Douglas County Democrats ride “Big Wave” fundraising momentum into midterms
Douglas County Democrats used a “Big Wave” dinner in Castle Rock to tout a push aimed at 49.4% unaffiliated voters before November.
Douglas County Democrats turned their annual fundraising dinner into a measure of political momentum, not just a social event. At the Philip and Jerry Miller Library in Castle Rock, the Saturday, June 13, 2026, gathering ran from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. and was framed by organizers as part of a broader push to build energy heading into November.
The county party said the fundraiser supports voter outreach, community events, literature and campaigns, a sign that Democrats see turnout work as the central task in a county that still leans Republican. Unaffiliated voters now make up 49.4% of Douglas County’s electorate, compared with 31.6% Republicans and 17% Democrats, a shift that has made the county more competitive even as party labels remain lopsided.
Recent election results help explain the optimism. Donald Trump carried Douglas County over Kamala Harris in 2024 by 7 points, 52.3% to 45.3%, and Republican Lauren Boebert narrowly defeated Democrat Tricia Calvarese in the county’s congressional vote, 48.23% to 47.6%. Those numbers still show Republican strength, but they also show margins that Democrats believe can be pressured if they can keep unaffiliated voters engaged.
Democrats are pointing to 2025 as evidence that the county is no longer a locked Republican stronghold. On June 24, more than 70% of Douglas County voters rejected a home-rule proposal, and voters also elected a progressive-leaning majority to the Douglas County School Board. Across Colorado, Democrats also posted strong off-year results in November 2025, including gains on the Aurora City Council and at the Douglas County School Board.
That mix of setbacks and breakthroughs has shaped the party’s June calendar. Douglas County Democrats have been promoting Parker Days outreach and local meetings as part of the same effort, trying to turn fundraising energy into a steadier organizing operation. Colorado Democratic leaders, including state chair Shad Murib, have emphasized energy and organization this cycle, and Douglas County Democrats are betting that a countywide dinner can help keep that message moving through the summer.
For Democrats, the test is whether the “Big Wave” theme reflects a temporary burst of enthusiasm or a real shift in a county where the electorate is changing faster than its partisan balance.
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