Colorado Democrats Divided Over Imprisoned County Clerk

Governor's potential clemency for election-machine tamperer sparks backlash from party base.

Apr. 2, 2026 at 8:24pm

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A dimly lit, cinematic government office space with a lone desk and chair, the room bathed in warm, diagonal sunlight and deep shadows, conveying a sense of political tension and uncertainty.The potential pardon of a convicted election-machine tamperer has exposed deep divisions within Colorado's Democratic party.Loveland Today

A longtime Democratic voter in Colorado says he'll no longer support Governor Jared Polis if the governor grants clemency to Tina Peters, a county clerk convicted of tampering with election machines. The potential pardon has stunned many Democrats who see it as an attempt by Polis to 'get into Trump's good graces' ahead of a possible 2028 presidential run.

Why it matters

The rift over Polis's handling of the Tina Peters case highlights the deep divisions within the Colorado Democratic party, with some progressives accusing the governor of prioritizing his own political ambitions over the party's core values of protecting election integrity.

The details

Tina Peters, the former Mesa County clerk, was convicted and sentenced to prison for her role in allowing unauthorized access to voting machines in an effort to find evidence of voter fraud in the 2020 election. Governor Polis has suggested he may grant Peters clemency, a move that has angered many Democrats who see it as an attempt to curry favor with Trump supporters.

  • Tina Peters was convicted and sentenced to prison in 2023.
  • Governor Polis has recently hinted at the possibility of granting Peters clemency.

The players

Jared Polis

The Democratic governor of Colorado who is considering granting clemency to Tina Peters, a convicted election-machine tamperer.

Tina Peters

The former Mesa County clerk who was convicted and sentenced to prison for allowing unauthorized access to voting machines in an effort to find evidence of voter fraud.

Ken Ward

A 70-year-old longtime progressive voter in Colorado who says he will no longer support Governor Polis if he grants clemency to Tina Peters.

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What they’re saying

“If Polis frees that woman from prison, I'm done with him. He'll be trying to get into Trump's good graces, and that's not what I voted for.”

— Ken Ward, Longtime Democratic voter

What’s next

Governor Polis is expected to make a decision on whether to grant clemency to Tina Peters in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

The potential pardon of Tina Peters has exposed deep divisions within the Colorado Democratic party, with some progressives accusing Governor Polis of prioritizing his own political ambitions over the party's core values of protecting election integrity.