The Colorado Democratic Party formally censured Governor Jared Polis on Wednesday after he commuted the prison sentence of Tina Peters, a former county clerk convicted on multiple felony counts for orchestrating a breach of her office’s election systems.
The censure resolution passed by 89.8% of the party’s State Central Committee, one of the most emphatic internal rebukes of a sitting Democratic governor in recent memory.
Peters was sentenced to nine years in prison following her 2024 conviction on four felony and three misdemeanour charges related to a security breach of Mesa County’s election equipment, which she allowed in a failed attempt to find evidence of fraud in the 2020 presidential election.
President Trump had long publicly campaigned for Peters to be freed, having issued a symbolic presidential pardon of her in December 2025 despite having no authority over a state conviction.
Polis reduced Peters’ sentence by roughly half, citing an appellate court finding that the State of Colorado had violated her First Amendment rights and arguing he preferred an expeditious remedy over years of further court proceedings.
The Colorado Democratic Party said the decision “does not reflect the values, institutional positions, or democratic commitments” of the party, and that it “materially harmed” the party’s credibility on election integrity.
As a consequence of the censure, Polis is barred indefinitely from appearing as an honoured guest or featured speaker at official party events, including the Obama Gala and DemFest.
Polis’ office responded that the governor is a deep believer in mercy and that no clemency decision should be granted solely on the basis of whether it will be popular.
Peters’ own attorney said after her release was announced that his client intends to continue campaigning against electronic voting machines, a statement that drew fresh condemnation from Colorado election officials.
Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat running for governor of Colorado in the 2026 cycle, said Peters had been rightfully convicted and that the state cannot capitulate to a lawless administration.
