The 6th Congressional District in Colorado is one of the most demographically diverse in the whole of the United States, with schoolchildren originating from 130 different countries and 20% of its population hailing from the Latino community; therefore, it is perhaps unsurprising that one of the most crucial issues in the upcoming battle for the congressional seat of this district is tipped to be immigration reform.
The fight for the congressional seat is taking place between Representative Mike Coffman and Andrew Romanoff, who served on Colorado’s House of Representatives between 2000 and 2008. Coffman has long been opposed to the attempt by President Obama to comprehensively overhaul the nation’s immigration system; however, with the race tightening, he has recently changed this attitude, voting against a motion that would have reduced the president’s authority to offer legal status to undocumented immigrants.
Romanoff, on the other hand, has long been in favor of immigration reform and had Denise Baron, his communications officer, issue a statement with regard to his rival’s sudden change of heart. “We’re glad to see Congressman Coffman follow Andrew Romanoff’s lead,” the statement read. “It’s a shame that it took a strong opponent and a tough election to reverse his votes for the moment and suspend his attack on DACA.”
During their first debate this week, Coffman was hammered by Romanoff over his apparent willingness to change his beliefs for political gain.