Dylan Sparks, 17, wants his classmates and neighbors to be informed when they go to the polls in 2016.

The Palmer Ridge High School teen was expecting about 20 people at his parent’s house Thursday night for a GOP presidential debate watch party.

“I’m excited to see some of the candidates get into the issues,” Sparks said. “There are so many Republican candidates, it’s hard to keep track of who supports what.”

Sparks’ party was one of about 10 debate watch parties that the El Paso County Republican Party encouraged precinct leaders to hold and invite their neighbors and friends.

“It’s a chance to get to know your neighbors, build relationships with Republicans and other interested parties,” said Jeff Hayes, chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party. “That’s just an early entry into the activity of trying to win the election in 2016.”

Meanwhile the El Paso County Democratic Party – Peak Dems – held a watch party of their own for the “Nomination Circus.”

Attendees at the downtown headquarters played Donald Trump insult bingo and an alcohol optional drinking game every time a candidate used the anti-abortion phrase “every life matters.”

“I get this sense with Donald Trump like he’s showing us everything that’s hateful about Americans and reflecting it back to us and people are responding to that which is really scary. It’s like he’s let something loose,” said Christy Le Lait, executive director of Peak Dems.

Sparks planned a GOP trivia game at his party.

“Like who was the Republican president in 1982,” Sparks said. Which is a tougher question for teens who weren’t born for another decade after President Ronald Reagan left office.

Sparks is a member of the Teenage Republicans Club at Palmer Ridge High School. He invited the dozen members of the club to the party as well as his neighbors. Sparks also is an intern for the El Paso County GOP.

Hayes wanted the debate and the parties to stimulate people to get more involved and to do their own research into each of the candidates, although he said Republicans have fielded such a strong roster of candidates that pulling a name out of the hat would almost certainly select someone capable of holding the presidency.

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Contact Megan Schrader: 286-0644

Twitter @CapitolSchrader