American Constitution Party (Colorado)


The American Constitution Party is one of the state of Colorado's political parties. It is affiliated with the national-level Constitution Party, a conservative political party in the United States that says it bases most of its policy positions on the Constitution. The party asserts that the US is a Christian nation founded on the Bible and that American jurisprudence should be restored to what the party claims is its "Biblical foundations". The ACN qualified for major party status in Colorado after receiving more than 36% of the vote in the 2010 gubernatorial election. As the party did not field a candidate in the 2014 election, it reverted to minor party status.

Background

The American Constitution Party registered as a political party with the state of Colorado on July 23, 2000. In July 2013, the ACN had just over 7,000 registered Colorado voters affiliated with it. Some of the party's positions include:
For most of its existence, the ACN has existed as one of Colorado's "minor parties", and has never elected one of its candidates to office.

Party platform

The American Constitution Party of Colorado seeks to:
The ACN is affiliated with the national-level Constitution Party, which has developed a party platform as well.

Major party status

Under state law, the American Constitution Party's vote share in the 2010 gubernatorial election elevated the party from "minor" to "major" party status. Any party that earns 10% or more of the votes cast for governor is a defined under statute as a "major party". Major party status gives the party a place at or near the top of the ballot in the 2014 gubernatorial election.
However, because of the additional organizational, financial, and compliance requirements triggered by major party status, ACN leaders have been ambivalent about the change.

2010 gubernatorial election

Former Republican Congressman Tom Tancredo ran as the party's candidate for Colorado governor in 2010 after the campaign of Republican Party nominee Dan Maes collapsed politically. He won around 36% of the vote, receiving more than 2.5 times the vote of Republican Party nominee Maes. Democratic candidate John Hickenlooper won the election with just over 51% of the vote.
After the election, Tancredo quickly rejoined the Republican Party, disappointing an ACN leadership struggling to contend with major party status and how to successfully leverage the increased attention the party had received because of his candidacy.

Candidates

Although the American Constitution Party's political and organizational sophistication did not grow despite the attention brought to it by Tancredo's 2010 gubernatorial candidacy, the party has fielded more candidates in the 2010 and 2012 cycles than it had in the entirety of the previous decade.
Election Year Office Name
2014 Adams County Sheriff James Fariello
2014Mesa County AssessorSteve Henderson
2013 Steamboat Springs School Board Joseph Andrew
2012 Adams County Commissioner James Fariello
2012 Colorado House, District 14 Ryan Dyer
2012 Colorado House, District 14 Thomas O'dell
2012 Colorado House, District 15 Michael Edstrom
2012 Colorado House, District 16 David Rawe
2012 Colorado House, District 17 Barry Pace
2012 Colorado House, District 18 Amy Fedde
2012 Colorado House, District 19 Timothy Biolchini
2012 Colorado House, District 20 Donna Burdick
2012 Colorado House, District 21 Sean Halstead
2012 Colorado House, District 61 Robert Petrowsky
2012 Colorado Senate, District 10 Christopher Mull
2012 Colorado Senate, District 12 James Bristol
2012 CU Regent, At-Large Tyler Belmont
2012 CU Regent, At-Large Brian Scott
2012 CU Regent, District 5 Gina Biolchini
2012 El Paso County Commissioner Kathy Payne
2010 Adams County Sheriff James Fariello
2010 Colorado Senate, District 31 Clifton Powell
2010 Governor Benjamin Goss
2010 Governor Tom Tancredo
2010 Lt. Governor Patricia Miller
2010 Motezuma County Sheriff Gerald Wallace
2010 Secretary of State Amanda Campbell
2008 Colorado House, District 27 Amanda Campbell
2008 Colorado House, District 37 Brian Olds
2008 Park County Commissioner Zdenko Novkovic
2006 Colorado House, District 53 Darren Morrison
2006 Colorado Senate, District 16 Tim Leonard
2006 CU Regent, At-Large Douglas "Dayhorse" Campbell
2006 Governor Clyde Harkins
2006 La Plata County Commissioner Padraig Lynch
2006 Lt. Governor Tracy Davison
2002 Attorney General Gaar Potter
2002 Colorado House Paul Berthelot
2002 Colorado House, District 57 Dr. Zane Newitt
2002 Lt. Governor Desiree Hickson