Table​ ​of​ ​Contents 

Overview 
Key​ ​Insights 
Methodology 
Introduction 
Colorado​ ​Independent​ ​Voters 
Dissatisfied​ ​with​ ​Governance 
Disillusioned​ ​by​ ​Both​ ​Parties 
Centrist,​ ​Swing​ ​Voters 

Opportunities​ ​for​ ​Independent​ ​Candidates 

Reform​ ​Voters 
Appeal​ ​of​ ​Independents 

Obstacles​ ​for​ ​Independent​ ​Candidates 

Conclusion 
About​ ​Us 
Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute 
Contact​ ​Us 

   

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Overview
A​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​Colorado​ ​voters​ ​(53%)​ ​believe​ ​the​ ​two​ ​major​ ​parties
are​ ​not​ ​working​ ​together​ ​well​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​legislature​ ​to​ ​solve
problems​ ​facing​ ​Colorado​ ​–​ ​with​ ​71%​ ​placing​ ​blame​ ​for​ ​partisan
gridlock​ ​on​ ​both​ ​Democrats​ ​and​ ​Republicans.

Amid​ ​growing​ ​dissatisfaction​ ​with​ ​both​ ​parties​ ​and​ ​the​ ​state​ ​of
governance​ ​today,​ ​an​ ​overwhelming​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​Coloradans
(85%)​ ​now​ ​say​ ​they​ ​are​ ​open​ ​to​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​independent
candidates​ ​who​ ​may​ ​run​ ​for​ ​the​ ​state​ ​legislature​ ​in​ ​2018.

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Key​ ​Insights 
In​ ​a​ ​groundbreaking​ ​survey​ ​of​ ​more​ ​than​ ​2,000​ ​voters​ ​across​ ​Colorado,​ ​the 
Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute​ ​uncovered​ ​several​ ​unique​ ​and​ ​important​ ​insights: 

1. A​ ​broad​ ​base​ ​of​ ​support.​​ ​The​ ​potential​ ​base​ ​of​ ​support​ ​for​ ​independent
candidates​ ​extends​ ​far​ ​beyond​ ​independent​ ​voters​ ​themselves​ ​(92%)​ ​to​ ​large
majorities​ ​of​ ​both​ ​Democrats​ ​(84%)​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​(82%).​ ​ ​This​ ​potential​ ​base
of​ ​support​ ​includes​ ​three​ ​quarters​ ​(74%)​ ​of​ ​voters​ ​who​ ​say​ ​they​ ​otherwise​ ​only
cast​ ​their​ ​ballots​ ​for​ ​one​ ​party​ ​or​ ​the​ ​other.

2. Desire​ ​for​ ​bridge​ ​builders.​​ ​Independent​ ​candidates’​ ​greatest​ ​appeal​ ​to​ ​voters,
with​ ​78%​ ​agreement,​ ​is​ ​the​ ​notion​ ​that​ ​they​ ​can​ ​“represent​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people,​ ​not
just​ ​those​ ​from​ ​their​ ​party.”​ ​Voters​ ​are​ ​specifically​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​independent
candidates​ ​who​ ​have​ ​strong​ ​personal​ ​integrity​ ​and​ ​who​ ​are​ ​able​ ​to​ ​bridge​ ​the
growing​ ​partisan​ ​divide​ ​in​ ​government.

3. Single-issue​ ​reform​ ​voters.​​ ​For​ ​28%​ ​of​ ​voters,​ ​the​ ​single​ ​most​ ​important​ ​criteria
in​ ​evaluating​ ​candidates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​election​ ​will​ ​be​ ​their​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​break​ ​through
the​ ​political​ ​gridlock​ ​and​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​special​ ​interests​ ​to​ ​solve​ ​problems.

Combined,​ ​these​ ​insights​ ​paint​ ​a​ ​portrait​ ​of​ ​an​ ​electorate​ ​that​ ​is​ ​restive​ ​for​ ​a​ ​viable
alternative​ ​to​ ​both​ ​Democrats​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​in​ ​2018.​ ​Indeed,​ ​48%​ ​of​ ​voters​ ​said​ ​that
electing​ ​independents​ ​to​ ​the​ ​state​ ​legislature​ ​would​ ​“improve​ ​how​ ​the​ ​government
worked”​ ​while​ ​only​ ​5%​ ​said​ ​it​ ​would​ ​make​ ​things​ ​worse.

