A year after one of the darkest chapters in GOP history, El Paso County Republican Party members said Monday that they’re partying again, the Colorado Springs Gazette reports. Polls show Republicans running strong in the race to replace departing Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, a Ritter apointee. Deep in the minority in both chambers today, Republicans also think they can make a run at reconquering Colorado’s General Assembly in November, or at least gain enough seats to have a voice that is now denied them at the Capitol.