Status Quo Prevails as Colorado Stays Blue

Top of the Ticket: Vice President Kamala Harris secured Colorado’s 10 electoral votes, defeating former President Trump with a decisive 55% to 42% margin. This result aligned closely with pre-election projections, as Colorado has remained a reliably blue state in recent cycles. Despite a broader national trend favoring Republicans, especially in states with competitive races, Colorado’s results did not reflect a similar Republican surge.??

Congressional Landscape: The partisan makeup of Colorado's U.S. House delegation remains unchanged at 5-3 in favor of Democrats:?

• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R) claimed a win in CD 4, securing 52.7% against Democrat Trisha Calvarese. She held her seat comfortably after moving from CD 3 to CD 4.?

• In CD 3, Republican Jeff Hurd secured a narrow lead over Democrat Adam Frisch in the open-seat contest. This race was closely watched as a potential Democratic pick-up, but remains in Republican hands.?

• As of Thursday morning, Rep. Yadira Caraveo (D) holds a very narrow lead over Republican Gabe Evans. CD 8 has been considered one of the most competitive seats in the nation.?

State Legislative Outlook: Colorado’s state legislature will see no change in party control, with Democrats maintaining a 46-19 majority in the House and a 23-12 majority in the Senate, a solid majority that met pre-election expectations.?

Ballot Measures: Voters approved 10 of 14 ballot measures, endorsing several key Democratic priorities:?

• Social issues: Colorado voters chose to repeal the constitutional definition of marriage and supported enshrining abortion rights, reaffirming the state’s progressive stance on social issues.?

• Support services funding: A new firearms tax will fund support services like behavioral health, a measure consistent with Colorado’s commitment to addressing gun violence through policy.?

However, conservatives also notched some wins, particularly criminal justice reforms. Proposals passed to increase law enforcement funding, limit parole eligibility, and restrict bail in certain cases.?

Looking Ahead to the 2025 Legislative Session: With Democrats retaining control, key legislative priorities are expected to focus on advancing social policy protections, including further steps on abortion rights and potential expansions to healthcare access. Climate policy, housing affordability, and continued gun safety measures are also likely to dominate the session, aligning with voter-backed ballot measures from this election.??

Given Colorado’s resistance to broader Republican momentum, it’s clear that the state will likely pursue progressive policies even as the national political landscape shifts. It’s worth noting that Colorado is entering this budget season with a large deficit, which will make funding competing priorities contentious.??