Rebecca Keltie | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Colorado House of Representatives from District 16 | |
| Assumed office January 8, 2025 | |
| Preceded by | Stephanie Vigil |
| Personal details | |
| Nationality | American |
| Political party | Republican |
Rebecca Keltie is an American politician from Colorado Springs, Colorado, U.S. A Republican, Keltie is the representative for Colorado House of Representatives District 16, which includes part of Colorado Springs in El Paso County.[1]
Background and career
[edit]Keltie retired from the United States Navy after having served for 21 years. She has served on the CSU Extension Advisory Board for her county.[2]
In 2022, Keltie volunteered for an election denial organization named U.S. Election Integrity Plan, participating in canvassing efforts to find instances of alleged election fraud.[3][4] She has also promoted conspiracy theories over election security.[5]
In an April 2025 leaked Signal group chat, Keltie joked about Democratic Rep. Yara Zokaie's outfit when a photo of her was uploaded to the chat, suggesting that Zokaie dressed like a prostitute, saying "I thought it was come in Jeans day not in just your underwear day. That’s horrible and we need a professional dress code! And NO I don’t mean the 'oldest profession' style!".[6]
In May 2025, Keltie said on a conservative podcast that "Colorado needs to be burned to the ground" during a conversation about legislation and state policies. She also said in the podcast that Democrats were "evil", adding that "It’s very difficult for me to think that they even have a soul. I’m not even sure they even have a soul."[7] Keltie later defended her remarks.[7]
Elections
[edit]In 2022, she was a candidate to represent Colorado's 5th congressional district but was unsuccessful.[2]
In the 2024 Republican primary election for Colorado House of Representatives District 16, Keltie ran unopposed.[8]
In the 2024 general election, the initial results showed Keltie defeating Democratic incumbent Stephanie Vigil, with Keltie having received 20,641 votes (50.01%) and Vigil having received 20,635 votes (49.99%), a margin of six votes.[9] This narrow margin triggered an automatic recount, which took place during the first week in December. The recount resulted in Keltie defeating Vigil by three votes.[4][10][11][12]
References
[edit]- ^ Colorado Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission (March 18, 2022). "Colorado House District 16 (2021)" (PDF). State of Colorado. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ a b "State House District 16". Colorado Newsline. 2024. Archived from the original on November 5, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ "The election denial movement is now going door to door". 91.9 FM WUOT, Your Public Radio Station. 2022-07-21. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ a b Wilson, Sara (2024-12-06). "Recount confirms Rebecca Keltie's victory over Steph Vigil in Colorado House • Colorado Newsline". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ Swallow, Owen. "Nine Election-Denying Republicans Were Victorious in Colorado's Election Last Week". Colorado Times Recorder. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
- ^ "In private group chat, GOP lawmakers made crude jokes about a Democratic colleague's clothing". Colorado Public Radio. 2025-08-06. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ a b Cunnington, Tyler (2025-05-09). "'Colorado needs to be burned to the ground': Legislator stands by fiery comments on podcast". KRDO. Retrieved 2025-08-06.
- ^ "June 25, 2024 primary election: State Representative District 16 Republican Primary". Colorado Secretary of State. October 15, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ "November 5, 2024 general election State Representative District 16". Colorado Secretary of State. November 27, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ McRae, Jennifer (November 26, 2024). "Colorado secretary of state announces mandatory recount of state House District 16 race". Archived from the original on December 1, 2024. Retrieved December 3, 2024.
- ^ Griswold, Jena (December 5, 2024). "Secretary of State Jena Griswold Announces Outcomes in Colorado State House District 16, 19 Race Recounts" (Press release). Denver. Colorado Secretary of State. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.
- ^ Birkeland, Bente (December 5, 2024). "State House District 16 race in Colorado Springs officially decided by three votes after recount". Colorado Public Radio. Archived from the original on December 6, 2024. Retrieved December 6, 2024.