In a significant move that has stirred controversy within its ranks, the Colorado Democratic Party censured Governor Jared Polis late Wednesday for his decision to grant clemency to Tina Peters, a former county clerk currently serving a prison sentence. Peters was convicted in 2024 for her part in allowing unauthorized access to voting machines post the contentious 2020 election.

The party's [official statement](https://www.coloradodems.org/press/colorado-democratic-party-rebukes-gov-polis-commutation-of-tina-peters) expressed deep concern, stating that the governor’s action "materially harmed the Colorado Democratic Party’s institutional credibility and efforts to defend democratic institutions and election integrity." According to the party, this decision undermines years of work aimed at building trust in Colorado's elections at a time when "democracy and voting rights are under attack across the nation."

Peters, who facilitated a breach by allowing an associate of Mike Lindell, a noted conspiracy theorist and ally of former President Donald Trump, to access Mesa County's election systems, was originally sentenced to roughly nine years in prison. This breach led to nearly one million dollars in costs to replace the compromised equipment, as reported by Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

The case has since become a focal point for Republicans, with Trump himself endorsing Peters' cause, further polarizing public opinion. [Trump's support](https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/posts/115703610330402175) for Peters has been vocal, aligning with his continued narrative that the 2020 election was stolen.

Governor Polis, defending his decision, reduced Peters' sentence from nine to 4.5 years, making her eligible for parole soon. He emphasized to CNN that the original sentence was overly severe and influenced by her political beliefs, stating, "There should be no consideration of what we say — how unpopular it is, how inaccurate it is — in sentencing or in criminal proceedings."

His stance, however, has not been well-received within his own party. Senator Michael Bennet, a Democrat and current candidate for Colorado governor, criticized Polis' decision as "terrible," suggesting it could even [disqualify Polis](https://www.cnn.com/2026/05/18/politics/video/michael-bennet-jared-polis-tina-peters-2020-election-governor-senate-donald-trump-mike-lindell-mesa-county-appointment) from future consideration for a Senate seat.

Eric Maruyama, Polis’ press secretary, argued that "Democracy is strongest when disagreement is met with debate and dialogue, not censorship." Nonetheless, the censure represents a clear division within the party, reflecting broader national tensions over election integrity and political accountability.