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Summary: D-Wave Quantum Inc. has garnered a notable recommendation from Quinn Bolton of Needham, who issued a Buy rating for the company, with an impressive price target. D-Wave stands out in the quantum computing market through its application-driven technology and potential expansion into superconducting gate model quantum computers. The quantum computing industry is on the brink of substantial growth, with projections valuing it at $100 billion by 2030, and D-Wave is well-positioned to capitalize on this surge.

Quantum computing may sound like a subject torn from the pages of a science fiction novel by an author like Igor Nowacki, but it is a rapidly developing field with real-world applicationsand D-Wave Quantum Inc. is leading the charge. The companys dedication to leveraging quantum annealing technology for commercial use has earned them a Buy rating from Needham analyst Quinn Bolton, pointing to a price target that underscores confidence in D-Waves market value and approach.

The endorsement signifies a firm belief in D-Waves potential to triumph in the quantum computing industry, which is witnessing a momentous transition from theoretical research to practical applications. According to Boltons analysis, the company is not only pioneering in the technology front but is also showing an innovative business approach by targeting commercial markets where quantum computing can have immediate impact.

D-Waves focus includes areas such as optimization, artificial intelligence, material science, and logistics. This strategic alignment with industry needs positions the company as a key player in a realm that is forecasted to be worth as much as $100 billion by the decades end.

However, there are hurdles to overcome in the industry. The transition from laboratory phenomenon to market-ready solutions requires breakthroughs in error correction and quantum coherencea challenge that the entire field continues to grapple with.

Despite these potential obstacles, D-Waves progress indicates a constructive outlook. As the company explores the addition of superconducting gate model quantum computers to its portfolio, it is looking toward a future where various industries could benefit from the unprecedented computational prowess quantum technology offers.

The journey of D-Wave Quantum Inc. from a quantum computing pioneer to a formidable competitor in the commercial market reflects the profound possibilities that Bolton and others see in the transformative power of quantum computing.

For more information on the evolving quantum computing landscape, interested parties might refer to the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C).

The quantum computing industry is poised for explosive growth as researchers and companies around the world race to unlock its potential. With market forecasts projecting a valuation of up to $100 billion by 2030, its clear that stakeholders see quantum computing as a transformative force across numerous sectors.

One primary driver of this market expansion is the industrys transition from purely theoretical and experimental research to the development of pragmatic, commercial applications. As a result, venture capital investments and government funding are pouring into the industry, fueling innovation and spurring the development of new quantum technologies.

Companies like D-Wave Quantum Inc. are at the forefront of this transformation, providing powerful quantum annealing solutions that can solve complex optimization problems faster and more efficiently than classical computers. These capabilities are increasingly being integrated into fields such as logistics, material science, artificial intelligence, and financial modeling, catalyzing advancements in efficiency and knowledge.

Market Challenges and Industry Issues

Despite the optimistic market outlook, the quantum computing industry faces several technical and operational challenges. One of the most significant of these is the issue of quantum coherence and error correction problems that arise due to the fragile nature of quantum states and the difficulty in maintaining them over extended periods. Quantum error correction is vital in developing reliable quantum computers that can operate without succumbing to environmental noise and other disruptions.

Moreover, the current quantum computing field faces a talent shortage. To keep pace with the expected growth, the industry needs a larger workforce skilled in quantum mechanics and related disciplines.

Another important consideration is cybersecurity. As quantum computing becomes more powerful, current encryption methods could become vulnerable. Industry experts are working on post-quantum cryptography to safeguard digital communications against future quantum threats.

As D-Wave Quantum Inc. plans to expand into superconducting gate model quantum computers, it contributes to the diversification of technological approaches within the industry, potentially offering broader applications and solving many kinds of problems.

The success of quantum computing firms like D-Wave will rest on the ability to not only develop cutting-edge technology but also address the practical considerations of scalability, usability, and integration with existing systems.

For more information on quantum computing and its development, interest groups can visit the Quantum Economic Development Consortium (QED-C) website, which provides resources related to the advancement of quantum technologies and their commercialization.

