Colorado Politics

 Democrats Phil Weiser, Michael Bennet bank millions ahead of Colorado’s gubernatorial race

Next year’s race to take over after Colorado Gov. Jared Polis faces term limits is shaping up to be a head-to-head contest between his fellow Democrats U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser, who each raised more than...

 Q&A with Courageous Colorado’s Landon Mascareñaz | Nonprofit aims to bring bravery back to politics

After co-authoring The Open System, a 2023 book about redesigning public education to encourage civic engagement and strengthen participation in self-governing, Dr. Landon Mascareñaz set his sights on invigorating democracy at the local and state level via a nonprofit he...

 Colorado responds to Nebraska’s ‘unserious’ Supreme Court lawsuit over water diversion

Colorado has filed its response to what it called an “unserious” lawsuit filed by the state of Nebraska over its efforts to build a canal that would acquire land from Colorado property owners in northeastern Colorado. The lawsuit is tied...

 Gov. Polis convenes new working group to address Colorado’s lingering AI law challenges

For the second time in as many years, Gov. Jared Polis has appointed a working group to address the issues around the state’s 2024 law on artificial intelligence. The law, which Polis signed despite major misgivings last year, is still...

 Colorado extends tax deadlines for entities affected by floods

Colorado’s revenue department is extending state income and sales tax filing deadlines for people and businesses affected by the recent flooding in the southwestern part of the state. Over the weekend, Gov. Jared Polis issued a disaster declaration for the...

 20,000 Colorado taxpayers eligible for $8 million in unclaimed refunds

The state of Colorado has started sending notices to an estimated 20,000 taxpayers who may be eligible for a total of $8 million in unclaimed tax refunds. The notices, which will be sent out through June 30, 2026, are part...

 Colorado’s Republican, Democratic officials celebrate Israel-Hamas peace deal, hostage release

Colorado elected officials on both sides of the aisle celebrated the U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas on Monday, as hostages held by Hamas for more than two years returned home and Israel released nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners. Calling...

 Energy battle: Colorado power plant closures ignite debate over jobs, taxes and energy future in Pueblo

As Colorado darts toward a future powered by “clean” energy, a battle is brewing in Pueblo, where coal closures, union jobs and lost tax revenue collide with a community demanding a solution as its power plants are a primary target...

 Republicans choose Ava Flanell in do-over of district vacancy election

A vacancy committee on Saturday took a second try at replacing Rep. Rose Pugliese, the Republican leader who resigned last month. The GOP committee picked Ava Flanell to replace Pugliese for the northern Colorado Springs House district. In fact, the...

 Colorado Republicans Gabe Evans, Bill Owens endorse Barb Kirkmeyer’s gubernatorial campaign

Republican State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer’s campaign to be Colorado’s next governor has landed endorsements from the last Republican to unseat a Democratic member of Congress in the state and the last Republican to be elected governor. U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans...

 Democrat Brittany Pettersen throws support behind Michael Bennet in Colorado’s gubernatorial primary

U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen on Thursday formally endorsed fellow Democrat Michael Bennet in Colorado’s gubernatorial primary, saying she’s counted the state’s senior senator among her “most important mentors and allies” since working on his first run for office. Bennet is...

 Polis administration touts local cities’ ‘compliance’ with housing laws

The Polis administration is taking a victory lap this week on local government compliance with housing laws passed by the General Assembly in the past two years, although the highest level among the metrics is only 60% compliant. In another...

 Republican hopefuls for Colorado governor debate Medicaid, cost of living and state budget

Nine Republican candidates for next year’s gubernatorial election participated in a debate this month hosted by the Denver Press Club, where they faced questions on host of issues that included the state budget, cost of living, and Medicaid. Reporters Marianne...

 Ministry founder, ‘high-risk’ missionary Victor Marx joins Colorado’s Republican gubernatorial primary

Christian ministry leader Victor Marx launched his bid for the Republican nomination for governor Wednesday before a packed house at a country-western music venue in Colorado Springs. The 60-year-old Marine veteran and founder of Colorado Springs-based All Things Possible Ministry...

 Colorado allocates $7.5M for food assistance program for women and children amid federal shutdown

The federal government shutdown prompted the Colorado General Assembly’s budget writers to take action on Tuesday, allocating additional funds to the Women, Infants & Children (WIC) food program. The state portion of the federal program falls under the Department of...

