Six of 11 Colorado counties favor secession

Read the Denver Post coverage here.  Here is the story's lede:

Weld County Commissioner Sean Conway said the 51st state movement is halted — at least in his county — but there were positive benefits from the secession campaign. 

"Weld County voters said this is an option we shouldn't pursue and we won't pursue it," Conway said Tuesday night. "But we will continue to look at the problems of the urban and rural divide in this state." 

Weld County voters Tuesday soundly rejected the 51st State Initiative 58 percent to 42 percent. 

But in six of the 11 counties where the secession question appeared on the ballot, the measure passed by strong margins.

The counties voting in favor of secession were Kit Carson, Phillips, Sedgwick, Yuma, Washington, and Cheyenne.  This Denver Post story has the details of the vote in each of those counties, and it features this summary of the issue:

Fort Lupton Mayor Tommy Holton said Tuesday night that secession probably would not succeed. But he said the publicity would shed light on rural Colorado's grievances. 

"We not only want to be at the table," he said, "but we want a voice at the table as well."

Proponents say they have become alienated from the more urbanized Front Range and are unhappy with laws passed during this year's legislative session, including stricter gun laws and new renewable-energy standards. 

"The heart of the 51st State Initiative is simple: We just want to be left alone to live our lives without heavy-handed restrictions from the state Capitol," said 51st state advocate Jeffrey Hare.

Both Governor John Hickenlooper and his Republican opponent offered comments on the issue in coverage of yesterday's vote, and both seem somewhat conciliatory in relation to the secession movement's desire that rural Coloradans not be so marginalized.

New York Times coverage of other Colorado election issues does not mention the secession vote.  Commentary from the Daily Beast is here, and coverage from Fox News is here.  Here is a story on 11 areas/places that want to secede.

Read an earlier post about the Colorado secession vote here.  Read an earlier post about some California counties' dalliance with secession here.