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Methodology  
The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute​ ​–​ ​a​ ​non-partisan,​ ​non-profit
organization​ ​that​ ​researches​ ​barriers​ ​to​ ​voting,​ ​running​ ​for​ ​and
serving​ ​in​ ​elected​ ​office​ ​by​ ​independent​ ​voters​ ​and​ ​candidates​ ​–
carried​ ​out​ ​the​ ​survey​ ​between​ ​August​ ​21​ ​and​ ​September​ ​10,​ ​2017.

The​ ​poll,​ ​conducted​ ​by​ ​Triton​ ​Polling​ ​&​ ​Research,​ ​surveyed​ ​2,026
likely​ ​voters​ ​across​ ​the​ ​Centennial​ ​State​ ​and​ ​has​ ​a​ ​margin​ ​of
error​ ​of​ ​+/-​ ​2.2%.

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Introduction 

There​ ​are​ ​over​ ​1.2​ ​million​ ​active  Technically​ ​registered​ ​as

independent​ ​voters​ ​in​ ​Colorado​ ​today, 

“unaffiliated,”​ ​independent​ ​voters​ ​do
not​ ​belong​ ​to​ ​any​ ​political​ ​party.
or​ ​36%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​entire​ ​electorate​ ​––  They​ ​will,​ ​for​ ​the​ ​first​ ​time,​ ​be​ ​able​ ​to
outnumbering​ ​both​ ​Democrats​ ​(31%)  participate​ ​in​ ​party​ ​primary

and​ ​Republicans​ ​(31%).1 

elections​ ​in​ ​2018​ ​as​ ​a​ ​result​ ​of​ ​a
ballot​ ​measure​ ​passed​ ​in​ ​2016.

New​ ​voter​ ​registrations​ ​indicate​ ​that​ ​Coloradans​ ​are​ ​registering​ ​unaffiliated​ ​at​ ​over
twice​ ​the​ ​rate​ ​as​ ​they​ ​are​ ​with​ ​a​ ​major​ ​party.2​ ​Between​ ​January​ ​and​ ​October​ ​2017,​ ​the
Colorado​ ​Secretary​ ​of​ ​State​ ​reported​ ​58,478​ ​additional​ ​active​ ​independent​ ​voters​ ​–
while​ ​Republicans​ ​lost​ ​nearly​ ​3,400​ ​voters​ ​and​ ​Democrats​ ​lost​ ​nearly​ ​600​ ​voters
statewide.

Yet,​ ​despite​ ​being​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​and​ ​fastest​ ​growing​ ​segment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​electorate,​ ​there​ ​is
not​ ​a​ ​single​ ​independent​ ​among​ ​the​ ​100​ ​members​ ​of​ ​the​ ​Colorado​ ​state​ ​legislature.​ ​In
fact,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​not​ ​a​ ​single​ ​independent​ ​on​ ​record​ ​as​ ​ever​ ​having​ ​won​ ​a​ ​seat​ ​in​ ​the
legislature​ ​in​ ​the​ ​history​ ​of​ ​the​ ​state.3

1
​ ​Party​ ​Registration​ ​Status​;​ ​Colorado​ ​Secretary​ ​of​ ​State;​ ​October​ ​1,​ ​2017

2
​ ​A​ ​Surge​ ​in​ ​unaffiliated​ ​voters​ ​helps​ ​set​ ​a​ ​new​ ​record​ ​in​ ​Colorado​;​ ​Colorado​ ​Politics​;​ ​August​ ​15,​ ​2017

3
​ ​Election​ ​Results​ ​Archive​;​ ​Colorado​ ​Secretary​ ​of​ ​State

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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This​ ​disconnect​ ​can,​ ​in​ ​part,​ ​be​ ​explained​ ​by​ ​the​ ​fact​ ​that​ ​few​ ​credible​ ​candidates​ ​run
for​ ​office​ ​as​ ​independents​ ​in​ ​the​ ​first​ ​place,​ ​since​ ​they​ ​lack​ ​the​ ​support​ ​structure​ ​of
volunteers,​ ​donors,​ ​and​ ​staff​ ​that​ ​the​ ​major​ ​parties​ ​provide.​ ​In​ ​the​ ​last​ ​three​ ​election
cycles,​ ​for​ ​example,​ ​only​ ​10​ ​independent​ ​state​ ​legislative​ ​candidates​ ​ran​ ​for​ ​office
compared​ ​to​ ​455​ ​Democrats​ ​and​ ​514​ ​Republicans.

However,​ ​if​ ​credible​ ​candidates​ ​with​ ​a​ ​support​ ​structure​ ​were​ ​to​ ​run​ ​for​ ​state 
legislature​ ​in​ ​2018,​ ​to​ ​what​ ​extent​ ​would​ ​they​ ​find​ ​support​ ​among​ ​the 
electorate?  

