The Colorado recall movement stemming from Second Amendment rights supporters is not over, and the newest effort could result in Republicans re-taking the state Senate majority.
A recall attempt against Senator Evie Hudak, a Democrat, has been approved by the Colorado Secretary of State.
As previously reported by Off The Grid News, gun rights advocates led a successful campaign this summer to remove two other Democratic leaders from office due to their support of gun control legislation. Losing their seats were Democratic Colorado Senate President John Morse and same-party rookie Senator Angela Giron. That campaign drew nationwide attention, with money from both sides pouring in.
A group known as Recall Hudak Too is behind the most recent Colorado recall effort. According to the Guns n Freedom website, nearly 20,000 Senate District 19 signatures by registered voters are needed to get the issue on the ballot. The group had 60 days from the time of the petition filing to accomplish the task. Evie Hudak won her seat in a three-way race in 2012 by 580 votes.
“She has infringed upon our constitutional right to keep and bear arms,” the recall website says. “She has voted to make all citizens less safe and to drive hundreds of jobs from Colorado.”
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Hudak caused quite a controversy when she questioned a rape victim who was giving testimony before the Colorado state Senate about gun control laws. The victim asked the governing body why she was not permitted to carry a firearm in order to protect herself. Senator Hudak told her that if she was carrying a gun, her rapist could have been able to use it against her during the attack. The target of the Colorado recall also added, “I just want to say that, actually statistics are not on your side even if you had a gun.”
Democrats control the Senate, 18-17. If Evie Hudak is recalled, Republicans will take charge.
“A small group is seeking to undo the will of voters, who re-elected me to the Senate last November. Unable to defeat me then, they are now attempting a political power grab using a low voter turnout, no mail ballot recall election strategy,” Hudak said.
She was referencing a court ruling that invalidated ballots by mail in the other recall elections, The Denver Post reported.
According to the Recall Hudak Too organization, the recall is a non-partisan effort, and a “significant” number of voter signatures have been inked by Libertarians, Democrats and independents, as well as by Republicans. The group does not want to wait until 2016 – when she is up for re-election – to remove her from power. Second Amendment supporters involved in the latest Colorado recall feel the petition drive highlights the need to make elected officials accountable to their constituents.
“Regardless of party,” the recall election website says, “the message that should ring loud and clear is that if, as a politician in State of Colorado, if you do not do your job, you WILL be fired. It has nothing to do with winning regularly scheduled General Elections. It is about ensuring the job gets done BETWEEN elections.”
Recall supporter and organizer Timothy Knight previously stated that if Colorado politicians had listened to constituents prior to supporting gun control bills, the recall elections would not have been necessary. Some Colorado lawmakers and political watchers reportedly fear the Hudak recall means a “never-ending cycle” of such efforts for the state – and perhaps beyond.
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who supports gun control, donated $350,000 to try and help John Morse and Angela Giron remain in office. But Morse lost, 51-49 percent, while Giron was defeated, 56-44 percent. Morse represented Colorado Springs and Giron represented Pueblo. In both cities, Democrats outnumber Republicans.