The Colorado Democratic Party formally voted to censure Gov. Jared Polis (D-CO) on Wednesday evening following his decision to commute the sentence of Tina Peters.
The move signals a deep rift within the state party over the intersection of executive clemency and election security. By censuring their own governor, party insiders are asserting that the commutation of a convicted election offender creates a dangerous precedent for the state's democratic processes.
The vote occurred during a state-level committee meeting on May 20, 2026. According to reports, 90 percent [1] of the committee members voted in favor of the censure. The action follows the decision by Polis to shorten the sentence of Peters, the former secretary of state.
Democratic Party members said the commutation undermines election integrity. They said the governor's action rewards an individual who was convicted of election tampering, a crime that strikes at the core of the voting system.
While the governor possesses the legal authority to grant commutations, the overwhelming nature of the vote indicates a lack of support for this specific exercise of power. The party's formal condemnation emphasizes a commitment to holding officials accountable for actions that interfere with the administration of elections.
The censure is a formal expression of disapproval and does not remove the governor from office. However, it serves as a public rebuke from the very organization tasked with supporting his political platform in the U.S. state.
“90 percent of the committee members voted in favor of the censure.”
This censure represents a rare public confrontation between a state's executive and his own party leadership. By prioritizing election integrity over party loyalty, Colorado Democrats are attempting to distance themselves from the commutation of a high-profile election offender to avoid political liability in future election cycles.
