Valerie Richardson

Court backs in-state tuition rates for illegals

The California Supreme Court ruled unanimously Monday that illegal immigrants attending state universities can continue to pay the cheaper, in-state tuition rates instead of the pricier rates charged to U.S. legal residents and citizens who live outside the state.

November 15, 2010

3rd-party bid buffed Tancredo viability

Technically, he's no longer a Republican, but Tom Tancredo's decision to run for governor as a third-party candidate may have made him the most electable conservative in Colorado.

November 10, 2010

Colo. group scores court win in free-speech case

A group of Colorado neighbors who ran afoul of the state's complex campaign-finance rules scored a victory Tuesday when a federal appeals court ruled that the law imposed an unreasonable restriction on free-speech rights.

November 9, 2010

Republicans grab majority in both Minnesota houses

How big a year was it for Minnesota's Republicans? Let's just say that if Ronald Reagan had been on the ballot Tuesday, he might have finally carried the state.

November 4, 2010

Rocky Mountains slowed Republican wave

The Republican juggernaut lost a bit of its steam once it hit the Rocky Mountains, with Democrats and Republicans largely splitting the key contested races for governor and Senate, and Colorado Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet pulling out a win in a race that was only called late Wednesday.

November 3, 2010

Reid overcomes Angle to keep Nev. Senate seat

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was projected as the winner early Wednesday in the hard-fought Nevada Senate race, beating back a formidable challenge from Republican Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle and overcoming his own high negatives with the voters.

November 2, 2010

Republican 2012 dark horses at the starting gate

Republicans typically stick with their front-runners when it comes to presidential primary contests, but 2012 may not be a typical year.

November 2, 2010

In Colorado race, it’s economy vs. abortion

The pivotal Senate race in Colorado is locked in a dead heat as Republican Ken Buck struggles to keep the message on taxes and spending, while Democrat Michael Bennet pounds his opponent on social issues.

October 27, 2010

3rd-party candidates could tip tight races

Even political junkies might not be able to identify LeAlan Jones, Shawn Moody, Scott Ashjian and Ceci Iglesias, but all four could have a major effect on the political balance of power after Election Day.

October 24, 2010

Five ex-governors hope to catch on again

The anti-incumbent fever sweeping the nation apparently isn't contagious when it comes to gubernatorial contests.

October 20, 2010

With few undecideds, Reid, Angle try to rally voters

Polls show nearly all voters in Nevada have made up their minds about the state's bitter Senate race, but combatants Harry Reid and Sharron Angle upped the ante this week with a round of fresh attacks as they try to gain separation in a contest that's long been too close to call.

October 19, 2010

Colorado clean-campaign vow at risk

Democrat John Hickenlooper has repeatedly vowed to run no negative ads in his campaign for Colorado governor, but that was before Tom Tancredo pulled within 4 percentage points. Now campaign watchers are waiting to see how much longer the Hickenlooper campaign can continue to ignore Mr. Tancredo's insurgent American Constitution Party candidacy.

October 17, 2010

Military gay ban best left to Congress, Gates says

The Obama administration distanced itself Wednesday from a federal judge's injunction banning enforcement of the "don't ask, don't tell" policy on gays in the military, with officials saying that the policy should be properly addressed by Congress and not the courts.

October 13, 2010