Abstract:
In 2013, democratic Colorado state senators John Morse and Angela Giron were recalled from office in the wake of a successful recall campaign launched by grassroots groups angered by the senators' support for newly-enacted gun control legislation. After Morse and Giron were recalled, Democrats retained a one-seat majority in the Senate, sparking an effort to recall Senator Evie Hudak (D). If Hudak was recalled and replaced with a Republican, Democrats would lose control of the Senate by one seat. If Hudak resigned, her successor would be a member of her own party. The case asks students to consider whether Hudak should resign for the good of her party or allow the recall election to move forward, thereby standing up for her record, her beliefs and her political promises.
Learning Objective:
Using the backdrop of Colorado's 2013 gun control laws, this case allows students to explore the efficacy of grassroots campaigns and the power of a vocal minority to affect the political landscape. The case also asks students to consider how elected officials can govern effectively if their legislative voting record is unpopular with their constituents.
