Joining me once again to talk about a candidacy, a campaign he has launched to be governor of Colorado. Former Mayor of Parker, Greg Lopez, and I should say former Congressman Greg Lopez, Welcome back to the show.
Greg.
Hey, Mandy, it's great to be on your show today.
Now, I said earlier on the show that this is how many times have you run for office in your career?
In my career, Let's see, you're one now you're talking about a general election or like, I.
Know, you ran for the mayor of Parker and you won that, right, You're were twenty seven years old, and since then you have run for state Senate and were unsuccessful, and then governor twice.
Correct, I ran for the nomination, not for the actual election for governor, right right, So yes, I ran in the primary. Okay, Now, I didn't justant for clarity, because a lot of people do just go onto the websites Denver post on the Senate thing. I never submitted documentation for actually being a candidate, but that was an interview
that we did have. So I would say mayor once twice for the governor Republican nomination, once for the vacancy for CD four and then for the actual stepping in against the Democrat kind of election.
Okay, So the reason I asked that is because you're running again for governor. What evidence or what suggests that this time is going to be different When you didn't make it out of the primary and the Republican Party either time? What is different this time? In your eyes?
You know, what's really different is not only is my name recognition very well established throughout the state and people knowed me now as a congressman, a former congressman that went to DC, but more importantly Mandy. Since I've announced it's been I've gotten an enthusiastic support from not only Republican but Democrats and unaffiliated voters. So the tapestry has changed dramatically since the last since back in twenty twenty two, Where are you on.
The issues that you feel like it is going to be able to bring in independent voters. We've just been an hour now, have thirty minutes on the show, getting suggestions from people on the tech line, and there were a lot of people who said, I don't want to talk about abortion anymore. I just don't even talk about it. You've endorsed a full ban on abortion. Do you think that's going to come back and haunt you in a state that keeps overwhelmingly affirm a right to abortion.
No, I don't think. Look, you know, if people want to talk about abortion, they know my position. Right, there's really no discussion on that, you know. Really, what I want to talk about is the day to day issues that are impacting the lives of families of individuals, the cost of living, what's going on with our crime and our streets, what's going on at the legislature that's actually
impacting our quality of life throughout the entire state. You know, what's happening with our ranchers, you know all those things. Those are the things that I'm going to focus in on because it's important that we start looking at what was the special thing about Colorado and we've lost it. So I want to make sure that we talk about what makes Colorado special. Let's take the burden off of people, and let's make sure that we improve the quality of life for everybody.
Well, no, I don't disagree with anything you just said. The problem is is that every time you talk to well most news media outlets, they're going to ask you about your stance on abortion. They're going to ask you if you believe that the twenty twenty election was stolen. So that's going to be the second question they ask you. Unfortunately, Republicans in this state, especially in a state wide race, you're not just running against your opponent. You know this,
You know how the media in this state works. So when I make an issue of that, it's not because I believe that should be top of mind. But the reality is, in this state, I'm not sure that you won't be bludgeoned to death with that alone.
That abortion should be illegal.
It will be the first thing every single news organization here leads with. It will be the thing that defines you, even if you don't want it to. And this is why I guess I'm asking you know, how does that jibe with an electorate that keeps overwhelmingly saying we want to write to abortion. That's I think there's got to be a better answer to thing. Well, well, there's got to be a better answer for it, Greg than you know.
There's no more discussion about this because that's not how people feel about it, because now it is a safe issue.
Now you go ahead, So here.