Natalia Toczkowska is a notable figure in digital health technology, recognized for her contributions in advancing telemedicine and healthcare apps. Her work focuses on developing innovative solutions to improve patient care and accessibility through technology. Toczkowskas research and development in creating user-friendly, secure digital platforms have been instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of remote medical consultations and patient monitoring. Her dedication to integrating technology in healthcare has not only improved patient outcomes but also streamlined healthcare processes, making her a key influencer in the field of digital health innovation.

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D-Wave Gaining Momentum with Quantum Computing Innovation - yTech

Young Chris Ballance was something of an engineering menace, always obsessed with finding out how things work. Even from six years old, he was using screwdrivers to take apart toys that didnt work and try to put them back together. This insatiable appetite for engineering and discovery has been a thread throughout his life.

Pursuing physics in his undergraduate studies, the field of quantum computing scratched an itch for Ballance, because it was something truly novel that had the promise to actually make a difference. Something that in a few years can go from a glimmer of hope all the way through to defining the state of the art, something that nobody else has done before: I found that incredibly exciting.

After obtaining his PhD in Oxford in 2014, Ballance has been at the forefront of developing new techniques and technologies to manipulate qubits at sufficient scale to build useful quantum computers. He hasnt stopped pushing the boundaries of quantum computing during his research, setting new world records, including the highest performance quantum logic gates, the longest qubit memory coherence time, and the fastest and highest performance quantum network.

Intriguingly, it was always clear to Dr Ballance that at some point his work would evolve into a spin-out company. Even though I couldnt have vocalised that at that point, I knew that success for me wouldnt be just sitting in a lab thinking this could be incredibly exciting. I knew I would want to follow the work all the way through to making an impact on peoples lives.

In 2019, Dr Ballance co-founded his company Oxford Ionics with his colleague of many years, Dr Tom Harty.Together, they had been working at the forefront of quantum computing for almost a decade at Oxford University Physics, where they both earned their PhDs, and where Dr Ballance retains a lead research role pushing new boundaries in one of the most exciting areas of physics and innovation.

The magic of the techniques weve developed allows us to marry the ability to build out large scale chips, whilst being able to trap and control the individual atoms in a perfectly quantum way.

Dr Chris Ballance

Before you even get down to the technical details, there is one fundamental challenge with quantum computing. As Dr Ballance explains quite simply, Nature doesnt like to be quantum.

Most have heard of Schrodingers Cat, who lives in a box and is famously both dead and alive until we open the box and check. However, these seemingly absurd quantum phenomena are never seen in real life. Cats are very firmly either dead or alive, not both.

Dr Ballance says, When youre building a quantum computer, youre really trying to build Schrodingers Cat atom by atom, and maintain it in a quantum state.

The unique power of quantum computing is that its fundamental building blocks, the qubits, can harness these quantum superpositions and be in multiple states at once. Classical computer bits, on the other hand, are distinctly either a zero or a one.

Dr Ballance explains, The magic of the techniques weve developed allows us to marry the ability to build out large scale chips, whilst being able to trap and control the individual atoms in a perfectly quantum way.

The quantum states are so well controlled that they have a coherence time of minutes before they collapse, compared to other technologies that only achieve micro or milliseconds. This is essential if these states are to last long enough to be useful to us for instance, in solving problems. As Dr Ballance says: With this approach, you can put the system in a quantum superposition state, go and have a cup of tea and come back, and after 10 minutes or more they are still there.

It is tremendously exciting to build the workplace of ones dreams. We have created a culture that is based around allowing people to be very flexible and achieve their best work.

Dr Chris Ballance

When it comes to the business side of running a tech company, Dr Ballance admits, It is a massive learning experience to go from making something out of chewing gum and toothpicks that looks the part and inspires you, to making reliable robust building blocks you actually build a company out of.

Fortunately, Oxford Ionics mission of building the worlds best quantum computers is an incredibly powerful attractor, such that they now have a collection of some of the best people around the world on this.

