Colorado Democrats Censure Polis Over Tina Peters Commutation

Colorado Democrats voted overwhelmingly, about 90% of roughly 700 Central Committee members, to censure Gov. Jared Polis for commuting Tina Peters' prison sentence.

Peters, 70, was convicted in 2024 for a scheme to copy her county's election computer system and had been sentenced to nine years before Polis cut the term to four and a half years.

The Colorado Democratic Party said the commutation sets a "dangerous and disappointing" precedent and warned it "sends a message" about election tampering unless "you're friends with the president," party officials said.

About 700 state party members, including current and former officials, petitioned to condemn Polis, and the censure bars him from being an honored guest, featured speaker, or official party representative.

Polis defended the commutation on free-speech grounds, citing an April appeals court ruling that ordered resentencing, while some Democrats and local officials have called for impeachment or otherwise condemned the decision.