To​ ​answer​ ​that​ ​question,​ ​we​ ​surveyed​ ​more​ ​than​ ​2,000​ ​likely​ ​voters​ ​across​ ​the​ ​state​ ​to
find​ ​out:

● Who​ ​are​ ​independent​ ​voters,​ ​and​ ​why​ ​are​ ​they​ ​independent?

● Are​ ​voters​ ​open​ ​to​ ​supporting​ ​independent​ ​candidates,​ ​and​ ​if​ ​so,​ ​why?
● What​ ​obstacles​ ​would​ ​independent​ ​candidates​ ​face?

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.
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Colorado​ ​Independent​ ​Voters 

Dissatisfied​ ​with​ ​Governance   

A​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​all​ ​voters​ ​(53%),​ ​and​ ​an  When​ ​these​ ​voters​ ​were​ ​asked​ ​which

even​ ​higher​ ​number​ ​of​ ​independents 

party​ ​is​ ​to​ ​blame​ ​for​ ​the​ ​gridlock​ ​in
the​ ​legislature,​ ​71%​ ​ ​said​ ​both
(58%),​ ​believe​ ​that​ ​Democrats​ ​and  Democrats​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​were
Republicans​ ​are​ ​not​​ ​working​ ​together  responsible.

well​ ​in​ ​the​ ​state​ ​legislature​ ​to​ ​solve 

Independents​ ​were​ ​more​ ​likely​ ​to
problems​ ​facing​ ​Colorado. blame​ ​both​ ​sides,​ ​at​ ​83%.

Disillusioned​ ​by​ ​Both​ ​Parties

Independent​ ​voters​ ​give​ ​many​ ​reasons​ ​for​ ​why​ ​they​ ​are​ ​independent.​ ​The​ ​vast 
majority​ ​of​ ​independents​ ​say​ ​that​ ​“both​ ​parties​ ​care​ ​more​ ​about​ ​winning 
elections​ ​than​ ​getting​ ​things​ ​done”​ ​––​ ​with​ ​60%​ ​“strongly”​ ​agreeing​ ​and 
another​ ​21%​ ​agreeing​ ​with​ ​the​ ​statement.  

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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 Why​ ​are​ ​independent​ ​voters​ ​registered​ ​as​ ​such? 

Statement  Strongly​ ​Agree  Total​ ​Agree 

Both​ ​parties​ ​care​ ​more​ ​about​ ​winning​ ​elections​ ​than 60% 81%
getting​ ​things​ ​done.

Both​ ​parties​ ​care​ ​more​ ​about​ ​serving​ ​their​ ​special 55% 75%
interests​ ​than​ ​the​ ​people.

I​ ​agree​ ​with​ ​Democrats​ ​on​ ​some​ ​issues​ ​and 39% 65%

Republicans​ ​on​ ​others.

There​ ​is​ ​no​ ​difference​ ​between​ ​the​ ​parties. 19% 30%

Politics​ ​isn’t​ ​that​ ​important​ ​to​ ​me​ ​/​ ​Never​ ​given​ ​it 3% 8%
much​ ​thought.

In​ ​open​ ​responses​ ​to​ ​the​ ​question​ ​of​ ​why​ ​they​ ​are​ ​independent,​ ​unaffiliated​ ​voters’
most​ ​frequently​ ​cited​ ​reasons​ ​included:

1. They​ ​like​ ​to​ ​make​ ​decisions​ ​for​ ​themselves. 

a. “I​ ​evaluate​ ​issues​ ​myself.​ ​I​ ​don't​ ​rely​ ​on​ ​others​ ​to​ ​tell​ ​me​ ​how​ ​I​ ​feel.​ ​I​ ​use
facts.”
b. “I​ ​don't​ ​want​ ​to​ ​lock​ ​myself​ ​into​ ​a​ ​decision.​ ​I'd​ ​like​ ​to​ ​keep​ ​my​ ​options
open.”
c. “I​ ​like​ ​the​ ​choice,​ ​and​ ​I​ ​don't​ ​like​ ​to​ ​be​ ​told​ ​by​ ​a​ ​party​ ​what​ ​to​ ​do.”
d. “I​ ​would​ ​like​ ​to​ ​judge​ ​the​ ​candidate​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own​ ​ideas​ ​and​ ​merit​ ​and​ ​not
the​ ​parties​ ​they​ ​belong​ ​to.”