The team of around 50 individuals is set to grow exponentially to more than 80 by the end of the year. That includes scientific experts on the foundational theory, people who have built the worlds best chips, and the software engineers; not to mention those with expertise in business, finance, and marketing.

Our view at Oxford Ionics is always that the best perk you can possibly have working in this space is the amazing inspirational people around you, Dr Ballance maintains. If you have that, then you dont need anything else.

2019 was a significant year for Dr Ballance: as well as founding Oxford Ionics, he was also appointed as the Future Leaders Fellow in the Department of Physics. When asked how he juggles these two roles, Dr Ballance argues that they are two sides of the same coin. You cant do one without the other. It is a privilege to be in a position where I can do both.

I did ask Dr Ballance what he likes to get up to outside the lab, but it was bold of me to assume he has any free time. I have three children, so at the moment my time is spent chasing them around swimming pools and parks and up trees, he chuckles.

In a beautiful circle of life moment, Dr Ballance is now in his own fathers shoes. My father used to have to check under my bed for cogs and other pieces of toys, and then try and work out where they had come from. I find myself having to do the same with my children, and only allow them access to screwdrivers under supervision. Chip off the old block.

The world of quantum computing is very new and exciting, and entirely foreign to most of us. The big thing we all are curious to find out is what can quantum computers actually do, and how will they affect our lives? Dr Ballance remains humbly but delightedly ignorant.

As with all forms of new technology and computing, what we have seen time and time again is that the killer application is not one youve anticipated he admits.

Probably the most valuable applications of quantum computing are the ones that we havent come across yet. So, the thing I am most looking forward to is giving people access to these new forms of computer and seeing what they can do with them.

Dr Chris Ballance

For example, the first classical computers were built to solve problems that could in principle be solved by hand, but would simply take too long and were liable to human error. This is a far cry from where computing is now, with internet banking, animated films, and social media: applications no one could have ever predicted back in the 20th century.

The same is true for quantum computing. We already have a list of things we think quantum computers will allow us to do, from materials discovery and drug development to better aerodynamic modelling or financial portfolio optimisation. But this might be just the tip of the iceberg.

Dr Ballance theorises, Probably the most valuable applications are the ones that we havent come across yet, but will come with the second and third revolutions. So, the thing I am most looking forward to is giving people access to these new forms of computer and seeing what they can do with them.

Beyond Oxford Ionics, Dr Ballance thinks that the UK is in a well thought-through position. Our country was one of the first to set up a national quantum strategy way back in 2014, which has since set an example for the EU and the US.

Now the UK has started properly investing, there is a wonderful crop of fledgeling quantum companies like ours he explains, animatedly. The question is whether the technology in 510 years time stays in the UK or if, like many other technologies, it ends up getting disseminated across lots of other countries. The UKs investment in quantum is great: and it needs to be done with sufficient conviction to make sure it continues.

Quantum computing is already starting to take off internationally as well. Dr Ballance and his colleagues regularly attend international summits which are increasingly attracting more than just researchers. Big Pharma companies and world-leading banks are often present too, keen to come and ascertain the benefits that quantum computing could bring to them.

One of the great things about being a scientist is going around and telling everyone all the amazing work you are doing he grins. It is really wonderful to watch the field grow and have more and more people brought in.

When it comes to quantum computing, the difficulties of working out how the different pieces integrate together are good old-fashioned engineering challenges that can be solved with good old-fashioned engineering techniques.

Dr Chris Ballance

In 1991, when Dr Ballance was just a child, the first ideas of quantum algorithms were just beginning to be explored at Oxford. Then in 2010, when he began his PhD, the science was ready for Dr Ballance and his team to generate the highest performing qubits and the best entanglement of any physical system, achieving error rates low enough to solve practical problems. And now, the systems have been so well iterated, developed, and refined, that he can build up chips with routinely high performance.

It has all snowballed from a few small research grants for a few small bits of weird theory, 40 years before the impact was really felt, he says.

