REFORM: Rebuilding the Guardrails of Republican Government

By Chaz Evanson, Candidate for Governor of Colorado

“The accumulation of all powers… in the same hands… may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.” James Madison, Federalist No. 47

If Restore is the call to remember who we are, then Reform is the action plan to fix what’s broken. It is not enough to return to our roots, we must repair the constitutional guardrails that once kept power limited, leaders accountable, and liberty protected. Colorado doesn’t just need better laws; it needs better structure, one that honors our Constitution, revives local self-governance, and reestablishes checks on runaway power.

A House Out of Order. Over the last century, and especially in the last few decades, our system of self-government has eroded. The original structure of a constitutional republic has been steadily replaced by centralized control, executive overreach, legislative negligence, and party-driven politics. The worst offender is not just the executive, but the legislature too. Many in the executive branch have governed by decree, using emergency powers and executive orders to sidestep the people’s will. But the legislature allowed it. They abandoned their role as a check on executive abuse, rubber-stamped mandates, failed to defend your rights, and surrendered your voice to political machinery. Both branches are guilty of enabling tyranny. Both have drifted from serving the people to protecting the system. This is not self-government, it is structural decay masquerading as leadership.

The 17th Amendment and the Collapse of Federalism. The Founders designed a system in which the states, through their legislatures, directly influenced federal policy by appointing U.S. Senators. That essential check was obliterated by the 17th Amendment, which removed this function from state legislatures and handed it over to popular vote. As a result, U.S. Senators no longer serve the states that formed the union; they serve national party machines. The same erosion has infected Colorado. Executive overreach has increased while our Legislature has bowed to political pressure and federal influence. Emergency powers have become permanent. Rural voices are silenced. Local control is sacrificed for convenience. And instead of representing the people, legislators serve platforms and party bosses. This is a betrayal of the republican form of government we are guaranteed under the Constitution.

Colorado Is Not a Republic, It’s a Democracy, and That’s the Problem. The result of this structural breakdown is plain: Colorado no longer functions as a constitutional republic. We are operating under a form of democracy that the Founders warned us about, one where 50% plus one vote becomes the ultimate authority. In a true republic, the law is supreme, and the rights of every citizen, especially those in the minority, are protected against the passions of the day. But in a raw democracy, the majority is the law. And in Colorado, that’s exactly what we have.

Whether it’s radical mandates passed by one-vote margins, urban centers dictating policy to rural communities, or constitutional amendments enacted by slim popular majorities, the system is now ruled by raw numbers rather than enduring principles. This is not liberty. This is not justice. This is majority rule without moral restraint, and it leads directly to the silencing of dissent, the erosion of individual rights, and the destruction of local sovereignty.

James Madison called this the “tyranny of the majority.” Benjamin Franklin warned that democracy is “two wolves and a lamb voting on what’s for dinner.” In Colorado, that’s exactly how it works. A handful of large counties can now override the rest of the state. The rights of parents, small business owners, gun owners, and rural families are routinely sacrificed to the political whims of the majority. And because the legislature and executive are working in tandem, often from the same party, there is no one left to pump the brakes.

The system is broken, not because it’s malfunctioning, but because it has been reengineered to prioritize power over principle. Colorado no longer protects the voice of all its people; it rewards the dominance of some over others. And until we reform the structure, this injustice will only grow more entrenched.

Reform Starts with the Structure. As Governor, I will lead a bold and lawful effort to restore republican governance at the state level, not just in title, but in reality. That includes three foundational structural reforms: a state-level electoral college, a reformed state senate chosen by counties, and a county-based ratification process for major constitutional changes.

A Colorado State Electoral College, By the Counties, For the People. Just as the President of the United States is elected through the Electoral College, I propose a similar model at the state level. Each Colorado county would be granted electoral votes based on population, but with minimum representation guaranteed for even the smallest counties. This ensures that no region, urban or rural, is politically erased. Under this model, every corner of Colorado has a voice in electing the executive. It ends the tyranny of population centers dominating the rest of the state and restores the founding principle that government must be accountable to all, not just the majority.

A Reformed Senate: County-Appointed, Not Party-Controlled. The Colorado State Senate should once again serve as a house of restraint and review, not a rubber stamp for political agendas. I will work to establish a system whereby Colorado’s counties, through their Boards of County Commissioners, appoint State Senators, restoring the balance between local governments and the state capital. Senators would no longer be beholden to donors or party leadership but would answer directly to the counties that select them. This mirrors the Founders’ original design and ensures that laws affecting all Coloradans are reviewed by representatives of our diverse regions, not dictated by Denver insiders.

A County-Based Ratification System for Constitutional Changes. No fundamental change to the structure or laws of Colorado should be passed without broad geographic consent. That’s why I will fight to establish a county-based ratification process for any constitutional amendment or major law. This means a majority of Colorado’s 64 counties, either through their elected BOCCs or through local referenda, must approve changes before they take effect. It is a safeguard against radical top-down control, and it re-centers the people in the lawmaking process. The Constitution guarantees a republican form of government, not mob rule. This plan keeps that promise.

Reining in Executive Power, and Legislative Cowardice. As Governor, I will not abuse executive authority, I will restrict it. I will only use executive orders to restore constitutional rights, not to impose new mandates. I will consult with both the Legislature and local county governments before issuing any emergency directives. I will seek legislation that requires legislative ratification for any extended emergency powers and will publicly oppose any representative who refuses to defend your liberty. Executive power was never meant to rule over the people, and neither was legislative silence. Both must be held accountable, and I will lead by example.

Party Tyranny Must End. One of the gravest threats to freedom today is the idolization of political parties. George Washington warned in his Farewell Address that party spirit would divide the nation, breed hostility, and extinguish public virtue. We are watching his prophecy unfold in real time. Loyalty to party has replaced loyalty to principle. The system is rigged to preserve incumbents and shut out independent voices. I will work to eliminate barriers for unaffiliated candidates, establish fair and open debate access, and ensure that elections are secure, transparent, and trustworthy. The people, not the parties, must be sovereign again.

Reform Means Repentance. This isn’t just a political mission, it’s a moral one. Reform begins with repentance: a sober recognition that we have drifted, compromised, and allowed corruption to take root. We must reject the love of power, call out lawlessness on all sides, and submit our governance to the truth. As Proverbs says, “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.” No structure can save us unless it is built on virtue. No leader can redeem us unless he bows to God.

A Republic, If You Can Keep It. Benjamin Franklin, when asked what kind of government the Founders had created, replied: “A republic, if you can keep it.” We have not kept it. But we can rebuild it. And we must. Let us once again be a state of laws, not of men. A state of counties, not of courtiers. A people governed by justice, not ambition. Let us reform what is broken and reestablish a government that serves under God and under the people.

This is the Reform we need.