Like it or not, there are only a few really competitive congressional seats in Colorado. But every two years, parties manage to find candidates willing to run in all the others, even if they have little or no chance of winning.

Republican Archuleta of Valdamar is one of those candidates this cycle. He faces Democratic incumbent Diana DeGette in the state’s bluest district.

But he doesn’t present himself as a traditional Republican.

On a Saturday night, a week before the election, Archuleta was about two stories underground, behind a heavy steel door, kicking off a campaign pub crawl at a speakeasy near Union Station .

“I’m just excited that we’re out tonight and getting out into the neighborhood talking to people and sharing the message of Valdamar,” said Ashley Troxel of the Denver GOP. Troxel hoped the event would change the way people perceive his party. “Republicans can have fun. And most of us are incredibly – especially in Denver, Colorado – very moderate in our opinions and not reflective of how we are often portrayed in the media.

Friends and supporters who attended the pub crawl all knew full well that Denver is a politically difficult place for Republicans, to say the least. There are four times as many registered Democrats as Republicans, although unaffiliated voters make up the largest bloc. DeGette won his last re-election with 80 percent of the votes.

Supporters living in the district said rallies like this provide a “safe space” for like-minded Republicans to come together in the city without having to worry about getting yelled at or arguing.

“It’s kind of a unique event, especially for a campaign, especially for a Republican candidate,” Archuleta said. “But I also feel like Denver Congressional District One is a very unique district.”

People working on Archuleta’s campaign are hoping for change in the district, even as they recognize the slim chance of preventing DeGette from winning a 15th term. Patty McMahon said she found the congresswoman’s long tenure commendable, but she didn’t think serving in Congress should be a lifelong career choice.

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News

“That doesn’t mean I think Diana DeGette is doing anything wrong. I think Diana DeGette has been a very admirable representative for her district,” McMahon said. “However, she has been representing her district for a long time and I think it’s time for a change.”

Others on the pub crawl said they were excited about how Archuleta is changing the narrative of what people think about Republicans.

Archuleta, who is both Native American and Hispanic, works as a massage therapist. He is also chair of the state’s Log Cabin Republicans, which represents the party’s LGBT+ members.

Archuleta knows he’s not a typical Republican — and he thinks that can help — especially in an area like Denver where Republicans “have kind of given up — that it’s not even worth fighting here in Denver or get involved in politics when we can’t abandon this city. There is a lot to do. »

Hart Van Denburg/CPR News

A few days after the pub crawl, at a coffee shop in Santa Fe’s Arts District, Archuleta said he was initially asked to run for the seat last cycle, but said no.

“I started talking to people about it, like, ‘You know what they asked me to do? It’s crazy. And then there were people who started saying to me, ‘Well, you should do it,'” he recalls.

This time he said yes. He is clear-headed about his minimal chances of surprise, but that is not his objective.

“I’m trying to make things happen. I think I’m trying to show the people of the city of Denver that Republicans are not as they’re often portrayed, that a lot of our ideas are solutions that they actually agree with,” he said. -he explained. “I’ve found that when I talk to people, they agree with most of what I say. And so I think we have a lot more support.

However, getting this message across has not been easy. Archuleta raised just over $12,000 for her race. His opponent DeGette raised more than $1 million.

But he accomplished some campaign milestones — like getting a debate with DeGette, something not all candidates in very safe seats do. Archuletta credits Democrats for this.

“Afterwards, outside, we had a long and pleasant conversation. And a lot of that, again, wasn’t even about politics, it was just about two people talking. And I think he’s a nice person. I have nothing against her on a personal level,” he said.

He added that there is also a freedom to compete in an unwinnable race.

Contestants in close competitions need to be careful about everything they say and do.

“Whereas for myself – not that I want to lose votes or I’m going to do something crazy – but if something happens and I’m like, ‘Okay, I want to talk about it,'” he said. -he declared. “You can take more risks like that. So I feel like you can just be more true to who you are.

For example, when the Colorado State Republican Party sent an anti-Pride emailhe spoke out against this proposal and refused the party’s support.

Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

Another benefit of running for a safe Democratic seat: Some of his Democratic friends might actually vote for him.

Even though he won’t be going to Washington, D.C., Archuleta said that doesn’t mean he lost. He really enjoyed getting to know the town he grew up in and its residents better by attending city council meetings and talking to different communities.

“I’ve been to these places and I feel like when I’ve spoken up and said things that are maybe a little more conservative, there are a lot of people in the room who I think appreciated somebody bring that to the conversation,” he said. said.

Overall, Archuleta said it was a learning experience.

Yet when asked if he would do it again, he smiled.

“A few weeks ago, one of my volunteers who was going door to door said to me, ‘You’re going to miss this when it’s over.’ I said to myself, “Do I mean it? I don’t think I am. I think I’ll be happy when it’s all over,” he said with a laugh.