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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 2. They​ ​don’t​ ​feel​ ​represented​ ​by​ ​either​ ​party. 
a. “What​ ​we​ ​have​ ​for​ ​Democrats​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​isn't​ ​working.​ ​We​ ​need
more​ ​common​ ​sense​ ​in​ ​office.”
b. “Both​ ​parties​ ​are​ ​too​ ​far​ ​left​ ​and​ ​too​ ​far​ ​right.”
c. “I​ ​don't​ ​really​ ​have​ ​ideals​ ​that​ ​match​ ​either​ ​party.​ ​I'm​ ​socially​ ​liberal​ ​but
economically​ ​conservative.”
d. “I’ve​ ​never​ ​been​ ​a​ ​believer​ ​of​ ​either​ ​party's​ ​total​ ​platform.​ ​Your​ ​feelings​ ​and
beliefs​ ​change​ ​as​ ​you​ ​grow​ ​older.”

3. They​ ​are​ ​frustrated​ ​by​ ​partisanship​ ​and​ ​special​ ​interests. 

a. “I​ ​feel​ ​Democrats​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​are​ ​pulling​ ​this​ ​country​ ​apart.​ ​I​ ​would
rather​ ​I​ ​had​ ​someone​ ​work​ ​for​ ​me​ ​to​ ​get​ ​things​ ​done.”
b. “Lobbyists​ ​and​ ​special​ ​interest​ ​groups​ ​tied​ ​to​ ​the​ ​Republican​ ​and
Democratic​ ​parties​ ​have​ ​eroded​ ​the​ ​pillars​ ​of​ ​democracy​ ​on​ ​which​ ​our
country​ ​was​ ​founded.”
c. “I​ ​haven't​ ​seen​ ​either​ ​party​ ​keep​ ​their​ ​word.”
d. “The​ ​two​ ​parties​ ​only​ ​work​ ​for​ ​themselves.”

Centrist,​ ​Swing​ ​Voters 

Although​ ​some​ ​political​ ​observers​ ​and​ ​political​ ​scientists​ ​argue​ ​that​ ​independents​ ​are
“closet​ ​partisans”​ ​who​ ​consistently​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​one​ ​party​ ​or​ ​another4,​ ​the​ ​survey​ ​found​ ​that
three​ ​quarters​ ​of​ ​independents​ ​(75%)​ ​alternate​ ​between​ ​parties​ ​on​ ​their​ ​ballot.​ ​Just​ ​3%
reported​ ​“only”​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​one​ ​party.

4
​ he​ ​Partisans​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Closet​”;​ ​By​ ​Alan​ ​Abramowtiz​ ​in​ ​Politico​ ​Magazine;​ ​January,​ ​2014
​ ​“T

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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On​ ​the​ ​other​ ​hand,​ ​majorities​ ​of​ ​Democrats​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​reported​ ​“only”​ ​or​ ​“mostly”
voting​ ​for​ ​candidates​ ​who​ ​share​ ​their​ ​party​ ​affiliation​ ​–​ ​69%​ ​and​ ​59%,​ ​respectively.
About​ ​a​ ​third​ ​of​ ​party​ ​members,​ ​25%​ ​of​ ​Republicans​ ​and​ ​32%​ ​of​ ​Democrats,​ ​reported
“only”​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​members​ ​of​ ​their​ ​own​ ​party.

While​ ​there​ ​is​ ​far​ ​wider​ ​ideological​ ​diversity​ ​among​ ​independents​ ​than​ ​either
Democrats​ ​or​ ​Republicans,​ ​a​ ​plurality​ ​of​ ​independents​ ​(36%)​ ​identify​ ​as
moderate/centrist;​ ​and​ ​just​ ​10%​ ​of​ ​independents​ ​describe​ ​themselves​ ​as​ ​either​ ​“very
conservative”​ ​or​ ​“very​ ​liberal/progressive.”​ ​Roughly​ ​the​ ​same​ ​share​ ​of​ ​independents​ ​say
they​ ​are​ ​conservative​ ​(21%)​ ​as​ ​liberal/progressive​ ​(20%).

Ideological​ ​polarization​ ​is​ ​more​ ​pronounced​ ​among​ ​party​ ​members:​ ​22%​ ​of
Republicans​ ​consider​ ​themselves​ ​to​ ​be​ ​“very​ ​conservative”​ ​and​ ​18%​ ​of​ ​Democrats
consider​ ​themselves​ ​to​ ​be​ ​“very​ ​liberal/progressive.”

