Weekly Email 6/1/26

Easter Hill, Grand Junction, CO

Dear Restore the Balance Community,

June is here, and so are the primaries. If you've been meaning to get more involved in the democratic process, this is your moment.

Topic of the Week: Get Out the Vote — Why June Primaries Matter

We talk a lot about elections in November. But the decisions made in June often matter just as much, and far fewer people show up.

Primary elections determine who appears on the general election ballot. When turnout is low, a small, motivated slice of the electorate ends up making choices for everyone else. That's exactly the dynamic that fuels the kind of extremism RTB was founded to push back against. Primaries are where the needle moves, or doesn't.

A note for unaffiliated voters in Colorado:

If you are registered as unaffiliated or independent, you can vote in the June primary, but there's an important rule to know: you may vote in only one party's primary, not both. You will receive ballots for both parties in the mail, but you must return only one. Returning both ballots will disqualify your vote entirely.

So choose the primary where your participation matters most to you, and send in that ballot only.

Not sure if you're registered or what's on your ballot? Check here.

Primary ballots are already being mailed. The primary election is June 30, 2026. Don't wait, and turn in your ballot.

Member Insights: How Respectfulness Works

Submitted by RTB member Penny Creasy:

"A Spectrum technician came to my door, a young man who, in the course of conversation, mentioned he supported a conservative veterans' organization. We clearly held different political views. But instead of letting that end the conversation, I asked him to tell me more. We talked. We disagreed, respectfully. By the time he left, he told me he was glad to have met me. I returned the compliment, and meant it."

It was a small moment. But it was proof that it works. You don't have to agree with someone to have a good conversation with them. Professionalism, curiosity, and a little humor go a long way."

This is exactly what David French was talking about last Thursday at RTB's Spring Gathering. One conversation, one person at a time.

Stay Tuned, RTB Candidate Ratings Coming Soon

RTB will be publishing our candidate ratings on or around June 8. As always, our ratings are nonpartisan and based on candidates' responses to our principles questionnaire. We encourage every voter to use them as one tool among many as you make your decisions this primary season.

Watch your inbox, and stay tuned to our social media pages for updates.

The Social Hour is Back!

We skipped May's social hour for the Spring Gathering, but we're back for June! Come connect with fellow RTB members over drinks in a relaxed, informal setting.

Wednesday, June 17, 2026

4:30–6:30 PM

The Ale House, Grand Junction

No formal agenda, though this month we'll be sharing some follow-up questions on David French's keynote for an informal discussion. If May 21 left you thinking, come ready to keep that conversation going.We hope to see you there!

Upcoming Events

• June 7 — Women Decide: The Colorado Governor's Forum Free, live virtual forum with confirmed primary candidates for Governor of Colorado:

  • Michael Bennet, Scott Bottoms, Barbara Kirkmeyer, and Phil Weiser

  • 7:00 PM MT

  • Free & open to all Coloradans

  • Streaming on Zoom and Rocky Mountain PBS's YouTube channel

  • Register and submit your questions here.

  • Shared for informational purposes only. Does not constitute an endorsement of any candidate or political party.

• June 17 — RTB Social Hour | 4:30–6:30 PM | The Ale House, Grand Junction

• June 23 & June 26 — Mesa County Election Tours Sign up here.

• June 30 — Colorado Primary Election. Check your registration and ballot here.

• November 3 — Colorado General Election

Member Recommendations: 

• Music:

  • The Times They Are A-Changin' — Bob Dylan A timeless call to civic engagement. Feels especially relevant heading into a pivotal election cycle.

  • Man in the Mirror — This week's pick feels right on two levels, in honor of the recently released Michael Jackson biopic, and because the message couldn't be more fitting: change starts with the person looking back at you in the mirror. 

• Video:

  • How to Disagree Productively and Find Common Ground — Julia Dhar, TED Talk. A short, compelling watch on how to have better arguments and actually change minds. Fits the week's theme perfectly.

• Book:

  • How Democracies Die — Steven Levitsky & Daniel Ziblatt Two Harvard political scientists examine how democracies erode from within, not through coups but through the gradual normalization of extremism. 

On the Radar: Local Government Meetings

• Board of County Commissioners: Tuesdays @ 9am

• Grand Junction City Council: 1st & 3rd Wednesdays @ 5:30pm

• Town of Palisade Board of Trustees Meeting: 2nd & 4th Tuesdays @ 6pm

• Fruita City Council: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 7pm

• D51 School Board: 1st & 3rd Tuesdays @ 5pm (public comments accepted on 3rd Tuesdays only)

• Mesa County Library Board: Last Thursdays @ 5:30pm

• Public Health Board: Monthly Tuesdays @ 3pm

Thank you to all who have submitted photos, podcasts, and video recommendations. We will publish a recommendation in each category every week. Please keep them coming!

Want to Contribute to Our Weekly Newsletter?

Our best recommendations come from you! Have you read a thought-provoking book? Listened to an insightful podcast? Found an article worth sharing? Captured a beautiful photo of Western Colorado? We want to feature your discoveries and perspectives in our Monday Update.

You can share resources, suggest topics you'd like RTB to address, or submit photos from around our community. All submissions can be anonymous or attributed to you; it's your choice.

Submit your recommendations here

Let's learn from each other and build a more informed community together.Don't forget to vote in 2026: June primaries, November general.