Former Colorado Springs councilman Bernie Herpin will take Morse's seat in the Senate, while Pueblo will be represented by former Deputy Police Chief George Rivera.  Democrats, who maintain control of the Legislature, said the losses were purely symbolic. Outspent by about 5-to-1, recall supporters cited a big anti-recall donation from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg to make one of their main points — that Democrats controlling the state Legislature were more interested in listening to the White House and outside interests than their own constituents.
– Colorado voters have fired two clear warning shots in the gun control debate, voting to kick two Democratic state lawmakers who supported stricter firearm laws out of office. Senate president John Morse and Senator Angela Giron will both be replaced with Republicans, following a recall election yesterday, reports the Denver Post. The NRA was a significant force behind the recall, donating more than $300,000 to the effort after both Morse and Giron supported wider background checks and round limits on ammo, reports the Washington Post. "The loss of this senate seat is purely symbolic," said Morse after conceding defeat. Morse and Giron also received about $300,000 from New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, but it was a pittance compared to the total sum raised by gun rights advocates. "Tonight is a victory for the people of the state of Colorado, who have been subject to the overreach of a Democrat agenda on guns, taxes, and accountability to the people," says one of the activists behind the recalls. The recalls will perhaps be heard most loudly by Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, who supported and signed tighter gun control laws and is now facing falling approval ratings, notes the Post.