{"id":303,"date":"2025-04-04T12:00:15","date_gmt":"2025-04-04T12:00:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/sewellconsultancy.com\/?p=303"},"modified":"2025-04-14T03:05:23","modified_gmt":"2025-04-14T03:05:23","slug":"brita-horn-as-the-new-chair-of-colorados-gop-i-will-reopen-the-big-tent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/sewellconsultancy.com\/index.php\/2025\/04\/04\/brita-horn-as-the-new-chair-of-colorados-gop-i-will-reopen-the-big-tent\/","title":{"rendered":"Brita Horn: As the new chair of Colorado\u2019s GOP, I will reopen the big tent"},"content":{"rendered":"

This past Saturday, Colorado Republicans held their biennial reorganization meeting where our party decided to go in a new direction and selected me as their next chair<\/a>. This new direction for the party is larger than just leadership at the top, it is a return to the big tent Republican Party Colorado has known in the past.<\/p>\n

Our party had turned to labeling anyone who does not meet the standards as RINO\u2019s or Republican In Name Only.<\/a> While we believe in the First Amendment and cannot control the actions of every Republican in Colorado, the state party will no longer be facilitating and promoting such behavior. As a party through our social media platforms, we will turn our efforts toward what the party is supposed to be doing: supporting Republicans. We plan to abide by Reagan\u2019s 11th Commandment, “Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.”<\/p>\n

Our party turned to ugly so-called purity and litmus tests and has driven away many voters over these tactics. As the late Republican President Ronald Reagan once stated, \u201cThe person who agrees with you 80% of the time is a friend and ally, not a 20% traitor.\u201d It is time the Colorado Republican Party fully embraces that spirit once again. As I told this very paper, \u201cWe\u2019re just opening up the tent, bringing out the welcome wagon, rolling out the mat and saying \u2018You\u2019re all welcome.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

Our party has also strayed from many long-standing norms, including our tradition of pre-primary neutrality. The endorsement of candidates, from president down to county commissioner, alienated voters who rejected the notion of being told whom they should support. The results spoke for themselves — 14 of the 18 endorsed candidates lost. This practice never should have been implemented, and under my leadership, we will return to our traditional approach of letting Republican voters decide their nominees without interference from the state party.<\/p>\n

Open, competitive primaries produce stronger candidates who can win in general elections. Our role is not to anoint winners \u2014 it is to help all Republicans succeed against Democrats in November.<\/p>\n

Our welcome mat is not just for disenfranchised former Republicans — it is also for those who have never affiliated with us before. Our doors are open to Democrats, unaffiliated voters, and those affiliated with minor parties who share our values. In fact, the current Republican President of the United States, Donald Trump, himself along with Vice President J.D. Vance and many of the leaders within their administration, were once members of the opposite party.<\/p>\n

We recognize that many unaffiliated voters in Colorado lean conservative, even if they do not formally register as Republicans. If we want to win in 2026 and beyond, we need to actively engage these voters and show them that they have a home in the Republican Party. That means articulating a clear vision for Colorado — one that prioritizes economic prosperity, public safety, and parental rights in education.<\/p>\n

During my campaign for chair, this message resonated with many non-traditional Republicans. I was proud to receive endorsements from leaders within conservative youth organizations, Log Cabin Republicans, and the Hispanic community. These groups have long been ignored, downplayed, or forgotten by the Republican Party. That must change. The Republican Party must represent all Coloradans who believe in individual liberty, economic opportunity, and limited government.<\/p>\n