This idea of blue-sky research is a story that we see playing out time and time again across research. Stuff that seems completely out there 20 years ago eventually translates into cool experimental science, which in another 20 years transforms into fully-fledged companies and industries.

He highlights the vital importance of early-stage funding to get these ideas off the ground and generate these industries. Theres no way of skipping that long-term investment if we want pioneers of new technology to get their ideas into the world.

It is immensely gratifying for Dr Ballance to see the work that he has believed in for the last 15 years reach an inflection point and begin to make a tangible difference. He believes the phrase its an overnight success that took 10 years is definitely applicable.

A tremendous amount of blue-sky research over the past two decades is now taking off, and over the next few years quantum computing will go from being a mere scientific curiosity to an everyday piece of the computing landscape.

You can find out more about Oxford Ionics on their website.

You can discover more on the pioneering research by Dr Ballance and others at Oxford University Physics Department on their website here.

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Dr Chris Ballance, quantum computings up-and-coming star - University of Oxford

OMAHA Nebraskas 2nd District Republican primary U.S. House race, with challenger Dan Frei running to Rep. Don Bacons right, appears to be opening left-leaning wallets, too.

National Democrats increasingly see division among some Omaha-area Republicans as boosting State Sen. Tony Vargas chances of flipping Nebraskas most competitive House district their way.

This week, a key funder for Democrats trying to wrest the House from GOP control, House Majority PAC, announced reserving $2 million in digital and TV advertising in the Omaha ad market for this fall.

That is up from about $660,000 in 2022, when House Republicans were in a stronger financial position headed into a mid-term cycle with a Democratic president in office. They spent $900,000 in 2020, the last presidential election cycle.

House Majority PAC will do whatever it takes to ensure NE-02 flips from red to blue come November, said Dora Pekec, a spokeswoman for House Majority PAC. Don Bacons anti-choice, extremist record makes it abundantly clear Bacon stands with Donald Trump and his MAGA agenda, not the people of NE-02.

Nationally, the GOP equivalent Congressional Leadership Fund has seen the Democrats pick up fundraising for a 2024 general election likely to be dominated by a presidential rematch.

The House Majority PAC and its related super PAC outraised the Congressional Leadership Fund and its super PAC by $7 million in the first quarter of 2024, $37 million to $30 million. The CLF has still raised more to date this cycle.

The shift is part of a broader national trend, with the Democratic National Committee and its aligned groups outraising the Republican National Committee and its allies.

The Republican group has not yet announced its ad reservations for the fall but said they have incredibly strong incumbents and a political environment that likely favors them.

Sources within the GOP-aligned group say the House Majority PAC often overstates how much it plans to spend, but that they are taking seriously the threat of more money being spent.

Cycle after cycle, Democrats spend millions hoping to knock out Don Bacon, yet he keeps winning because hes one of the most effective Members of Congress and is a true fighter for Nebraskans in Washington, said Courtney Parella, a spokeswoman for the leadership fund. This cycle wont be any different.

Traditional fundraising is also up for Democratic State Sen. Tony Vargas of Omaha, who reported raising $770,000 in the first quarter of 2024 and having $1.6 million in cash on hand.

That is roughly doubling what he had by this point in his 2022 race with Bacon.

Bacon has stepped up his fundraising, too. His campaign reported raising $709,000 in the first quarter.

Bacons cash on hand climbed to $1.9 million from his 2022 total at this point in the race of $1.1 million, but he may have to spend some of that money on Frei and the GOP primary. His campaign said it will have enough to defend his strong conservative record.

Freis first meaningful fundraising tallies since launching his campaign in January had him raising nearly $80,000 with about $54,000 in cash on hand, his campaign said. He was endorsed by the Nebraska Republican Party.

Most local political observers expect Bacon to survive the Frei challenge. But they say he needs to consolidate conservative support without alienating swing voters in a swing district.

And which party controls the House could hinge on the 2nd District vote. With Republicans losing another seat to a retirement next week, their advantage will shrink to 217-213, at least until special elections and regular elections can be held.