Political​ ​Ideology​ ​by​ ​Party​ ​Affiliation 

Very Centrist/ Very
Liberal Conservative
Liberal Moderate Conservative

Republican 0% 4% 16% 51% 22%

Democrat 18% 40% 21% 7% 2%

Independent 6% 20% 36% 21% 4%

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

11
  

Opportunities​ ​for​ ​Independent​ ​Candidates 

Overall,​ ​85%​ ​of​ ​voters​ ​indicated​ ​they  Among​ ​those​ ​who​ ​would​ ​“definitely”

would​ ​definitely,​ ​probably,​ ​or​ ​maybe 

consider​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent
were​ ​a​ ​majority​ ​of​ ​independents
consider​ ​supporting​ ​an​ ​independent  (52%)​ ​and​ ​a​ ​third​ ​of​ ​both​ ​Democrats
candidate​ ​for​ ​state​ ​legislature​ ​––  (34%)​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​(32%).

including​ ​82%​ ​of​ ​Republicans,​ ​84%​ ​of 

Democrats,​ ​and​ ​92%​ ​of​ ​independents. 

While​ ​some​ ​political​ ​observers​ ​claim​ ​that​ ​independent​ ​candidates​ ​would​ ​draw
disproportionately​ ​from​ ​one​ ​party​ ​or​ ​another5,​ ​the​ ​survey​ ​found​ ​virtually​ ​equal​ ​support
for​ ​independents​ ​among​ ​voters​ ​regardless​ ​of​ ​their​ ​major​ ​party​ ​identification​ ​or
ideology.

Even​ ​among​ ​voters​ ​who​ ​said​ ​they​ ​“only”​ ​voted​ ​for​ ​Democrats​ ​or​ ​Republicans​ ​on​ ​their
ballot,​ ​three​ ​quarters​ ​(74%)​ ​indicated​ ​they​ ​would​ ​consider​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent.
This​ ​reflects​ ​findings​ ​elsewhere​ ​that​ ​growing​ ​partisanship​ ​in​ ​the​ ​electorate​ ​is​ ​more​ ​a
function​ ​of​ ​a​ ​dislike​ ​of​ ​the​ ​“other”​ ​party​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​a​ ​love​ ​of​ ​one’s​ ​own.6

5
​ he​ ​Midterm​ ​Election​ ​(Spoilers)​”​ ​By​ ​Nora-Biette-Timmons;​ ​The​ ​Atlantic​;​ ​November,​ ​2014
​ ​“T

6
​ he​ ​Partisan​ ​Divide​ ​on​ ​Political​ ​Views​ ​Grows​ ​Even​ ​Wider​”​ ​Pew​ ​Research​ ​Center;​ ​October,​ ​2017
​ ​“T

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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In​ ​other​ ​words,​ ​both​ ​Democrats​ ​who​ ​would​ ​never​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Republican​ ​and​ ​Republicans
who​ ​would​ ​never​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​a​ ​Democrat​ ​would​ ​consider​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent
candidate.

Further,​ ​37%​ ​of​ ​voters​ ​who​ ​indicated​ ​they​ ​would​ ​not​ ​consider​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent
also​ ​said​ ​they​ ​would​ ​change​ ​their​ ​mind​ ​if​ ​the​ ​candidate​ ​from​ ​the​ ​party​ ​they​ ​would
typically​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​had​ ​no​ ​chance​ ​of​ ​winning.

Reform​ ​Voters 
When​ ​considering​ ​who​ ​they​ ​will​ ​support​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​election,​ ​a​ ​significant 
segment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​electorate​ ​expressed​ ​interest​ ​in​ ​reform-minded​ ​candidates. 

For​ ​28%​ ​of​ ​voters,​ ​a​ ​candidate’s​ ​ability​ ​to​ ​“break​ ​through​ ​the​ ​political​ ​gridlock​ ​and
special​ ​interest​ ​dysfunction​ ​in​ ​government​ ​to​ ​solve​ ​problems”​ ​is​ ​more​ ​important​ ​than
their​ ​having​ ​specific​ ​policy​ ​proposals​ ​on​ ​pressing​ ​issues​ ​like​ ​transportation​ ​and
education​ ​or​ ​having​ ​matching​ ​views​ ​on​ ​hot-button​ ​issues​ ​like​ ​guns​ ​and​ ​abortion.

This​ ​segment​ ​of​ ​the​ ​electorate​ ​may​ ​be​ ​considered​ ​single-issue​ ​“reform”​ ​voters​ ​who​ ​are
more​ ​interested​ ​in​ ​candidates​ ​who​ ​can​ ​fix​ ​the​ ​political​ ​system​ ​than​ ​candidates​ ​who
have​ ​a​ ​particular​ ​political​ ​agenda.

