GRAND JUNCTION — Republicans have increased their voter registration in west-central Colorado by 6 percent over the past four years as Democrats slipped slightly.
The Grand Junction Sentinel reported Sunday that Democratic registration fell by less than 1 percent and unaffiliated voters grew more than 8 percent.
The Sentinel examined voter registration in Delta, Garfield, Mesa, Montrose and Rio Blanco counties.
Chuck Poplstein, executive director of the state Republican Party, said President Barack Obama’s 2008 election galvanized the party.
John Straayer, a professor of political science at Colorado State University, said the Republican Party’s growth might reflect the high-profile primary campaign for the GOP presidential nomination.
Straayer said Democrats already have their candidate and there is no Senate or gubernatorial race to fire up interest.
