High Country News

A chance to do it right in the West

Hoping for a Western Interior secretary who practices the politics of collaboration.

by Daniel Kemmis, Nov 26, 2008
Calling Hollywood to run the West

Now that Val Kilmer is considering a campaign for New Mexico's governorship, why not have actors run all the Western states?

by Ray Ring, Mar 17, 2009
Democrats borrow from Madison Avenue

Denver offers an iconic Western backdrop and the message that "this is not your father's party."

by Ray Ring, Aug 19, 2008
Democrats rise again in the Rockies

Rob Saldin looks at the reasons why the Democrats finally succeeded in breaking the Republican chokehold on the West.

by Rob Saldin, Nov 11, 2008
For Western politicians, roots matter

In the rural West, how deep a candidate's family roots go -- how long they've lived in the area -- sometimes matters more than his or her experience or political opinions.

by Paul Larmer, Sep 01, 2012
How outsiders shape the West

Oklahoma isn't part of the West, but its two Republican senators have an enormous influence on the region.

by Ray Ring, Nov 07, 2010
How to survive the lean times

Her brush with homelessness gives Jane Goetze the background to offer some wry advice.

by Jane Goetze, Dec 01, 2008
Lynch-mob politics

It's not the Old West -- it's our guide to this year's Western elections.

by Jonathan Thompson, Oct 19, 2010
Oklahoma vs. the West

Oklahoma Republican Sens. Tom Coburn and Jim Inhofe have a way of riding roughshod over the West's environmental politics.

by Denver Nicks and Ray Ring, Nov 07, 2010
Republicans face an uncertain battle for governor

Democratic Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper's decision to run for governor of Colorado may throw a spanner into Republican plans to re-take the West.

by Allen Best, Mar 02, 2010