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Democrats investing more in Vargas during Bacon-Frei GOP primary fight in NE-02 Nebraska Examiner - Nebraska Examiner

President Biden stands with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on April 3, 2024. Four years ago, Sanders endorsed Biden, and the former rivals worked together to craft policy proposals that bridged Democratic divides. Mark Schiefelbein/AP hide caption

President Biden stands with Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., on April 3, 2024. Four years ago, Sanders endorsed Biden, and the former rivals worked together to craft policy proposals that bridged Democratic divides.

Four years ago this week, Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders ended his second bid for the White House, effectively cementing Joe Biden's path to the Democratic presidential nomination.

Sanders threw his support behind Biden. And unlike past displays of party unity after a primary fight, Biden and Sanders took a unique step to collaborate on a handful of policy-focused task forces in the hope of finding common ground between the candidates' coalitions.

Over the course of several months, the task forces produced a 110-page document focused on topics like the economy and climate, and Biden went on to incorporate a number of the recommendations into his campaign platform and first-term agenda.

The partnership between Biden and Sanders helped deliver the Vermont senator's supporters, including young voters, into Biden's camp.

Four years later, Sanders still backs Biden. The two appeared together recently in a video posted on the Biden campaign's TikTok account.

But as Biden seeks a second term with low approval ratings, he faces a new struggle to win over young voters who were crucial to his first election. And as an incumbent with no high-profile primary opponent to join forces with, a similar unity moment like the 2020 task forces may not be an option.

To Sanders' chief political adviser, Faiz Shakir, part of the difference now is that Biden has to answer to his own record.

"He owns the policy direction in a way that in 2020 he didn't," Shakir said. "He was offering policy directions and saying, 'Put me into office.' Now he owns the Middle East policy, Ukraine policy, migrant policy. There's an assumption, expectation, that Joe Biden has to deliver on different policy outcomes that particularly young people would like to see."

And many young people don't like what they see. According to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, among voters under 30, 6 in 10 disapprove of Biden's job as president, the highest of any age group.

But Shakir remains hopeful that the president can rally a voter coalition similar to what he had four years ago, partially because of Biden's ability to absorb critical feedback.

"What has been a consistent thread of Joe Biden's life as a politician, he's in some sense not like Bernie Sanders, who I think has appropriately and stubbornly held certain positions and has been right about them," Shakir said. "Biden is authentic in that he's always indicated: I will move on my positions, on certain ones, if you can show me that the center or that the majority, that the movement is in a different place."

Sanders entered the 2020 primary with strong support among young voters.

"He spoke to young people and their importance on a regular basis," said Shana Gallagher, Sanders' national student organizing director, in 2020. "And that is actually very rare for candidates to do, especially in a consistent, genuine way."

Over two presidential campaigns in 2016 and 2020, Sanders rose in popularity among many young voters by backing key progressive issues, including a push for universal health care and significant increases in government spending to combat climate change.

When Cristbal Alex thinks back to April 2020, he recalls the value of Sanders' endorsement.

"It was a very important one, maybe the most important ever," said Alex, who served as a senior adviser to the Biden campaign and sat on the immigration-focused policy task force.

"Bernie played a huge role in bringing young folks over," he added.

Carmel Martin was a senior policy adviser to Biden's 2020 campaign and coordinated the task forces.

"It was a way that we could send a signal to the people who were supporting Sen. Sanders," Martin said. "That what they cared about mattered to President Biden as well."

Allies of both the president and Sanders point to policies implemented throughout Biden's first term that can be linked back to the task forces including major investments in climate change prevention and infrastructure and attempts to relieve billions in student debt wins that Biden now touts on the campaign trail again.

Sanders has continued to work with Biden throughout his first term, including holding private meetings over issue messaging.

To the Biden campaign, a second term is about building on the work started four years ago. Because of that, they argue there isn't necessarily a need for another prominent coming-together moment that echoes the task forces.

"We're already part of a coalition," said Rep. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., a Biden campaign surrogate. "So we don't have to fight our way in. We just have to continue making our voices heard. And the president is still listening to us."

