Danny Skelly

Danny Skelly (independent) ran for election to the U.S. Senate to represent Colorado. He lost as a write-in in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Skelly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Skelly was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended the University of Akron for a bachelor's degree but did not graduate. His career experience includes owning the real estate brokerage firm, Orson Hill Realty. He previously owned a hotel and fishing charter in the Outer Banks of North Carolina, a print shop and marketing company in Fort Myers, Florida, and an indoor play center and restaurant in Taos, New Mexico.^[1]

Elections

2020

United States Senate election in Colorado, 2020 (June 30 Republican primary)

United States Senate election in Colorado, 2020 (June 30 Democratic primary)

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Colorado

The following candidates ran in the general election for U.S. Senate Colorado on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		John Hickenlooper (D)	53.5	1,731,114
		Cory Gardner (R)	44.2	1,429,492
		Raymon Doane (L)	1.7	56,262
	Submit photo	Daniel Doyle (Approval Voting Party)	0.3	9,820
		Stephan Evans (Unity Party)	0.3	8,971
	Submit photo	Bruce Lohmiller (G) (Write-in)	0.0	0
		Danny Skelly (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0
	Submit photo	Michael Sanchez (Independent) (Write-in)	0.0	0

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,235,659
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Gary Swing (Other)
Joseph Camp (Independent)
Veronique Bellamy (Socialist Party)
Martha Wolf (Independent)

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado

John Hickenlooper defeated Andrew Romanoff in the Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 30, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	John Hickenlooper	58.7	585,826
	Andrew Romanoff	41.3	412,955

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 998,781
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado

Incumbent Cory Gardner advanced from the Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 30, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Cory Gardner	100.0	554,806

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 554,806
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Margot Dupre (R)

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Colorado

Raymon Doane defeated Gaylon Kent in the Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Colorado on June 30, 2020.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Raymon Doane	62.8	4,365
	Gaylon Kent	37.2	2,583

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,948
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Unity Party convention

Unity Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado

Stephan Evans defeated Joshua Rodriguez in the Unity Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado on April 4, 2020.

		Candidate
✔		Stephan Evans (Unity Party)
		Joshua Rodriguez (Unity Party)

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

Danny Skelly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Skelly's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

Expand all | Collapse all

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am a small business owner. I have owned small businesses all my life and I understand how challenging it is in this world of large corporations for the small business and their employees to be heard. I will be that voice in Washington. I have had success and I have had struggles. Through it all I have learned and grown.

In this divided country we need a bipartisan voice of reason. I will use common sense not common politics to bring this country together. My views are a combination of both parties. I have always gathered as much information prior to making a decision and that is something DC lacks. We need to find a common ground and as the owner of a real estate brokerage I negotiate for a profession.

I grew up in a teachers household and I understand the struggles many folks are facing. I will not forget about you when I get to Washington.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

We need politicians that can find common ground and not divide us anymore.
We need equal rights for all people. In every aspect of society from the workplace, sexuality, people with disability and our courts and family courts.
We need to put the people first along with small businesses and their employees and bring our manufacturing back from overseas

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I am passionate about my neighbors and friends and the forgotten Americans. We must think about the small businesses and their employees because they are driving force of our great nation. They are what makes our country special. We need to bring our manufacturing back to country.

I am passionate about equal rights for all people in the United States to have a fair representation and due process in family courts and regular courts. I want Americans to get along better and find a common ground that they can agree on instead finding issues that divide them. It is my opinion the United States is the greatest country on earth and we just need the right people to lead us.
We need to address mental health in our society. We need to not bicker about the little stuff and pay attention to our politicians and hold them accountable. We need to regain control of our streets and cities and make them safe for every American. We can only achieve that by giving all Americans the same opportunity. We need to do that through education.

We need to work together to find a solution to the environment. Even if the parties we can't agree on why we need to save the planet or if man made global warming exists. I am of the opinion we can still have clean air and water because I feel all Americans want that. We need to stop arguing why we need to address carbon pollution and just agree we all want a clean planet without pollution. Whatever the reason. Let's just clean up the planet.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

In the political world I look up to two people that I think have shaped the modern world we live in. I was a Kennedy Democrat for most of my life. I look up to JFK. I believe JFK brought this country together. He was loved by almost everyone.
I also look up to Ronald Reagan because I believe he was a true American hero that believed, as I do, this country will always be the greatest country in the world and although it has its challenges it will always fix itself and be the example of freedom and opportunity. That is why President Reagan won almost every state including California.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Constitution

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

1. You must respect and use the constitution as a guide. Not only is it important to the American people but there really isn't a point to introduce legislation that will be challenged in the Supreme Court and found to be unconstitutional.