Getting​ ​government​ ​to​ ​work​ ​in​ ​the​ ​interest​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people,​ ​rather​ ​than​ ​parties​ ​or​ ​special
interests,​ ​is​ ​the​ ​most​ ​salient​ ​issue​ ​for​ ​a​ ​broad​ ​swath​ ​of​ ​the​ ​electorate​ ​–​ ​including​ ​a
more​ ​than​ ​a​ ​quarter​ ​of​ ​Democrats​ ​(25%)​ ​and​ ​Republicans​ ​(27%)​ ​and​ ​more​ ​than​ ​a​ ​third
of​ ​independents​ ​(37%).

What​ ​are​ ​voters’​ ​top​ ​criteria​ ​for​ ​evaluating​ ​candidates​ ​in​ ​the​ ​next​ ​election? 

Candidates​ ​who​ ​have​ ​specific​ ​ideas​ ​and​ ​clear​ ​proposals​ ​on 34%
pressing​ ​issues​ ​like​ ​transportation,​ ​education,​ ​or​ ​natural​ ​resources

Candidates​ ​who​ ​hold​ ​my​ ​same​ ​views​ ​on​ ​hot-button​ ​issues​ ​like 33%
taxes,​ ​abortion,​ ​guns,​ ​or​ ​immigration

Candidates​ ​who​ ​can​ ​break​ ​through​ ​the​ ​political​ ​gridlock​ ​and 28%
special​ ​interest​ ​dysfunction​ ​in​ ​government​ ​to​ ​solve​ ​problems

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Appeal​ ​of​ ​Independents
When​ ​voters​ ​were​ ​asked​ ​what​ ​they​ ​found​ ​appealing​ ​about​ ​potential​ ​independent
candidates,​ ​there​ ​was​ ​agreement​ ​across​ ​the​ ​board​ ​that​ ​independents​ ​could:​ ​represent
all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people,​ ​find​ ​common​ ​ground​ ​between​ ​both​ ​parties,​ ​champion​ ​the​ ​best​ ​ideas,
and​ ​remain​ ​free​ ​from​ ​the​ ​influence​ ​of​ ​partisan​ ​and​ ​special​ ​interests.

What​ ​do​ ​voters​ ​find​ ​appealing​ ​about​ ​independent​ ​candidates?  

Statement Strongly​ ​Agree Total​ ​Agree

Independents​ ​can​ ​represent​ ​all​ ​of​ ​the​ ​people,​ ​not 54% 78%
just​ ​those​ ​from​ ​their​ ​party.

Independents​ ​can​ ​find​ ​common​ ​ground​ ​between 47% 74%

both​ ​parties​ ​and​ ​bridge​ ​the​ ​partisan​ ​divide.

Independents​ ​would​ ​not​ ​be​ ​beholden​ ​the​ ​party 48% 71%

bosses​ ​and​ ​special​ ​interests.

Independents​ ​can​ ​take​ ​the​ ​best​ ​ideas​ ​to​ ​solve 47% 68%
problems​ ​no​ ​matter​ ​where​ ​they​ ​come​ ​from.

In​ ​open​ ​responses,​ ​voters​ ​described​ ​what​ ​they​ ​were​ ​looking​ ​for​ ​in​ ​independent
candidates.​ ​In​ ​over​ ​a​ ​quarter​ ​of​ ​responses,​ ​voters​ ​expressed​ ​a​ ​desire​ ​for​ ​independent
candidates​ ​to​ ​represent​ ​a​ ​collaborative​ ​and​ ​constructive​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​governance.

● “A​ ​reasonable​ ​and​ ​moderate​ ​approach​ ​to​ ​solving​ ​issues,​ ​and​ ​a​ ​willingness​ ​to
work​ ​with​ ​both​ ​parties.”
● “Somebody​ ​who​ ​can​ ​think​ ​on​ ​their​ ​own,​ ​look​ ​at​ ​the​ ​issues​ ​honestly,​ ​and​ ​see​ ​what
positive​ ​or​ ​negative​ ​impacts​ ​would​ ​occur.”
● “Someone​ ​who​ ​specifically​ ​can​ ​get​ ​the​ ​two​ ​parties​ ​working​ ​together​ ​to​ ​get​ ​stuff
done.”
● “Truly​ ​being​ ​independent​ ​and​ ​able​ ​to​ ​compromise​ ​with​ ​both​ ​sides.”
● “Willing​ ​to​ ​put​ ​country​ ​over​ ​party​ ​and​ ​common​ ​sense​ ​over​ ​party.”
● “Someone​ ​that​ ​will​ ​reunite​ ​this​ ​country​ ​and​ ​bring​ ​people​ ​together,​ ​not​ ​separate
them.”
● “Someone​ ​who​ ​can​ ​get​ ​things​ ​done​ ​by​ ​not​ ​having​ ​an​ ​affiliation​ ​or​ ​loyalty​ ​to​ ​either
major​ ​party.​ ​Someone​ ​who​ ​can​ ​break​ ​party​ ​lines.”

