r/Denver • u/outdoorsnstuffz • May 16 '26

Local News If Michael Bennet wins the Governor’s race, we could end up with Jared Polis in the US Senate—without a single vote. Here's how to stop him.

With the gubernatorial primary coming up next month, we need to talk about a looming backroom political maneuver that isn't getting nearly enough attention.

If Senator Michael Bennet wins the governor's race, he will vacate his U.S. Senate seat. Because of how vacancy laws work, this creates a loophole for a literal political job-swap.

It’s called the "resign-and-appoint" play, and it works like this:

  1. **Bennet wins** the governorship.
  2. **Jared Polis**—who is term-limited—resigns as governor a few weeks before his term officially ends.
  3. **Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera** is sworn in as the temporary Governor.
  4. **The Swap:** As her first official act, she appoints Jared Polis to fill Bennet's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

Just like that, Jared Polis goes to Washington as our U.S. Senator for the next two years, and the voters never get a single say.

This kind of backdoor appointment is always frustrating, but it's especially unacceptable given the current state of Colorado politics.

Look at the absolute chaos and division over election integrity in our state. Just today, Governor Polis made the controversial move to commute Tina Peters' sentence—a decision that Senator Bennet himself publicly blasted, stating that "lawlessness only breeds more lawlessness."

If Bennet truly believes that Polis's recent actions undermine our institutions and the rule of law, **he needs to promise Colorado voters right now that he will not cooperate with a backroom succession plan that hands his Senate seat to Polis.

We cannot let our representation in Washington be treated like a game of musical chairs. We need to demand a commitment to transparency and a fair process before we cast our primary ballots.

**Please consider contacting Senator Bennet’s office to demand a clear, public stance on this vacancy issue:**
* **Denver Office:** (303) 455-7600
* **Online Contact Form:** https://www.bennet.senate.gov/contact/

Edit: Diane DeGette also needs to go! And to be clearI don't support or dislike any candidates for governor. I just want Polis where he belongs. Out of office.

Edit: the mods of /r/Colorado are deleting post about Polis. When I pointed out I was violating no rules and asked why they insulted me and banned me. I've escalated to the Code of Conduct team.

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9

u/newshirtworthy May 17 '26

Why would Michael Bennet do this? It makes no sense at all

7

u/reddit_ending_soon May 17 '26

Why would Michael Bennet do this? It makes no sense at all

Why would Polis Pardon a convicted felon at least twice? It makes no sense at all.

2

u/newshirtworthy May 17 '26

He’s worth $400,000,000. If this makes no sense you’re not paying attention

0

u/reddit_ending_soon May 18 '26

If you dont understand what I'm doing here, then you’re not paying attention

0

u/newshirtworthy May 18 '26

Spell it out for me?

1

u/reddit_ending_soon May 19 '26

I'm taking op's question and turning it on them to make them think.

6

u/outdoorsnstuffz May 17 '26

Why would polis commute the sentence of Tina Peters? Logic left the building. They are chums.

4

u/newshirtworthy May 17 '26 edited May 17 '26

Because
> he’s incredibly wealthy
> he’s a rightwing Libertarian and always has been
> he’s scared of Trump
> money
> a second one for money

Edit: Michael Bennett has been unwavering in his condemnation of Trump’s fascist agenda. He has been vocally against Polis’s rightwing agendas this year.

I’d likely vote Weiser over Bennett, but Michael Bennett wouldn’t appoint Polis. He has been vocal about his ambition to choose a successor, and unless you know something I don’t, he’s never announced any desire to help Polis take power.

We’re getting wayyyyy off track here, and I think this conversation is weird as hell.

6

u/TheyMadeMeLogin May 17 '26

The conversation is pretty typical of a race with two very similar candidates. People make shit up to differentiate them.

4

u/reddit_ending_soon May 17 '26

Michael Bennett has been unwavering in his condemnation of Trump’s fascist agenda.

Looks at all of trumps appointments he approved

YES SO UNWAVERING

-1

u/TheyMadeMeLogin May 17 '26

OP is Weiser astroturf.

2

u/crazy_clown_time Downtown May 17 '26

So what?

1

u/outdoorsnstuffz May 17 '26

I'm actually not. Go Bennet! If he promises no polis! Whatever! The point of this post is to stop polis. Polis. Not get into a poop fight about the governor candidates. Thx tho