 For now, shutdown’s impact is minimal on Colorado government, though officials say state will see ripple effects if it persists

Colorado officials do not not expect to see major impacts on Colorado-run programs or its workforce for the first week of the federal shutdown, though the state stands to feel the strain, particularly if the stoppage goes into the second...

 Colorado governor proposes to keep Rocky Mountain National Park open amid potential government shutdown

With a federal government shutdown looming, Colorado’s governor is proposing to use local funds to keep open one of the state’s biggest attractions — Rocky Mountain National Park. In a statement to Colorado Politics on Tuesday, Gov. Jared Polis said,...

 Colorado officials ramp up finger-pointing as federal government shutdown’s midnight deadline looms

Members of Colorado’s congressional delegation on Tuesday blamed their counterparts across the aisle for failing to avert the federal government’s first full shutdown in almost seven years. Shortly before casting a vote against a Republican-led temporary spending bill to extend...

 What happens during a government shutdown and how will it affect Colorado?

A looming government shutdown could leave hundreds of thousands of federal employees without a paycheck and close many government services. The impact of a shutdown would vary from state to state. Among its most visible impact in the state could include the...

 A voice trying to pull us back from the brink | Vince Bzdek

By Vince Bzdek Two weeks after Charlie Kirk was assassinated in Utah, it’s worth noting what didn’t happen, especially in Utah. “I want you to look at how Utahans reacted,” Republican Gov. Spencer Cox said after the suspect was caught....

 Colorado governor seeks FEMA aid for wildfire recovery

Gov. Jared Polis has formally requested that President Donald Trump and FEMA issue a Major Disaster Declaration to unlock funding to support Colorado’s response to the Elk and Lee fires in Rio Blanco County. “The Elk and Lee fires ripped...

 Colorado Republicans again weigh whether to boot unaffiliated voters from party primaries | TRAIL MIX

For the fifth time since Colorado voters created the state’s semi-open primary system, Republican Party officials are set to decide if unaffiliated voters can cast ballots in the party’s upcoming primary. More than 400 members of the Republicans’ state central...

 Hickenlooper pitches in $100K for Colorado Democratic Party’s grassroots organizing

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper has raised $100,000 for the Colorado Democratic Party’s organizing efforts ahead of next year’s election, the party said on Thursday. The former two-term governor, who is seeking reelection to a second Senate term in 2026, said...

 Q&A with Colorado lawmaker Barb Kirkmeyer | Republican says she’ll be a governor who ‘knows how to govern’

State Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer says her decades of experience in government — as a county commissioner, director of a state department and state legislator — have prepared her to be a “really great governor,” and the Brighton Republican argues that’s...

 Colorado’s prison population management plan activated due to overcrowding

Ongoing issues within the Colorado Department of Corrections have prompted the state to trigger its Prison Population Management Measures — a policy framework established in 2018 to address overcrowding. It marks the first time the measures have been put into...

 Colorado’s affordable housing efforts gain momentum despite market challenges

Colorado’s housing shortage is improving after reaching its worst point in 2019, but affordability remains a significant barrier to homeownership, according to a new analysis from the state’s Demography Office. “The State Demography Office’s analysis compares existing housing shortage estimates...

 ‘Heartbroken’: Colorado political leaders, organizations condemn assassination of Charlie Kirk

Colorado elected officials and political groups expressed grief, outrage and resolve against political violence in reaction to the fatal shooting of conservative organizer and nonprofit leader Charlie Kirk on Wednesday at Utah Valley University. “Today is a really hard day,”...

 Republican state lawmaker Barb Kirkmeyer set to launch campaign for Colorado governor

Republican state Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer filed paperwork Monday to run to be Colorado’s next governor, making the Brighton lawmaker’s long-anticipated campaign official. Kirkmeyer, who lost a close race for Congress in 2022, plans to make a formal announcement Tuesday evening...

 Survey: Coloradans are wary of both Democrats and Republicans, economic outlook remains grim

Colorado voters hold unfavorable views toward the Democratic and Republican parties, according to a recent survey that tracked people’s attitudes on a variety of issues. For the most part, voters disapprove of the performance of President Donald Trump on a...

 Colorado remains among a shrinking pool of states with glass ceilings at top of the ticket | TRAIL MIX

Will 2026 be the year Colorado voters shatter one of the state’s stubborn and seemingly incongruous glass ceilings? The Centennial State approaches next year’s sesquicentennial — preparing to celebrate the 150th anniversary of statehood — with an increasingly rare distinction...