Inside a Colorado Caucus

Donald Trump is furious over losing to Ted Cruz in Colorado. Of the 37 Republican delegates up for grabs in Colorado, 3 are party leaders, 21 were elected at district conventions, while another 13 were elected over this past weekend at the Colorado State Republican Convention. According to the Denver Post, each of the 34 elected delegates is supporting Ted Cruz.

Donald Trump's reaction Monday morning on Fox News was to label the Colorado process a "crooked deal" and to claim that Coloradans "weren't given a vote." Trump either fundamentally doesn't understand the process of becoming the Republican nominee or, more likely, is attempting to stoke the emotions of his followers and push a false victim-based narrative. I was at a precinct-level Colorado caucus, and Mr. Trump, I voted.

A couple of weeks prior to the Colorado caucuses to be held on Super Tuesday, March 1, I received a flyer at my door telling me when and where my precinct was holding its Republican caucus. I had never attended a caucus before, partially because in previous cycles it seemed apparent who the Republican candidate would be so I viewed attending a caucus as a curiosity, not something that I needed to do for my preferred candidate.

This election was different. I have always been a small government constitutional conservative and, as such, I have been a Cruz supporter since he first entered the Senate. This election cycle, I attended the caucus with two goals in mind: try to convince my neighbors to vote for Cruz and dissuade any potential support for Trump.

I entered my precinct's meeting place the evening of March 1 and was greeted by a neighbor of mine sitting at a registration table. In front of her was a list of all of the registered Republicans in our precinct. She verified I was on the list and gave me a sticker to wear as my credentials. The caucus was open to all registered Republicans in our precinct.