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Personal​ ​integrity​ ​and​ ​character​ ​were​ ​also​ ​a​ ​top​ ​priority;​ ​the​ ​quality​ ​of​ ​being​ ​“honest”​ ​or
“trustworthy”​ ​was​ ​mentioned​ ​in​ ​over​ ​one​ ​in​ ​five​ ​replies.

Obstacles​ ​for​ ​Independent​ ​Candidates

The​ ​largest​ ​barrier​ ​facing​ ​independent​ ​candidates​ ​is​ ​whether​ ​voters​ ​believe​ ​they​ ​can
actually​ ​win.

As​ ​one​ ​voter​ ​said​ ​in​ ​an​ ​open​ ​response:​ ​“[Independents]​ ​don't​ ​stand​ ​a​ ​chance​ ​to​ ​win.​ ​If
they​ ​did,​ ​I​ ​would​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​them.”​ ​Added​ ​another:​ ​“They​ ​don't​ ​have​ ​a​ ​chance,​ ​even​ ​if​ ​I​ ​agree
with​ ​their​ ​issues.”

Of​ ​the​ ​various​ ​reasons​ ​why​ ​someone​ ​might​ ​not​ ​support​ ​an​ ​independent​ ​candidate,
voters’​ ​fear​ ​that​ ​they​ ​might​ ​“waste”​ ​their​ ​vote​ ​or​ ​“spoil”​ ​the​ ​election​ ​was​ ​a​ ​top​ ​concern.

Why​ ​might​ ​voters​ ​not​ ​support​ ​an​ ​independent​ ​candidate? 

Statement Strongly​ ​Agree Total​ ​Agree

Voting​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent​ ​might​ ​waste​ ​my​ ​vote​ ​or 31% 50%
may​ ​cause​ ​my​ ​least​ ​favorite​ ​candidate​ ​to​ ​get​ ​elected.

It​ ​can​ ​be​ ​difficult​ ​to​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent 22% 41%
candidate​ ​because​ ​I​ ​don’t​ ​know​ ​where​ ​they​ ​stand​ ​on
the​ ​issues​ ​important​ ​to​ ​me.

I​ ​don’t​ ​think​ ​they​ ​could​ ​be​ ​effective​ ​in​ ​office​ ​since​ ​the 16% 31%
legislature​ ​is​ ​controlled​ ​by​ ​parties.

It​ ​is​ ​important​ ​to​ ​note​ ​that​ ​when​ ​voters​ ​who​ ​said​ ​they​ ​are​ ​open​ ​to​ ​voting​ ​for
independent​ ​candidates​ ​were​ ​asked​ ​if​ ​they​ ​would​ ​still​ ​consider​ ​voting​ ​that​ ​way​ ​“even​ ​if
it​ ​risked​ ​electing​ ​your​ ​least​ ​preferred​ ​candidate”​ ​–​ ​the​ ​vast​ ​majority​ ​(68%)​ ​said​ ​they
would​ ​stick​ ​by​ ​their​ ​decision.​ ​This​ ​included​ ​two​ ​thirds​ ​of​ ​Democrats​ ​(64%)​ ​and

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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Republicans​ ​(64%)​ ​and​ ​three​ ​quarters​ ​of​ ​independents​ ​(78%),​ ​who​ ​collectively​ ​comprise
63%​ ​of​ ​the​ ​electorate.

In​ ​other​ ​words,​ ​the​ ​presence​ ​of​ ​the​ ​largest​ ​potential​ ​obstacle​ ​facing​ ​independent
candidates​ ​–​ ​being​ ​perceived​ ​as​ ​a​ ​“spoiler”​ ​–​ ​only​ ​caused​ ​the​ ​proportion​ ​of​ ​voters​ ​who
said​ ​they​ ​were​ ​open​ ​to​ ​voting​ ​for​ ​independents​ ​to​ ​reduce​ ​from​ ​85%​ ​to​ ​63%,​ ​still​ ​a
near-supermajority​ ​of​ ​voters.

