likely HD8 heir apparent.
What will they do now?
The two other Democratic candidates who were running for House District 8 — Sharron Pettiford and Victor Bencomo — circulated petitions and participated in the caucuses and assembly. Pettiford estimates she fell far short of the 1,000 signatures required.
Bencomo, however, did not garner enough assembly support to petition onto the ballot. In an interview, Bencomo conceded he is licking his wounds post-loss but plans to return to his anti-gun violence advocacy work. Bencomo is president of the Colorado chapter of Giffords Gun Owners for Safety, a group led by former Arizona Congresswoman Gabby Giffords.
“Whoever wins, I am looking forward to working with our next state representative to pass sensible gun legislation with them and with Giffords,” he said.
In late March, Pettiford told the Greater Park Hill News that she has not officially suspended her campaign, but she realizes that her path forward is not looking good.
“It’s a bummer, it’s really a bummer,” she said. “I hate that it happened, because I know I am the best person for the seat.” Indeed, Pettiford said she intends to run again in two years.
Pettiford, a social caseworker, labor organizer and political activist, lives in Northeast Park Hill. Early on in the election cycle, she said, she and Atlas, as well as former school board member Auon’tai Anderson, met to discuss coming to an agreement for a single Black candidate in the race and avoid potentially splitting the vote. Anderson ultimately decided not to run, but Atlas, who last year lost a bid for the Denver City Council, stayed in. Atlas, a nonprofit director who currently lives in Five Points, also ran unsuccessfully for mayor of Fort Collins in 2017.
Some hoped for a longer dating period
Atlas collected high-profile endorsements from former Mayor Michael B. Hancock, developer and former councilman Albus Brooks, as well as Anna Jo Haynes and her daughters Khadija Haynes and Happy Haynes. However, according to campaign finance records, as of Jan. 16 — the most recent reporting period as of press time — Atlas showed just $1,270 in contributions.
Pettiford raised $3,785 in contributions as of Jan. 16. Her endorsements included state Sen. Janice Marchman, state Rep. June Joseph and Rev. Timothy Tyler of Shorter AME Church.
Bencomo banked $26,261 — five times the amount raised by Pettiford and Atlas combined. But that amount pales compared to the $66,748 that Gilchrist raised as of Jan. 16.
Though Gilchrist grew up in Park Hill and graduated from East, she has spent much of her adult life and career outside of Denver, including in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C. She now lives back in Park Hill with her wife and three children.
During her run Gilchrist secured several high-profile endorsements, including from District Attorney Beth McCann (who previously represented House District 8), former Colorado First Lady Dottie Lamm and former Lt. Gov. Gail Shoettler.
Rep. Leslie Herod, who is term-limited, did not endorse in the race.
At her campaign website (gilchristforcolorado.com), Gilchrist identifies several issues that she feels strongly about. These include: criminal justice reform, child welfare, gun violence prevention, affordable housing and homelessness, justice, equity and inclusion, education, economic opportunity, healthcare, climate and immigration.
But despite Gilchrist’s origins in Park Hill, some observers and longtime residents say they simply don’t know much about her. Many indicate they were hoping a robust Democratic primary would have helped them better understand her positions — and her legislative goals.
“We all ran a really clean campaign and got along,” said Pettiford. “I just have never seen her in the community.”
In January, Gilchrist underscored her enthusiasm about the race.
“I feel deeply connected to the district and excited about the opportunity to represent HD8 in the State Legislature,” she told the Greater Park Hill News. “I have always been passionate about public service and that government can be a place to bring people together and solve our greatest challenges. That is why I am running.”
Check back in months ahead for news about the House District 8 race.