In Colorado's June 28 Republican primary for the U.S. Senate, Ron Hanks – who was rated "conservative" by AFA Action's iVoterGuide – lost by nine points (55%-45%) to Joe O'Dea, who received a "moderate" rating. O'Dea will now take on Democratic incumbent Michael Bennet in November.
Former Colorado state representative Dr. Gordon Klingenschmitt, who runs the Pray In Jesus Name Project, urges Christian conservatives to be pragmatic when they vote in the Senate race.
"The important part is we cannot support Michael Bennet. The incumbent Democrat senator from Colorado is a disaster and is already wanting to legislate Roe v. Wade and legislate abortion. I guess we'll have to support the Republican; we really don't have any choice," says the former Navy chaplain.
Klingenschmitt argues it is absolutely essential for Republicans to break the 50-50 deadlock in the U.S. Senate.
"The only way to do that right now is to unify as Republicans and get behind the nominees of the party and do what we can – at least vote for them," he tells AFN. "[But] I don't think I'll be donating to Joe O'Dea for U.S. Senate in Colorado."
A poll released in late June by Global Strategy Group had Bennet leading O'Dea by a 49-36 margin, with 15% picking someone else. An elections analyst for RealClearPolitics predicted in early June that the only way the Colorado seat flips from Democratic to Republican will be "if the bottom truly falls out" for Democrats.
