Colorado’s Democratic Party has formally censured Governor Jared Polis following his decision to reduce the prison sentence of former election clerk Tina Peters. This action has ignited intense backlash within the party.
In a virtual meeting, members of the State Central Committee voted overwhelmingly to condemn Polis for commuting Peters’ nearly nine-year sentence to just 4.5 years, with around 90% in favor. Such a resolution is a stark rebuke for a sitting governor.
As a consequence of this censure, Polis is barred from speaking at Democratic Party events in Colorado, marking a notable symbolic gesture against his recent decision.
Stephanie Beal, a member of the Democratic National Committee, stated, “Reducing her sentence now, under pressure from President Trump, is not justice. It sends a message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences unless you’re friends with the president.”
Beal further expressed concern over the implications for election integrity, emphasizing that Colorado has worked hard to establish trust in its electoral process.
🚨 UPDATE: The Colorado Democratic Party has CENSURED Gov. Jared Polis because he caved and freed Tina Peters — banning him from speaking or being honored at party events
This is who they are.
They want an old, peaceful woman to rot in prison. SICK.
— Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) May 21, 2026
During the 2020 election, Peters served as an election clerk in Mesa County. In 2021, she was accused of allowing a conspiracy theorist access to electronic voting machines to retrieve sensitive voter data, claiming it was an attempt to secure election records amidst allegations of widespread voter fraud.
Party members urged Polis to maintain the original sentence, warning that any reduction might be perceived as a political concession amid ongoing disputes over election integrity.
In a recent interview, Polis defended his decision, stating that while Peters’ actions were illegal, they did not impact ballot counting.
“She thought she was trying to back up the software before it was updated,” he remarked. “This is not a pardon. It’s really ensuring her free speech was not a criteria for her overly harsh sentencing.”
The censure reflects the deepening rift within the Democratic Party concerning the handling of election-related matters, particularly as national politics influence local issues. While lacking legal power, the resolution indicates that many Colorado Democrats believe Polis has made a grave political error.
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