Chris M. Frésquez
Posted February 19, 2026
Local caucuses will begin meeting in March to lay the groundwork for Colorado’s primary elections. While national headlines dominate the daily cycle, the real shaping of the ballot happens closer to home — in community centers, neighborhood gatherings, and local party meetings where participation may be limited, but influence is substantial.
This election year will help determine the trajectory of our economic and social priorities. Will policy continue to widen the gap between the haves and the have-nots — and tolerate erosion of respect for the rule of law, our Constitution, democracy, and the rights of individuals — or will voters insist on recalibration and accountability?
The midterms are not a single day in November; they are a process already underway. Engagement begins now — at the local level, where direction is first defined and momentum is built.
We can engage in practical and meaningful ways. Attend a caucus. Learn how delegates are selected. Ask candidates direct questions about the issues affecting your neighborhood — housing affordability, public safety, education funding, small business sustainability. Volunteer for a campaign or serve as a precinct organizer. Verify your voter registration. Encourage young voters and first-time participants to step into the process.
And for those who believe they have already done their part, it is worth reflecting on what democracy has provided for all of us — opportunity, stability, mobility, and protection under the law. Democracy is not a system to be turned on or off at convenience. It is a lifetime commitment. The opportunities many have benefited from were not accidental; they were secured and expanded by citizens who remained engaged beyond a single election cycle — day in and day out — so that future generations might inherit the same opportunities.
Our responsibility is not only to participate for ourselves, but to ensure that future generations inherit a system stronger, more resilient, and better protected than the one we received — with broader access, firmer safeguards, and deeper accountability.
Democracy requires permanence and sustained attention. The decisions made in March shape the options presented in November. If we want a future defined by shared opportunity rather than deepened division, the work begins now — and it belongs to all of us.
If this commentary informed you or prompted reflection, please consider supporting independent media and sharing it with others.
Chris M. Frésquez, Publisher, The Weekly Issue El Semanario.
- We Cannot Take Our Eyes Off the Midterms - February 19, 2026
- Colorado Democrats Want Answers About ICE ‘Death Cards’ Left in Cars in Eagle County - February 5, 2026
- Attorney General Phil Weiser Sues HHS for Conditioning Funding on Discriminatory Policy - January 22, 2026
