Trump Challenges Boebert as Bennet Cuts Ties with Polis

“Even though I long ago endorsed Boebert, if the right person came along, it would be my Honor to withdraw that Endorsement, and endorse a good and proper alternative. Just let me know, or announce your Candidacy, and I will be there for you!”

Donald Trump didn’t just hint at a shakeup. He issued a direct challenge to Lauren Boebert on Truth Social, calling the Colorado Republican “weak-minded,” “dumb,” and “foolish.” The trigger? Boebet’s decision to campaign for Rep. Thomas Massie in the Kentucky GOP primary — a move Trump viewed as betrayal, given he’s labeled Massie “the Worst Republican Congressman in the History of Our Country.”

The question is whether this is a bluff or a warning shot. Trump’s threat to recruit a candidate to unseat Massie worked; Ed Gallrein, a handpicked former Navy SEAL, won the primary Tuesday night. Could the same playbook apply to Boebert in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District?

It’s complicated by timing. The deadline for filing for the June 30 Colorado primaries has already passed. Trump might not know that — or might not care, given his staff of hundreds could have told him, because he’s now eyeing a write-in campaign. Would he risk giving Democrats a chance to win the seat out of pure pettiness? That’s the gamble.

But let’s look at the other side of the political churn. Michael Bennet dropped a bombshell of his own on CNN, stating clearly that if he’s elected governor, he will not appoint Jared Polis to take his place in the Senate.

“Polis called him a few days ago to ask not to be considered for the job,” Bennet told CNN’s Kaitlin Collins.

Bennet cited Polis’ “terrible” commutation of election grifter Tina Peters as “disqualifying.” It’s a direct jab at the governor’s use of executive power, mirroring the loyalty dynamics playing out in Trump’s orbit. For locals watching the state’s political landscape shift, the connection is clear: executive power is being wielded, and it’s being questioned.

The stakes are high. Bennet’s decision isn’t just personal; it’s political. If Democrats in the state legislature move to censure Polis, the fallout could ripple through the next gubernatorial administration. Bennet, positioning himself for the top job, is distancing himself from a governor whose decisions he deems flawed.

This isn’t just about Colorado politics. It’s about how power consolidates and fractures. Trump’s loyalty is a one-way street, as evidenced by the pileup of former supplicants at his door. Bennet is doing the same, cutting ties with Polis to strengthen his own bid for governor.

The misuse of executive power ties them together. Trump throws allies under the bus for crossing him. Bennet throws Polis under the bus for his own political calculus. Both are betting that voters will forgive the method if the outcome aligns with their preferences.

For folks around here, the implication is straightforward. The people we elect are watching each other, not just us. A governor’s decision on a single prisoner can cost him a Senate seat. A senator’s decision on a primary can cost him his party’s backing.

The churn is accelerating.