'Ripe for change': Republican State Senator Don Coram to primary Lauren Boebert in CO-3

Jan. 13—A Colorado State Senator with 11 years experience as an elected government official will look to unseat Congresswoman Lauren Boebert in the Republican primary for Colorado's 3rd Congressional District held on June 28.

Don Coram is the state senator representing District 6 which includes Archuleta, Dolores, La Plata, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, San Juan and San Miguel counties.

He will look to best Boebert and Marina Zimmerman to run in the November election.

"(Running for Congress) is something that people have asked me to consider for some time and I just felt the time was right," Coram said. "Our district has reached out to me on multiple occasions and said they think I could provide better leadership.

"I've proven my ability to be a respected legislator who actually gets things done and serves the citizens of the third congressional district probably better than it has been."

Coram was first elected to the state senate in 2017. Prior to that, he spent six years serving as the HD67 representative in the Colorado House of Representatives.

Coram has been a staunch supporter of agriculture, expanding broadband into rural areas, business growth and development, the legalization of marijuana and LGBTQ+ rights.

Boebert, Coram says, has been more about rhetoric and less about action in her time in Congress. That's something Coram said he will work to improve upon if elected.

"Rhetoric is popular, but it doesn't get results," Coram said. "If you look at the 700 bills we introduce each year, 42 or 43 of those a year are mine."

If elected, Coram said, he will focus on issues important to the people in CO-3 such as cost of living, jobs, mental health in schools, safety in schools and agricultural development.

What he won't do, he said, is continue the rhetoric that he feels is damaging to constituents and American politics.

"I've told both Republicans and Democrats that if you think loud rhetoric promoting hate and division is the future of your party, then your party has no future," Coram said.

"Republicans and Democrats are tired of the rhetoric and the fighting and the hate. Let's stop it and become the United States of America, not the divided states of America."

Coram said he will listen to constituents of all walks of life, regardless of whether there is an "R" or a "D" on their voter registration.

That includes listening to those in Pueblo, where many have voiced concern over Boebert's lack of time spent representing the Steel City.

Coram said he understands Pueblo is an important part of the district. He has worked with current Pueblo County Commissioner Chris Wiseman in helping keep the Colorado State Fair viable and in Pueblo.

"You have not had a better ally for keeping the fair in Pueblo and really keeping business in Pueblo," he said.

"I have talked many times about how Pueblo is very important. We've got the steel mill there. There's been a lot of legislation that has hurt jobs in Pueblo, and I've given a voice and stood up for bettering that."

Coram touted his long-standing work with Pueblo officials.

He said he and Wiseman "go way back" and have worked well with each other in the past, even to the point where Coram didn't know Wiseman's political affiliation.

"Honest to God, I didn't know Chris was a Republican or a Democrat," he said. "I never asked. It was never important. What was important was working to do the right thing with the state fair."

The state senator said he often works across the aisle with Colorado House Majority Leader Daneya Esgar and State Senate President Leroy Garcia to not only help Pueblo but the entire state.

Coram said that he believes the people of Pueblo are also tired of political divisiveness, and believes his style fits the Steel City well.

"You have to reach out and talk to everyone," he said. "There's 10% of people on the left and 10% of people on the right who get the notoriety. The 80% in the middle, that's right where Pueblo fits. That's why you are being ignored."

Coram said that in his 11 years in office he has strived to be respectful and to work with others even when he disagrees with them.

He said that by listening to those he disagrees with, by appealing to moderate Democrats and Republicans as well as unaffiliated voters, he can defeat Boebert in the primary.

"I've proven in 11 years that you can use knowledge and experience and be respectful...you can disagree...but at the end of the day you have to work to do the best thing for Colorado," he said.

Coram said that he hasn't heard much on if Democrats and unaffiliated voters will switch registration to vote in the primary.

He said he doesn't believe voters are leaving parties because of fundamental disagreements in policy, but rather the fact that both Republicans and Democrats have created such a divide with rhetoric.

"People aren't leaving their parties, their parties are leaving them," he said. "Things are ripe for change."

For more on Coram, visit doncoram.com.

Luke Lyons is the news director of The Pueblo Chieftain. He can be reached via email at LLyons@chieftain.com.