Pastor Steve Hole with The Road Church
September 11, 2026
Pastor Steve Holt Addresses Republican Strategy Forum: A Call for New Strategies to Win Unaffiliated Voters
Guest speaker at the September 9th Republican Strategy Forum was Pastor Steve Holt with The Road Church. Amy Lathen, two-term County Commissioner, and Amy Stevens, public policy director, were also present.
Pastor Holt built Mountain Springs Church and then started The Road Church. He has been in the city for over 30 years. He got more involved in politics when he started The Road Church. Their mission is to “cultivate wholehearted disciples who bring the Kingdom of God, Everywhere.”
Not a politician, Pastor Holt is a former missionary and a pastor for the past 30 years, including 12 years at Mountain Springs Church and 12 years at The Road Church. His son has been a DOJ lawyer in the Trump administration. He previously interned with Michael Allen and with the DA in Grand Junction.
COVID caused Pastor Holt to question our political system. It opened his eyes. He completely disagreed with our Governor’s reaction to COVID, closing the churches. After a few weeks, they decided to defy the governor’s edict. “It is a free country and no one is going to stop us,” he said. Their church grew like crazy during COVID.
Colorado’s Political Landscape
Today, Colorado’s makeup is 800,000 registered Republicans; 1.2 million Democrats; and 1.9 million unaffiliated. The last time we had a Republican Governor was Governor Bill Owens from 1999-2007. The first half of his term, Republicans held both chambers and had for almost 40 years.
Between 2004–2005, the “gang of four” Democrat billionaires financed key races in Colorado and the Democrats won the majority in both houses. They did this by running disciplined races and financing massive get-out-the-vote strategic door-knocking campaigns. If a candidate did not walk, make calls, and follow guidance, they would be replaced or support would be nil.
In 2010, Republicans briefly held the House. In 2013, Democrats drastically changed election laws, passing the “Voter Access and Modernization Elections Act,” which included mail-in ballots, same-day voting and registration, no ID for anyone, residency cut from 30 days to 22 days, precinct residency dropped, vote centers instead of assigned precinct polling places, ended “inactive – failed to vote,” monthly NCOA (post office) address updates, and more. Early registration for those under 18 was added to prep for future elections.
These changes fundamentally altered how Colorado elections are conducted. The Democrats have been in control of the Colorado State Legislature since 2012.
A Call for New Republican Strategy
“You are the Strategy Forum,” Pastor Holt told the audience. “We need new strategies within the Republican Party in Colorado. There must be the appeal to reach the unaffiliated/independent voter and find common ground!”
He outlined six qualities that make an effective political leader:
1. Character matters – Integrity. Honest, keep their word, and hold strong moral principles. Builds trust (tell truth), guides their decisions, protects the public. Use power to help others, not themselves.
2. Competency. Can be a politician and actually get things done. Experience matters whether it is in politics or business.
3. Chemistry with the people. Empathy. Ability to feel and understand the struggle of their people. Feel he or she understands their plight.
4. Coalition Builder. Not a celebrity. Can bring many viewpoints together. Unity. Build a unified focus with different kinds of religion, races, etc.
5. Constructive compromise. Politics is the art of compromise. Politics closely echoes the famous maxim by German statesman Otto von Bismarck: “Politics is the art of the possible, the attainable – the art of the next best.” With Republicans, the art of the next best has fallen to “all or nothing – and today it usually nothing.” The art of delegation. Nothing gets done if we are not willing to give and take. That is what good politicians do.
6. Core Christian Convictions or Core Christian American Values – this is the one place that we do not compromise. Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights in one hand and a Bible in the other. Political freedom through representative Government, Freedom of speech, freedom of Religion. Lincoln believed that Unity was more important than the abolition of slavery. Reagan valued lower taxes, strong military, and defeat of communism. Trump’s MAGA agenda: get manufacturing in America going again (improve economy), protect our borders, and stay out of foreign wars.
Pastor Holt referenced Isaiah 59:19: “So shall they fear the name of the Lord from the west, and His glory from the rising of the sun; When the enemy comes in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord will lift up a standard against him.”
He called for a leadership summit in Colorado with a 10-20 year vision. The goal would be to define our core American Christian Values and find candidates that believe in them.
Pastor Holt believes Republican candidates need these six qualities: Character, Competency, Chemistry with the people, Coalition Builder, Constructive Compromise, and Core Christian Values.
What Independent Voters Care About
According to the Independent Center Website, which analyzed the independent voter using AI, the independent voter is more cohesive in their worldview than Republicans and Democrats. Criminal justice reform is more than sentencing reform and recidivism rates. They connect issues like education and labor laws as part of the bigger picture.
Independent voters are focused on fiscal issues. They want the freedom to pursue the life that best suits them. They care about the market economy differently from Republicans and Democrats. They want more choice and competition.
The bottom line, Pastor Holt concluded, is that Republicans need to win elections by appealing to the Independent/unaffiliated voter.