Marxist state rep loses Colorado Democratic primary

The state representative who helped author the Colorado Education Association’s (CEA) anti-capitalism plank last year lost his bid to stay in the state House.

The defeat marks a reversal for the radical left in Colorado, including the CEA and anti-school choice activists.

Tim Hernandez, an avowedly Marxist educator, was appointed to a vacancy in Colorado’s fourth House district last year, and had the backing of the Democratic Socialists of America, the CEA and the AFL-CIO.

The Denver Post reports that the CEA “spent hundreds of thousands of dollars supporting” radical left candidates, such as Hernandez, in anticipation of a showdown over charter schools in Colorado.

He also had the support of Democratic lawmakers, including Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, House Assistant Majority Leader Jennifer Bacon and Sen. Julie Gonzalez, said the Post.

Hernandez, who rose to prominence among Colorado Democrats on the publicity generated from his violent Marxist rhetoric and his anti-capitalist stand, called for a “forceful cultural revolution” against whiteness.

He leaned quite heavily on his Marxist pedigree in public YouTube videos but warned that Marxism alone won’t save the country.

“We like to compete who knows Marx better, who knows these things better, who’s a Leninist. Listen, all right, I’ll give you a real take on this s—t. Kids don’t care,” said Hernandez at a union rally in a video shared by Fox News.

“Your [communist] theory will not save you. The revolution… will happen in the hood. It will not be led by who[ever] understands Lenin best, it will not be led by the deepest Marxists. The revolution will be led by the people… And I say all of this because I’m a teacher.”   

The rhetoric led one state senator to tell The Lion that he notified the local district attorney about the speech, saying “history has shown us how violent this movement can become.” 

Insider Democrats had other ideas, promoting Hernandez to the state House just three months later. 

However, Hernandez was defeated in last week’s primary by Cecelia Espenoza, 54% to 45%. Espenoza, a former appellate judge, also had some Democratic leadership supprting her for the race. 

According to Colorado Newsline, the local business community and the Chamber of Commerce supported Espenoza in the safely Democrat district.  

Hernandez blamed his defeat on murky, dark forces, “who want to ensure we never have healthcare for all, housing for all, justice for all, liberation for all.”  

He campaigned on an Obama-era slogan, albeit in Spanish: “Isi se puede,” which roughly translates into “Yes, we can.” 

The slogan wasn’t enough to save him from his own stumbles, however.  

He attended a rally in support of Hamas on the day Israeli citizens were attacked by the terror group and doubled down by taking to social media to support Hamas and condemn Israel as creating “colonial violence.” 

Fifteen of the state House’s 19 Republicans called for Hernandez’s ouster.  

Instead, Hernandez, issued an apology for hurt feelings. 

“People who are harmed and suffering deserve our respect, and I have to apologize for the way that I caused harm to (the) community by not making that explicitly clear.… My values have and always will remain as solidarity and appreciation for the fundamental value of human life and a collective fight against oppression,” said Hernandez, according to the Post.  

Previously, Hernandez authored a semi-automatic weapons ban during the legislative session, which passed the state House, but was held-up in the Senate.  

The Associated Press called the passage of the ban “historic,” even as it admitted that ban wouldn’t pass the Senate.   

The chances of it passing next year dimmed after Tuesday’s primary, when Hernandez and the bill’s prime sponsor, state Rep. Elisabeth Epps, also a far-left Democrat, were defeated. 

The Denver Post called the defeat of the two more radical Democrats in Colorado “a series of mixed results for more left-wing candidates for state legislative seats.”  

Hernandez highlighted his concession announcement via X with a quote from notorious communist killer Che Guevara in a large red meme that reads, “Hasta la victoria siempre,” or “Ever onward toward victory.”