May 21, 2026 minute read

Colorado Democrats have formally censured Gov. Jared Polis after he commuted the prison sentence of former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters, a Trump supporter convicted in connection with a voting machine data breach case.

The Colorado State Democratic Party voted Wednesday night to rebuke Polis, with nearly 90 percent support from members of the party’s State Central Committee. The move came after widespread backlash from Democratic activists and officials angered by the governor’s clemency decision.

Peters, 70, had been serving a nine-year sentence after being convicted over actions tied to efforts to investigate claims surrounding the 2020 election. Polis’ commutation clears the way for her release from prison on June 1 after serving less than two years.

In a sharply worded statement following the vote, the Colorado Democratic Party said Peters “was convicted by a jury of her peers and sentenced by a judge who said she would do it all over again if she could. The Republican district attorney who prosecuted her called any sentence reduction ‘a gross injustice.’ He’s right.”

The statement accused Polis of caving to political pressure from President Donald Trump, saying, “Reducing her sentence now, under pressure from Donald Trump, is not justice.” Party officials further warned the commutation “sends a message to future bad actors that election tampering has consequences, unless you’re friends with the president.”

The State Central Committee found that Polis’ actions “materially harmed the Colorado Democratic Party’s institutional credibility and efforts to defend democratic institutions and election integrity.” The censure is largely symbolic, but the party also announced that until further action is taken, Polis “shall not participate as an honored guest, featured speaker, or officially recognized representative” at party-sponsored events, including the Obama Gala and DemFest.

Polis defended the decision earlier this week, arguing Peters’ sentence was excessive and politically influenced because of her election-related views. A spokesman for the governor, Eric Maruyama, responded to the censure by saying, “Sometimes the right thing isn’t the popular thing with everybody.”

“Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship,” he added.

The Colorado Democratic Party also reaffirmed what it called its “unwavering commitment to election workers, free and fair elections, and the rejection of election denialism and disinformation in all forms.”