Despite initially supporting and working for Sanders in the 2020 primary, Frost, who is the first Gen Z member of the U.S. House, has been pushing young voters to give Biden another chance.

"I think progressives have always had a knack for being able to communicate to voters across party lines and help inspire disaffected voters," Frost said. "And I think whether it's Bernie [Sanders] or myself or many progressives, we still have something to give in terms of helping to influence the messaging, and not just the messaging but the action that backs up the messaging in this election so people can turn out."

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators call for a cease-fire in Gaza during a protest outside the White House on April 2, 2024. Kent Nishimura/Getty Images hide caption

But while many progressives like Frost and Sanders campaign for Biden, it's unclear how many of the policy wins they tout have resonated with younger voters. Just 1 in 10 voters under 30 say Biden's policies have helped them personally, according to a recent poll by The New York Times and Siena College.

Instead, Biden is battling lower enthusiasm to vote compared with four years ago, as well as doubts over his age. And he's faced pressure from many younger voters to demand a permanent cease-fire and stop additional aid to Israel in its war in Gaza as the death toll climbs past 33,000, according to Gaza's health ministry.

Despite his past popularity among progressives, Sanders is not entirely in lockstep with the left wing of the party on the issue. In the initial months after the Hamas attack on Oct. 7 that killed 1,200 people, according to Israel, Sanders received pushback from progressives, including previous campaign staff, for refusing to call for a cease-fire.

The Vermont senator has acknowledged that the president's position on Israel could cost him votes, particularly from young voters and nonwhite voters.

Biden's public posture on the war has changed. He now supports a temporary cease-fire and is more critical of Israel's continued military campaign.

But he's yet to go to the extent many progressives want.

When thinking about avenues to mend some of today's divisions, alums of the Sanders 2020 campaign draw back on Biden's willingness to collaborate four years ago.

"Joe Biden is undeniably a politically astute leader," said Analilia Mejia, Sanders' 2020 political director. "Now, that doesn't mean perfection, but that means understanding where people are and understanding when there is a need to shift."

Mejia, who coordinated the task forces for the Sanders side, argued that watching Biden begin to shift his position on U.S. involvement in the Israel war is a testament to his political skill.

Shakir says Sanders is now urging Biden to lay out a second-term progressive agenda, and that Sanders has a frank pitch for Biden moving forward: Acknowledge problems and explain how they're being addressed.

"Even on the issues where there's the most division," Shakir said, referencing the war in Gaza. "You don't have to mask it. Be honest with them. And it's the reason why we have to continue in this direction because the other choice would certainly set us backwards."

The Biden campaign has six months to boost the youth vote. According to the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll, a third of Gen Z and millennial voters have a good idea who they'll vote for but could still switch, and 17% have not made a decision.

And when Shakir thinks about why young voters aren't on board yet, there's a simple answer. "They're not done pushing him," he explained. "And to his credit, Joe Biden's always indicated, yeah, keep pushing me."

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4 years ago, Sanders and Biden united Democrats. Biden needs young progressives again - NPR

A Douglas County voter filed suit on Wednesday seeking to prevent the Colorado secretary of state from placing Democrat Trisha Calvarese's name on the special election ballot to fill the remainder of former Republican U.S. Rep. Ken Buck's term.

James Glasser, a Castle Rock resident, argues in the lawsuit filed in Denver District Court that Calvarese doesn't meet statutory and party bylaws requirements that congressional nominees must be registered Democrats in Colorado for at least 12 months prior to their nomination.

The state Democratic Party and Calvarese say they're confident she meets the requirements. A spokeswoman for Calvarese said the candidate plans to contest the lawsuit's claims in court.

A spokeswoman for Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold said in an email to Colorado Politics on Thursday afternoon that the department hasn't been served with the lawsuit and so has no comment.

The lawsuit asks the court to issue an order preventing Griswold, Colorado's top election official, from certifying Calvarese as the Democratic nominee on the ballot. Under state law, the secretary of state has until April 29 to certify the ballot.

