Chuck And Julie Show with Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden

Colorado GOP Shakeup: Craig Steiner, Opt-Out, Party Strategy, and the Road Ahead

Guest, Ted Harvey

The CO GOP elected a new party chair - Craig Steiner from Douglas County. Supporter Ted Harvey joins the show and assures grassroots Steiner fully backs opting out of the disastrous open primary.

Plus Tina Peters is free today!

Chuck and Julie Open with Colorado Republican Party News

In this episode of The Chuck and Julie Show, hosts Chuck Bonniwell and Julie Hayden open with major news from the Colorado Republican Party. They discuss the party meeting in Buena Vista, where Craig Steiner of Douglas County was elected the new Colorado GOP chair after defeating Joe Oltmann and Jeremy Goodall. The hosts bring on former Colorado legislator and strategist Ted Harvey, who supported Steiner’s campaign and helped explain what the leadership change may mean for the party going forward.

Ted Harvey Describes Craig Steiner as a Tactician

Ted Harvey describes Craig Steiner as a political tactician rather than a loud partisan figure. He explains that Steiner previously served as secretary and chair of the Douglas County Republican Party and created a voter-targeting program called Voter Spectrum, which has been used for get-out-the-vote efforts, door knocking, phone banking, and campaign organizing. Harvey argues that Steiner is strong on conservative issues such as life, guns, taxes, unions, and education, and points to Douglas County victories, including Republican wins and school-board efforts, as evidence that Steiner understands how to organize and win.

Ballot Harvesting and Get-Out-the-Vote Strategy

Chuck asks about ballot harvesting and whether it will be part of the Colorado GOP’s future strategy. He recalls using absentee voting and ballot collection in Glendale years earlier and argues that Republicans have often been outworked by Democrats on this front. Harvey says Douglas County Republicans have used similar tactics successfully, especially in smaller races where turnout is lower, but acknowledges that large-scale ballot harvesting requires money, volunteers, organization, and paid effort. He also notes that the Colorado Republican Party does not currently have much money, making fundraising and organizational rebuilding essential.

The Opt-Out Issue and Republican Primaries

A major focus of the interview is Colorado’s opt-out issue, tied to the party’s ability to opt out of open primaries and return more candidate selection power to Republican caucus and assembly participants. Harvey says he has been on the front line helping push opt-out efforts and would not have supported Steiner if Steiner were not aligned with him on that issue. He says Steiner opposed Proposition 108 when it was on the ballot and believed the party should opt out as quickly as possible. Harvey argues that establishment figures have used open primaries to influence Republican nominations and keep conservatives from winning.

Party Debt, Legal Bills, and Donor Confidence

Chuck and Julie also ask about party finances, debt, and legal bills left from the previous administration. Harvey says donors were reluctant to give money while the party appeared focused on legal battles and internal fights rather than electing Republicans. He says Steiner’s first task will be to understand the lawsuits, invoices, and financial obligations facing the party. Harvey believes that if donors see competent leadership and assurance that money will go toward winning elections instead of paying attorneys, they may begin contributing again.

Neutral Leadership and Avoiding the Enemy List

The hosts discuss internal party fights, including what they describe as “enemy lists” and attacks on grassroots conservatives under prior party leadership. Harvey says Steiner will not create an enemy list and will not use the chairmanship to put his thumb on the scale in primaries. While Chuck and Julie express interest in seeing some establishment Republicans challenged, Harvey argues that the chair should not personally drive primary attacks. Instead, he says the state party should focus on making the process fair and preventing establishment forces from tilting the playing field against conservatives.

The RNC, NRCC, and Future Assemblies

Harvey says the Republican National Committee and national Republican groups will need to decide whether to work with the Colorado GOP if the party moves forward with opt-out. He argues that Steiner’s temperament may help because Steiner is not a bomb-thrower, but someone focused on doing the work. Harvey says the party will need to prepare for a very different nomination process, including state, county, state House, and state Senate assemblies where Republican activists and caucus participants will have far more influence in selecting nominees.

Tina Peters Released from Custody

After the Ted Harvey interview, Chuck and Julie turn to the release of Tina Peters, who was freed that morning. They discuss her interview with Steve Bannon, where she said she remained concerned about election machines and vote-flipping claims. Chuck and Julie criticize media descriptions that characterize Peters as being imprisoned for “election fraud,” arguing that the actual charges related to official misconduct, impersonation, and attempts to influence a public servant. They also criticize Republicans and Democrats who opposed her release, while noting that Governor Jared Polis may have had political reasons for granting relief.

Colorado Politics, Jared Polis, and Party Divisions

The hosts speculate about Governor Jared Polis’s motives, including whether his decision regarding Tina Peters may be connected to future national ambitions. They also discuss divisions within Colorado politics, the role of county clerks, and the divide between grassroots Republicans and establishment figures. Chuck argues that the state may eventually become ready for a real alternative to Democratic governance if economic and political conditions continue to decline, though he also acknowledges that opt-out alone will not guarantee statewide Republican victories.

Media Humor, Spencer Pratt, and Campaign Messaging

The episode later shifts into commentary on media, campaign ads, and political humor. Chuck and Julie discuss Spencer Pratt’s Los Angeles mayoral campaign messaging and praise a satirical ad portraying left-leaning media outlets as a kind of ideological treatment. They argue that humor can be powerful political messaging when it is funny because it contains truth. The hosts contrast this style with Republican messaging they see as less creative, saying conservatives could benefit from sharper, more intelligent humor.

CBS, CNN, Barry Weiss, and Legacy Media

The hosts also comment on legacy media upheaval, including reports involving Barry Weiss, CBS/60 Minutes figures, Scott Pelley, Anderson Cooper, CNN, and possible changes in major network leadership. Chuck and Julie frame these developments as signs that old media institutions are losing influence and that some longtime media personalities may not understand how much the media landscape has changed. Their broader point is that legacy outlets can no longer assume the same level of audience control or cultural authority they once had.

Closing Thoughts on the Colorado GOP’s Future

Chuck and Julie close by saying they believe Craig Steiner’s leadership could help stabilize and revitalize the Colorado Republican Party, especially if the opt-out process moves forward. They describe him as a calmer, more practical chair who may not be as combative as past figures but may be better suited to rebuilding party structure. The episode ends with optimism that the party may be moving toward a more grassroots-driven future, even while acknowledging that organization, money, unity, and candidate quality will still determine whether Republicans can win.