Colorado caucus: Sanders wins state, defeats Clinton
9:15 p.m. update: Bernie Sanders has defeated Hillary Clinton in Colorado’s Democratic presidential caucuses, the Associated Press reports.
Colorado’s straw poll is nonbinding. But Sanders’ win gives him an important boost in a battleground state in his quest for the Democratic nomination.
The Vermont senator generated an impressive turnout among young adults at Tuesday’s precinct caucuses — and he drew thousands at a February appearance at Denver’s Convention Center.
Most of Colorado’s Democratic Party establishment endorsed Clinton, and most expect her to eventually win the nomination.
Her campaign launched its caucus organizing back in September. Clinton spoke out on local Colorado issues including gun control and protecting women’s abortion rights.
Colorado Democrats officially select their presidential delegates at a state convention in April.
8:40 p.m. update: Bernie Sanders leads 55.1 percent to Hillary Clinton's 44.9 percent in unofficial Colorado Democratic caucus results from 8:40 p.m. Sanders had received 4,265 of 7,734 votes cast.
In northwest Fort Collins, Poudre Fire Authority Capt. Holger Durre estimated a crowd of 1,500 had gathered at Lincoln Middle School. The school could hold only 320 people for the caucus, according to PFA. Firefighters working crowd control were allowing one person in for every one person who left the building shortly before 8:30 p.m.
8:20 p.m. update: Bernie Sanders has grabbed the early lead in Colorado's Democratic caucus.
Despite crowding issues that kept some voters waiting to join the festivities long after the 7 p.m. start of caucusing, the state's Democratic Party began trickling out results at 8 p.m. Tuesday. By 8:20 p.m., presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders had received 53.2 percent of the 2,900 delegate votes cast, taking an early lead over national front-runner Hillary Clinton.
Colorado is one of 13 states holding primaries or caucuses Tuesday. However, Colorado's process focuses distinctly on the Democratic nominating process, with the GOP dropping its straw poll element last year. Nonetheless, these meetings will help steer the direction of state and local parties moving forward.
The Coloradoan team will be covering the process live tonight, with Nick Coltrain and Adrian Garcia reporting and Valerie Mosley and Austin Humphreys providing photos and video. Follow live with our chat, videos and results below when the action begins this evening.
Where should I caucus?: Full list of Fort Collins caucus locations
Super Tuesday in Colorado: What you need to know
Not caucusing, but want to make your voice heard?: Vote in our poll
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7:20 p.m.
From Associated Press:
Some Republicans gathering in Colorado are frustrated that the party chose not to hold a presidential caucus.
First-time caucus-goer Doug Schuck of Cherry Hills Village says the presidential contest got him interested in the first place. The Donald Trump supporter says he is disappointed that he won't be able to cast a vote.
Even Republicans who don't mind the party's decision say the presidential race brought them out.
June Fuller of Englewood says she wants to get a sense of where the GOP is going as a whole. She is a Trump opponent and says party members must band together to stop "this terrible tsunami."
7:13 p.m. update
Bernie Sanders won his home state of Vermont in the first results of the Super Tuesday elections, the biggest day in the primary campaign.
6:50 p.m. update
Clinton supporters gather in Miami to celebrate her victories in the Georgia and Virginia primaries on Super Tuesday.
5:30 p.m.update
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