The Colorado Democratic Party announced on Tuesday that its 2026 state assembly will take place at a historic theater in Pueblo next spring, marking the first time in eight years that the party will hold an in-person statewide nominating convention.

Next year’s assembly is set for Saturday, March 28, at Memorial Hall, a stone’s throw from Pueblo’s Historic Arkansas Riverwalk, a party spokesman said. A site-selection committee chose the location because of the Southern Colorado city’s “deep union roots and a proud tradition of working-class organizing,” the party said.

“Pueblo represents the grit, heart, and resolve of Colorado’s working people,” Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib said in a statement. “Holding our state assembly here isn’t just about geography, it’s about values. We’re putting our work where our words are, in a place that has fought for workers’ rights, community strength, and a better future for all.”

Pueblo County Democratic Chair Nick Voss said the blue-collar town — 100 years ago, it was a major steel-producing hub and a center of Colorado’s labor movement — is the ideal place to “host blue voters.”

At the assembly, Colorado Democrats plan to nominate candidates to the 2026 statewide primary ballot, which will feature open races for every state-level executive office. Candidates can also qualify for next year’s June 30 primary by petition.

First elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022, the state’s governor, attorney general, secretary of state and state treasurer — all Democrats — face term limits after next year’s election. Incumbent Democrat John Hickenlooper, the state’s junior U.S. senator, is seeking a second term.

Held every two years, the state’s major parties’ state assemblies culminate a nominating process that kicks off with precinct caucuses, which can be held next year between March 3 and March 7. Delegates elected at the neighborhood meetings proceed to county and district assemblies before some will advance to the state confab. Next year, Democrats plan to have as many as 1,500 state assembly delegates but won’t have any alternates.

The state GOP has yet to announce the date or location for its 2026 assembly. Last year, the party held its assembly — and convention, since it was a presidential year — at the state fairgrounds in Pueblo.

Although Hickenlooper has yet to draw a serious primary challenger, the Democratic primaries to replace Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, Secretary of State Jena Griswold and State Treasurer Dave Young are crowded.

Weiser faces U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in the gubernatorial primary, while Griswold is one of five Democrats running for attorney general, two candidates are seeking the party’s nomination for secretary of state, and four Democrats are vying for state treasurer.

State Democrats have held their biennial assemblies online since 2020, when that year’s event had been set to take place during the first month of the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown.

Ahead of last year’s virtual state assembly, its third in a row, Murib said the party decided to continue meeting online instead of in person in order to allow more Democrats to participate and to save both time and travel expenses.

He told Colorado Politics that the switch back to a traditional event made sense this cycle.

“Our state assembly is one of our most important gatherings, uniting hundreds of members to connect and chart our path forward and nominate candidates to the primary ballot.” Murib said in a text message. “The party voted to meet in person this time believing these conversations are best face-to-face, especially in Pueblo, as we hold Republicans accountable for causing a $1.2 billion hole in our state budget, kicking 200,000 people off of their health care, and making life more expensive just to pay for tax cuts for Donald Trump and his billionaire donors.”

Murib added that the venue is “fully accessible” and that delegates with disabilities will be able to participate virtually.