Here's the bottom line, Right, everybody focuses on what the media has to say. I've been out there talking to ranchers, farmers, small business owners in the urban corridor. I've been talking to people, you know what, and they are not interested in the conversational abortion. You're right, the media, the media is going to try to paint me in a negative like they did it back in twenty twenty two. You saw the mailers, you saw the flyers, right, you saw
the commercials. You know, that's exact what they do. You have to ask yourself, why is that, you know what? When we're talking about the daily lives of people, you know, people aren't interested necessarily about, you know what, what is going to happen in the future. Colorado already voted on that, right. Look, I don't support at all killing babies. I just don't. But it's been parted on. It's not a part of
the constitution. I'm focusing on what's going to make lives better for parents and families and children, small business owners, the economy here in Colorado. And I know a lot of people are going to say, well, I want to know about this. Well, I'm going to tell you, and then I'm going to focus on what's important because really what's important is the quality of life that we're all
struggling with. Look, nobody will argue that for the last eight years under a one party government, things have dramatically changed from what it was eight years ago. No one will argue that point. So we need to focus on what kind of Colorado do we want. Do we want more of the same or do we want to have hope that we can bring a balanced government back onto the governor's office. Someone that actually will listen, someone that actually go out there because he understands and he understands
the challenges. Look, I come from humble beginnings. I don't come from money. I don't come from an Ivy League school. You know, I've been here in Colorado thirty seven years. I've seen it change. But I'm not going away. You know, I think a lot of people. Man, you're like, you know what, Like you were you were talking earlier. It's like this guy doesn't go away. You know, every four years he's coming back, and I'm coming back because it's
not changing, it's getting worse. We're now worse in California. Think about that for a minute. We're worse in California.
Greg that was a much better answer.
That was a much better answer on the question, because unfortunately, this is how Republicans have to fight, right. We don't have the luxury of just presenting the issues and pointing out the ways that the state has fallen off a cliff in so many significant areas, because you're going to have to answer that question. You're going to have to answer that twenty twenty election question, even though it's freaking you know, twenty twenty six. You're going to be asked
these things. And I am held bent on trial by fire here, you know, rather than trial by fire somewhere else. That's my new attitude, because I'm tired of seeing good people stumble over these sort of questions that to your point, and I think you're absolutely right, it doesn't matter as much to Coloradin's it's in the Constitution.
It's done. Move on, we're doing that.
Now. Let's talk about some issues that do matter. Because one of the things that we were talking about in the last last hour was what specific things should should the party should should the party messaging be so every Republican in the state has access to the same data to back up these solutions.
What are those issues.
That you think are the issues that are going to make independent voters say, you know what, that's kind of a good idea. Perhaps I'm going to look at the publicans this time.
Yeah. Look, you know what, when we're talking about the daily lives and the future of Colorado, let's talk about education. Let's talk about making sure that our children are actually learning, that they're being more proficient in reading and writing and doing math. Let's focus on giving them the skill sets that they need to be successful and good stewards to our environment, and also making sure that, you know, they
can live that American dream. Look, there's a lot of distraction that's going on inside the school buildings these days. You know it, I know it. All I want is our children to be a good educated, be able to read. And I want to ask people is like, do you know that in Colorado a teacher cannot withhold a student if they're not ready to move on to the fourth grade.
They still have to pass them on to the fourth grade, even they know that they're going to struggle, they know they're going to struggle in that We've got to reevaluate what are we doing here. You know, let's talk about transportation. How long it's taking people to get home to their families, you know, or to get to a meeting. One of the things that I'd like to do is, you know, I would it's time that we buy E four seventy. The state should buy E four seventy and take the
tolls off. Let's get all that congestion off of downtown. Let's get all those semis to go around. This is the stuff that impacts people every day. Every day when
they go to work. They hate getting on I twenty five because they know that if somebody does something, you know, whether it's a misstep, they try to cut somebody off, if someone clipped somebody, it's gonna be an hour to an hour and a half just to open that highway once again, these are the things that I believe we need to focus in on now when it comes to the cost of living. Look, everybody complains about the cost of eggs. You know what, Oh my god, you know
you go to I'm not even buying eggs anymore. I don't know about you, but you know when you buy eight dollars for a carton of eggs, you know a lot of people forget that. The reason that's happened is because our governor destroyed the supply chain. One point five million chickens got killed here in Colorado, you know, and that was the supply chain for the eggs. And so when people say, well, why is egg so expensive? We
got to look at all that stuff. These are some of the things that I think common people want to know what happened, what are we going to do different and why? How what is the future going to look like for me.
