Rep.-Elect Betsy Markey

Party: Democrat
State: Colorado - 4th District
Race results: Markey is helping turn Colorado blue by beating a well-known conservative incumbent.

Colorado's 4th Congressional District is represented by Republican Rep. Marilyn Musgrave, who has earned a national reputation as an outspoken opponent of gay marriage. While this seat should be easy for Republicans to hold, Musgrave has won reelection by very narrow margins because of her polarizing conservative positions on social issues. This year, Betsy Markey, a former aide to Senator Ken Salazar (D-CO), is challenging Musgrave. Markey has the experience and political savvy to win.

Markey has had a diverse career. After working for several years as a Congressional staffer, she moved to the State Department, where she became the first Director of Computer Security and Training. In the late 1980s, she left government service to start a successful Internet start-up, Syscom Systems. After selling that business, Markey launched a popular restaurant in Fort Collins, CO before becoming a Regional Director for Senator Salazar.

In Congress, Markey will be an ardent advocate of sensible national security policies in Congress. On the war in Iraq, Markey advocates immediately beginning to withdraw U.S. troops, one brigade at a time:

"It is my position that the Democrats and Republicans in Congress must stand up to the President and must deny to him the ability to further harm our nation in his reckless continuance of a failed policy. We can effect this by limiting funding to only those costs necessary to ensure the safe withdrawal of our brave troops and to their care and support once they are back home. This is too important to leave to the future. We the people, and our Congress, must act now."

Markey places a high priority on caring for our returning troops:

"I recognize that the issues our military and veteran communities face are universal and cross political and party lines, and I will place their care among my most important and pressing priorities while in office. Therefore, I will reach out to my fellow Democrats as well as Republicans and Independents to pass legislation providing for and protecting our nation's sons and daughters in uniform."

Markey's experience as a successful business woman make her a strong candidate in an election where pocketbook issues such as energy prices and healthcare are likely to be prominent. However, Rep. Musgrave is an experienced campaigner and this race will be close. In the past, last minute spending by the national Republican Party has helped Musgrave eke out narrow victories. Markey needs the funds to counter this.

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