DENVER — Colorado's next presidential primary will be held on Super Tuesday, March 3. That's the day when the greatest number of delegates are at stake, and the country gets a true feel for who is gaining momentum in the presidential race.
Gov. Jared Polis and Secretary of State Jenna Griswold announced the joint decision from the governor's office at the state Capitol Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. Next with Kyle Clark first reported the move last Friday.
Colorado held its caucuses on the Super Tuesday of 2016 - March 1 - but that system has since been abandoned for primaries only. Adding to the intrigue of 2020, Colorado’s unaffiliated voters will also have the chance to vote in primary elections for the first time.
The number of states with “Super Tuesday” primaries fluctuates from election to election. Ten states voted in primaries on Super Tuesday 2016. Alaska was the second state to hold a caucus then.
Twenty Democrats have announced presidential campaigns, including prominent Coloradans like former Gov. John Hickenlooper. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who recently underwent a successful surgery to treat prostate cancer, is expected to announce, as well.
Any one candidate must secure at least 15 percent of the vote to move on to the national convention, and then win 51 percent of the vote at the convention to become the nominee.
Colorado approved doing away with caucuses in presidential elections in 2016.
While new rules allow for any registered voter to participate, unaffiliateds can only vote for one party.
Voters will receive a ballot in the mail just like a general election.