And my family? Greg what do you think about the attacks on Tabor? I'm going to lost up a softball for you, because that I think that I think could be a winning issue for Republicans, but unfortunately the Democrats have chipped away at it with giveaways to other people, with those Taber refunds. But what would your argument be about Tabor?
I would say this to the people of Colorado. Look, most of the people that are talking about they don't want Tabor. I don't even know if they were eight years old or ten years old when Taber got passed. You know, Taber was passed because the people of Colorado said, look, we don't tr us government, We don't trust government that they know how to spend our money. So we're gonna give them a cap. We're gonna give them a cap. And if they truly believe they need more money, all
they have to do is come and ask us. All they have to do is convince us that this is what the right way to spend our tax dollar money. One of the things that really people need to understand is that that TABOR refund belongs to you, to you, and this is how we reward people. They're here in Colorado because if the economy is doing very well, if it's robust, and there's extra funds, why wouldn't we want to give more money in the pockets of every Colorado.
Let them go out there and enjoy a movie, Let them go out there and go to dinner, take their kids to the zoo. You know what. This is what the quality of life is all about. So, yes, TABOR is something that we must understand. We cannot let go. If we lose TABOR, we will become worse twice worse than California because right now we're spending way more than we have. When you have a budget that's one point two billion dollars over what they were supposed to spend
and it's supposed to be a balanced budget. Who is not watching the tech book. How can they not know that they're one point two billion dollars over budget? Well, I mean we need to focus it.
They know it, they just don't care. Greg Lopez is my guest. He is running for governor. A lot of people, myself included, I have already said this. I think Michael Bennett, just because of name ID, is going to be very hard to beat. And if Phil Wiser drops out of the race on that side, which I don't know if he will, I have no information that says Phil Wiser is it will really come down to fundraising. I think
Michael Bennett's gonna be really challenging to beat. If he's a nominee, how do you how do you win?
Maddie. Let's be honest, right, It's going to be hard for any Republican to win any race here in Colorado. Look at the numbers. One point nine million registered on affiliate voters, one million registered Democrats, and about nine hundred and forty thousand registered Republicans. It's not about our party. It's about our vision, it's about our values. It's about how we're going to help people. Look, I've been in the urban corridor. I have a lot of Democrat friends.
You don't remember. I used to be the president of the Denver Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. I have friends in those visios that are RASA. I have friends in Lulak, the League of the United Latin American Citizens, the NAACP. I have been in those communities. I'm here to tell you. While the press thinks everybody likes Senator Bennett, the voters do not. The voters truly understand his record is not
helping Colorado. He's never helped Colorado. And then when he has the audacity to say, hey, look I'm gonna run for governor, but I'm not going to resign. I'm going to keep my office so then I can appoint my replacement. The deals are being struck right now as we speak. I know that, Mandy, I know that, and the people inside the Urban Corridor they understand it, and they're not liking the deals that are being cut.
Well, Greg Lopez, I appreciate you coming on the show. I'm sure we're gonna have you on again. I mean, this is a long race, so it's gonna be a while, but I appreciate you making time. And I told Greg before you came on, I said, are you going to answer some hard questions. You said, let's do it, let's go, So I appreciate that. And you know, obviously there's going to be more Republicans jumping in to this race, so
we're gonna have everybody on. I think this is going to be the year that I am going to try and put something together here at KOA where we can do a candidate forum, kind of a debate on the air, that kind of thing. So I hope that you would make time for us when we get a little closer and we can put that together.
Oh, you bet you, Mandy. Look, you know what, there's a lot of great individuals that have already in the race. There's other individuals that I'm hearing want to get in the race. Here's what I will tell all your listeners and olive Republicans. Let's not focus on who can win the primary. Let's focus on who can win the general. Who can actually get the votes that are needed to become the next governor and make sure that our brighter future here in the state can be achieved.
That sounds like a great plan. To meet Greg Lopez.
I put a link to his website where you can find out more about his campaign and if you want to support him, you can do that. It's Greg Lopez dot co. Greg Lopez dot co. And again I put a link on today's blog.
Greg.
I appreciate your time today. We'll talk again soon.
All right, Take care, Mandy.
All right. That is Greg Lopez running for governor.