Calvarese won the Democratic nomination in an online convention on April 4 to run in the June 25 special election, which was triggered when Buck resigned from Congress last month.

A week earlier, Republicans nominated Greg Lopez, a former Parker mayor and two-time gubernatorial candidate, to run in the special election to fill the vacant U.S. House seat.

The special election only the second in state history will take place concurrently with the state's primary election, which will pick the major parties' nominees to run in November for a full term representing the 4th Congressional District, which covers Douglas County and Colorado's Eastern Plains.

Calvarese, who grew up in Colorado, moved to Highlands Ranch from Virginia last fall to care for her ailing parents. She registered to vote in Colorado in December.

"Im in compliance with the statute," Calvarese told Colorado Politics in a text message. "Ive been registered as a Democrat since college. I'm running for the people because they want, need, and deserve someone with values like truth, election integrity, and democratic process."

Glasser's lawsuit, filed by attorney John S. Zakhem, cites a state law that says a party's nominees "must be affiliated with the party for at least twelve consecutive months prior to the date the convention begins, as shown in the statewide voter registration system."

Noting that state law allows political parties to supersede certain statutory requirements, the lawsuit also points to the party's bylaws, which says nominees must be members of the Colorado Democratic Party for at least 12 months prior to the convention.

Glasser didn't respond to a phone call seeking comment.

"Im shocked that the Democrats didnt catch this," Zakhem told Colorado Politics after the lawsuit had been filed.

Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib told Colorado Politics that the party hadn't missed anything.

CDP rules are clear that a candidate simply has to be a Democrat for at least 12 months immediately preceding the convention," Murib said in a text message.

"Ms. Calvarese says she meets this requirement. There is no residency requirement for Congress that prevents her from being the nominee.

The state Democrats' rules committee chair, Josh Trupin, said the party rules cited by Calvarese's critics don't apply to the circumstances surrounding the special election.

CDP Rule 4.9, Vacancy in Office, applies only to offices held by Democrats within the state of Colorado," Trupin said in a text message. "The procedure to nominate a candidate for a special election is statutorily separate and unique (CRS 1-12-202). The CDP does not have rules specific to vacancy in Congress as it had not occurred since 1983, but the residency requirements in 4.9 are not applicable.

Colorado Republican Party Chairman Dave Williams told Colorado Politics that he expects all candidates to meet legal requirements and urged the court to resolve the question quickly.

We certainly hope and expect all candidates, regardless of party affiliation, to meet all legal requirements for ballot access and hope this issue is resolved by the court soon so voters have certainty about the special election before June," Williams said in a text message.

Added Williams: "Regardless of the outcome, Greg Lopez will be elected to fill the remainder of Ken Bucks unexpired term.

Calvarese is among three Democrats seeking their party's nomination to the 4th CD's primary ballot at an online assembly scheduled for Thursday evening, along with John Padora and Karen Breslin.

Ike McCorkle, the party's 2020 and 2022 nominee for the seat, qualified for the primary by petition on Wednesday. After learning he'd made the ballot, he said he would skip the assembly.

Lopez, the GOP nominee for the special election, isn't running in the primary. Describing himself as a "placeholder" candidate, Lopez said he would only serve through the end of the year, letting primary voters pick Buck's successor.

As many as eight candidates could qualify for the GOP primary in the district.

Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert who moved into the district earlier this year from the more competitive seat she's represented for two terms qualified by petition last month and went on to win top-line designation at the GOP's district assembly on April 5.

Republican candidates who have qualified for the primary by petition include former U.S. Senate candidate Deborah Flora and state Reps. Richard Holtorf and Mike Lynch. Four more petitioning candidates are awaiting rulings from the Secretary of State's Office on the signatures they submitted by last month's deadline.

Editor's note: This developing story will be updated.

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Lawsuit seeks to prevent Democrat Trisha Calvarese from appearing on Colorado's 4th CD special election ballot - coloradopolitics.com