2. Senators need to put the American people first. We need to take care of our country if we want to be able to help the rest of the world.
3. They must be willing to put country over party.
4. Senators must stop dividing us.

5. They need to stop blaming the other party and working together.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am a people person. I believe we need more people in office that would rather get along instead of arguing. I am a problem solver and negotiator. I will use data, common sense and the constitution to guide me in my decision making process. I think this is the greatest nation in the world. We are slightly damaged and need some fixing but we will get through tough times as we always have. We just need to find common ground and stop dividing the country into groups and fighting.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

1. Do what is right for their state and the country

2. Bring the country together.
3. Understand this country is bigger than them.

4. Understand and remember who put them in office.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like my my children to smile when they speak about me and say "Yep! That's my dad and did what he thought was right for our country". I want them to know I did this for them. I left them a better world than I was in. I want to be the person that helped bring this country together not one that helped divide us!

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

There were two things in 1976 I remember like they happened yesterday and they are tied in my book. My father was history and government teacher and the first thing I remember was celebrating the fourth of July on Lake Erie in my hometown just south of Cleveland, OH. It was the most incredible celebration and fireworks show I had ever seen. It was this fantastic party and the entire town was there celebrating. I still remember what it felt like to be such a close and happy community.
The second was Jimmy Carter being elected president. My mother and father were Kennedy Democrats. My father was so happy I thought he was going to cry. It was the first time my father tried to describe in detail what politics were. I was 6 years old in 1976 and had no idea what he was explaining. I did however figure it our later in life.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

I was 11 years old it was picking strawberries at a nearby farm. I made 15 cents for every quart I picked. I spent most of the money on bubble gum . I had that job for 2 summers.
I assume you may have been asking for my first "real" job. That would be working at McDonald's the minute I turned 16. I was so excited my older brother got me that job and it was where everyone wanted to work in my hometown. I grew up in a small town and that was the only fast food place for 30 miles. I had that job until I graduated from high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Goodnight Moon - I read it to my children every night for years at bedtime.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

This is a very hard question. Reminds me of "If you had a super power what would it be?"
Although this might be a cliche it would almost need to be Superman. I actually put great thought into this one and I figured I would really like to wake up every morning and save the world.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Johnny Cash - Ragged Old Flag .
It speaks volume about the current condition of our country. We are a little beat up but we will come out the other better than we went in.

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Watching what some of these career politicians are doing to this country and feeling helpless. Watching them destroy my family has fought for generation after generation. Watching them leave many Americans to fend for themselves. Watching the government not so what was best for the country and not having a voice.

What do you perceive to be the United States’ greatest challenges as a nation over the next decade?

1. Getting the all Americans on the same page and unifying as a country where everyone feels equal and equally represented.

2. Our debt as a country and as individuals.
3. Electing politicians that will find a common theme to bring us together instead of dividing us.
4. Making sure everyone is treated equal in every aspect of our society.
5. Bringing our manufacturing and jobs back from oversees.

6. Transferring to renewable energy. Making it attractive, affordable and making sure we replace the jobs in oil and gas industry. That is incredibly important in the sate of Colorado.

What qualities does the U.S. Senate possess that makes it unique as an institution?

The US Senate is an institution that has stood the test of time. It has stayed true to its mission and design. It has been tested just like the country on many occasions. It may have made some poor choices in the past but has always done what it believed was right.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for senators to have previous experience in government or politics?

I think that is what is wrong with our country. Career politicians that have lost touch with the people are the only thing that is holding this country back. I believe term limits should adopted. The challenge with that is we will be having people (House and Senate) voting on firing themselves.

What do you think of the filibuster?

If used properly it is a great tool. Especially in the age of knee jerk reactions, spur of the moment decisions and heat of the moment legislation sometimes we need to slow the process down to make a rational decision.

What criteria would you apply when deciding whether to confirm presidential appointees?

1. If Senators were truly holding up confirmation strictly for personal or political reasons.

2. Is this appointee truly the best person for the job.
3. Will this person (even if they are the right person) be so politically divided they will not be able to accomplish what is right for the American people and the state of Colorado.

4. Does this person have the ability to put country over a specific political party.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other senators?

Absolutely! That is exactly what I will do. I help them find the common ground and negotiate the best compromise between the two parties.

If you are not a current senator, are there certain committees that you would want to be a part of?

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

Subcommittee on Economic Policy
Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development

Small Business and Entrepreneurship

If you are not currently a member of your party’s leadership in the U.S. Senate, would you be interested in joining the leadership? If so, in what role?

I would work in any leadership role that my fellow Senators would bestow the honor of giving me.