In​ ​open​ ​responses,​ ​voters​ ​expressed​ ​a​ ​strong​ ​desire​ ​for​ ​independent​ ​candidates​ ​to​ ​truly
be​ ​different​ ​than​ ​major​ ​party​ ​candidates.

When​ ​asked​ ​why​ ​they​ ​might​ ​not​ ​vote​ ​for​ ​an​ ​independent,​ ​some​ ​voters​ ​replied: 

● “Being​ ​too​ ​partisan.​ ​Them​ ​running​ ​as​ ​independent​ ​but​ ​with​ ​the​ ​same​ ​views​ ​as
the​ ​two​ ​parties.”
● “Candidates​ ​that​ ​represent​ ​too​ ​much​ ​of​ ​the​ ​status​ ​quo.​ ​I​ ​want​ ​someone​ ​who's
not​ ​afraid​ ​to​ ​be​ ​‘out​ ​there’​ ​on​ ​different​ ​platforms​ ​than​ ​we're​ ​used​ ​to.”
● “Came​ ​from​ ​political​ ​background;​ ​not​ ​someone​ ​that​ ​was​ ​schooled​ ​in​ ​a​ ​tradition
of​ ​systematic​ ​problem​ ​solving​ ​or​ ​critical​ ​thinking.”
● “Someone​ ​who​ ​seems​ ​like​ ​they’re​ ​using​ ​a​ ​different​ ​name​ ​for​ ​the​ ​same​ ​thing;​ ​too
similar​ ​to​ ​either​ ​party.”

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.
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 Conclusion  
Given​ ​the​ ​level​ ​of​ ​desire​ ​for​ ​independent​ ​candidates​ ​from​ ​voters
across​ ​the​ ​state​ ​and​ ​across​ ​the​ ​political​ ​spectrum,​ ​the​ ​survey
highlights​ ​a​ ​clear​ ​and​ ​compelling​ ​opportunity​ ​for​ ​any
independent​ ​who​ ​may​ ​seek​ ​a​ ​seat​ ​in​ ​the​ ​Colorado​ ​state
legislature​ ​in​ ​2018.

Beyond​ ​self-identified​ ​independents,​ ​there​ ​is​ ​an​ ​emerging

majority​ ​coalition​ ​of​ ​voters​ ​who​ ​both​ ​transcend​ ​party​ ​affiliation
and​ ​political​ ​ideology​ ​and​ ​share​ ​a​ ​common​ ​desire​ ​for
independent​ ​leadership​ ​that​ ​is​ ​not​ ​beholden​ ​to​ ​party​ ​bosses​ ​and
special​ ​interests.

There​ ​is​ ​little​ ​doubt,​ ​based​ ​on​ ​this​ ​polling,​ ​that​ ​this​ ​coalition​ ​has
the​ ​potential​ ​to​ ​carry​ ​an​ ​independent​ ​candidate​ ​to​ ​victory––
especially​ ​if​ ​the​ ​candidate​ ​is​ ​viewed​ ​as​ ​a​ ​person​ ​of​ ​integrity​ ​and
is​ ​perceived​ ​as​ ​viable​ ​by​ ​voters.

If​ ​credible​ ​independent​ ​candidates​ ​run​ ​for​ ​office​ ​in​ ​2018,​ ​both
political​ ​parties’​ ​historic​ ​and​ ​complete​ ​control​ ​over​ ​the​ ​Colorado
state​ ​legislature​ ​may​ ​come​ ​to​ ​an​ ​end.

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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About​ ​Us 

Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute  

The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute​ ​is​ ​a​ ​non-partisan,​ ​non-profit

organization​ ​that​ ​seeks​ ​to​ ​encourage​ ​broad-based​ ​civic
engagement​ ​and​ ​political​ ​participation.​ ​The​ ​Institute​ ​conducts
research​ ​to​ ​identify​ ​institutional​ ​barriers​ ​unaffiliated​ ​candidates
face​ ​when​ ​running​ ​for​ ​and​ ​serving​ ​in​ ​elected​ ​office,​ ​and
researches​ ​non-partisan​ ​solutions​ ​for​ ​important​ ​issues​ ​of​ ​public
concern.

Contact​ ​Us 

Nick​ ​Troiano
Executive​ ​Director

nick@centristprojectinstitute.org

970-283-7385

2420​ ​17th​ ​street,​ ​3rd​ ​Floor

Denver,​ ​CO​ ​80202

©2017​ ​The​ ​Centrist​ ​Project​ ​Institute.

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