Democrats Overwhelmingly Reject Polis Commutation of Convicted Felon Tina Peters
Colorado Community Research polling finds a net approval of -78 among likely primary voter Democrats
When Governor Jared Polis commuted the sentence of Tina Peters, the Mesa County Clerk convicted on multiple felony counts related to a 2021 election systems breach, Colorado Democrats did not look the other way. They reacted with near-unanimous disapproval.
A new statewide poll of registered Democrats conducted by Colorado Community Research in May 2026 finds that 85% of Colorado Democrats disapprove of the commutation, with 68% saying they strongly disapprove. Only 7% approve — making the net approval a striking –78 points.
A -78 net approval among the governor's own party is an extraordinary figure. For context, partisan bases typically give governors substantial latitude on executive clemency decisions, pardons and commutations are rarely salient enough to drive strong opinion in either direction. The intensity here is different.
Nearly seven in ten Democrats don't just disapprove, they strongly disapprove. The "neutral" category, which often absorbs respondents who lack information or don't feel strongly, clocks in at just 7%. This is an informed, activated opinion.
For candidates in the 2026 Democratic primary using this as a platform to distinguish their pro-Democracy credentials would be advantageous.
Survey of 580 registered Democrats statewide who will be voting in the June Primary. MOE 4.1% at the 95% confidence interval
Title Image by Jesse Aaron Paul