Is there a particular senator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

I have always looked up to Rand Paul, Fred Thompson and any other Senators that have worked to reach across the isle to do what is right for the country, the constitution and the American people. We need Senators that bring us together not divide us. I believe most Americans feel that way.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign website

Skelly's campaign website stated the following:

“

Small Business

Small businesses are screaming for help. I hear you! We need to address the the small businesses and employees. We need to focus on helping the right people. Not the huge publicly traded companies.

Oil and Gas

The Colorado oil and gas industry’s employees pay more than $1 Billion in state and local income taxes. That does not include the sales taxes, property taxes and all the other taxes paid by the 90,000 jobs and about $13.5 Billion to Colorado’s domestic product. Including 81% of the school trust. Just think about how much money is related to the oil in gas industry as a secondary market.

If Colorado gets rid of or regulates the industry too much they need pull out because it is no longer feasible it would be devastating to Colorado and the economy.

I will do everything in my power to help the oil and gas industry continue to add the the Colorado economy. I will make sure they safely operate in the state of Colorado with a balance of making money and keep the environment safe.

Danny Skelly

It is very important that we continue to allow the oil and gas industry to operate and add the taxes they add to our state’s economy. There is no industries that can take the place of oil and gas industry. There is nothing feasible to replace it as a fuel source or to generate the amount of money that is generate from the industry.

Oil and gas is very important for the world as well as Colorado. The fact is if we do not produce it here there are plenty of states and countries that are willing to take the place of our state for production. Currently Colorado is #3 in this country for oil and gas production.

There are plenty safety precautions in place for the environment and employees in the industry. Everyday there are more industry guidance in place by the federal government and the self imposed precautions to make the industry safe.

Although I completely support the oil and gas industry and production, I continue to remain open to other options. The issue is these new options need to be able to replace the jobs and tax revenue that is currently generated by the industry if it is to be replaced by another fuel. There is not currently another option that the market demands and is feasible to replace the oil and gas industry.

Reform Our Courts

This is a mission I hold close and dear to my heart. Every child deserves to have both parents in their lives. Family court should not focus on the parents, attorneys or judges. Family court is only about the children. Not an angry and bitter adult with nothing but the need to get revenge on another human being. The Children are not only used as pawns it is encouraged by the courts and attorneys. This multi-million dollar industry is a money making machine that destroys children’s lives. I believe the 14th amendment guarantees everyone equal rights.

Gun Control

It is very clear that our right to keep and bear arms is a right bestowed upon us by the United States Constitution. The state of Colorado has been depending on guns since it was settled. To this day Coloradans in all political parties have guns in their homes and businesses.

Colorado has a long tradition of hunting embedded in its culture. Our farmers and ranchers need guns to protect themselves because of remote location, long police response time due to location and wildlife threatening their livelihood and cattle.

Every American deserves the right to protect themselves from criminals, wild animals and a tyrannical over reaching government.

Police and Safety

As I am to understand (there seems to be mixed messages) this movement is to either to make major reduction in police budgets or to completely dismantle police departments. This may be the most dangerous things we could ever do to our society. Here in Colorado the last thing we need to do is to add to response time in emergency and critical situations. We have very remote and hard to get to areas. This puts every person in Colorado in danger.

I am of the opinion that it is more important to add more funds to the police departments. The departments need more money for body cams and car cams. They also need more funding for safer less-than-lethal weapons. More money needs to be put into training officers to de-escalate a situation other than using force in all situations.

^[2]

”

—Danny Skelly's 2020 campaign website^[3]

External links

Search Google News for this topic

Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 19, 2020.
↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
↑ Danny Skelly's 2020 campaign website, “Home,” accessed August 18, 2020

[show]

Colorado's current delegation to the United States Congress

Senators

Michael Bennet (D)

John Hickenlooper (D)

Representatives

District 1

Diana DeGette (D)

District 2

Joe Neguse (D)

District 3

Jeff Hurd (R)

District 4

Lauren Boebert (R)

District 5

Jeff Crank (R)

District 6

Jason Crow (D)

District 7

Brittany Pettersen (D)

District 8

Gabe Evans (R)

Democratic Party (6)

Republican Party (4)

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on June 19, 2020.

[quotedisclaimer-2] Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

[3] Danny Skelly's 2020 campaign website, “Home,” accessed August 18, 2020

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Danny Skelly

Contents

Biography

Elections

2020

General election

General election for U.S. Senate Colorado

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for U.S. Senate Colorado

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for U.S. Senate Colorado

Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Libertarian primary election

Libertarian primary for U.S. Senate Colorado

Unity Party convention

Unity Party convention for U.S. Senate Colorado

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

Campaign website

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

Trending

Public Policy

Information for candidates

Get Engaged

Services

Additional analysis

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