Politics of Colorado
operates under a constitution adopted in 1876 and features both a traditional three-branch system of government and extensive direct democracy mechanisms, including citizen initiatives and referendums.
Colorado's political landscape has evolved significantly, transitioning from a swing state to a blue state in the early 21st century, though maintaining distinctive features like high voter participation and strong independent voting blocs. The state government consists of an executive branch led by the Governor of Colorado, a bicameral Colorado General Assembly, and a judiciary headed by the Colorado Supreme Court.
Colorado was a pioneer in women's suffrage, becoming the second state to grant women voting rights in 1893 and the first to do so by popular referendum.
Notable aspects of Colorado politics include its robust ballot initiative system, which has produced significant reforms like the Taxpayer Bill of Rights, and demographic shifts particularly in the Denver metropolitan area that have reshaped electoral patterns. The state has also pioneered various electoral innovations, including universal mail-in voting and being among the first states to legalize marijuana through popular vote.
Historical development
Early political history (1876–1920)
Colorado entered the Union as the 38th state in 1876, during a period of significant populist and progressive influence. In its early years, the state showed strong support for the Populist Party, electing several candidates to federal and state offices between the 1890s and 1910s.The state's early political dynamics were significantly influenced by silver mining interests. The Sherman Silver Purchase Act of 1890, which required the federal government to purchase large quantities of silver, was particularly important to Colorado's economy and politics. The act was championed by Colorado Senator Henry M. Teller, who later left the Republican Party over the gold standard issue. When President Grover Cleveland pushed for the act's repeal in 1893, it led to significant political upheaval in Colorado, contributing to the rise of the Populist movement and silver-based political coalitions.
The subsequent Panic of 1893 devastated Colorado's silver-based economy and reshaped the state's political landscape. Many miners and rural residents aligned with the Populist Party, which advocated for free silver coinage and economic reforms. This period marked one of the few times in American history where a third party achieved significant electoral success at the state level.
Mid-20th century (1920–1990)
The state predominantly voted Republican in presidential elections between 1920 and 1990, with only four Democratic victories during this period. However, state-level politics often favored Democrats, who typically positioned themselves as more moderate than their national counterparts.Shifting political landscape (1990–present)
Colorado's political landscape began shifting in the 1990s. The state passed significant voter initiatives including Term Limits and the Taxpayer Bill of Rights .Democrats have held the governorship for 24 of the past 32 years since 1991, and since 2008, the state has voted Democratic in five consecutive presidential elections—the party's longest such streak in Colorado's history.
In 2004, Democrats captured both chambers of the state legislature for the first time since 1963 and elected several Democrats, such as Ken Salazar to the U.S. Senate and his brother John Salazar to the 3rd Congressional District. With the election of Bill Ritter as governor in 2006, Democrats won a political trifecta.
By the early 2010s, Colorado was considered a swing state and by 2016 was considered a blue-leaning swing state.
Colorado has been trending Democratic since the early 2000s due to the rising percentage of young, college-educated, suburban, and unaffiliated voters leaning Democratic. The increased organization and perceived centrism of the state's Democratic Party has also been advanced as a reason for the political shift. The growing social and religious conservative shift of the state's Republican Party has also been cited as a reason for the changing voting patterns of Colorado, along with the party shifting right-ward politically.
The year 2018 saw the state undergo a political shift. In the 2018 state elections, Democrats gained control of the state Senate, won all the constitutional statewide offices, and expanded their majority in the state House. They also gained a numerical majority for the U.S. House delegation. By 2020, Colorado was considered a safe blue state, with Joe Biden winning by more than 13% over Donald Trump.
In 2024, Kamala Harris won Colorado by around a 11% margin, re-affirming the status of Colorado as a blue state. Demographic change and the expansion of Denver's suburbs into Republican-leaning counties have increasingly contributed to the Democratic shift. While several suburban Front Range counties like Jefferson continued trending Democratic, with Kamala Harris improving on Joe Biden's 2020 margins, turnout declined significantly in Democratic strongholds like Denver and Adams County which affected the margin of victory. Additionally, southern parts of the state, particularly counties with large Latino populations like Pueblo and those in the San Luis Valley, saw notable shifts toward Republicans.
State government
Constitution
The Constitution of Colorado was drafted in March 1876 and ratified by Colorado's voters on July 1, 1876, taking effect upon Colorado's admission to statehood on August 1, 1876. The constitution establishes the structure and function of the state government and outlines the basic rights of Colorado citizens. It has been amended numerous times through both legislative referral and citizen initiative processes.Executive branch
Colorado has elected 17 Democrats and 12 Republicans to the governorship in the last 100 years. Incumbent Governor Jared Polis was elected in 2018. Polis and his predecessor, former Governor John Hickenlooper are both Democrats.Legislative branch
The Colorado Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly, composed of 35 seats representing approximately 143,000 people each. Senators are constitutionally limited to two consecutive four-year terms. The Senate is currently composed of 23 Democrats and 12 Republicans. The Senate is led by President of the Senate James Coleman, Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, and Minority Leader Paul Lundeen.The Colorado House of Representatives is the lower house of the Colorado General Assembly, composed of 65 seats of approximately 77,000 people each. Representatives are constitutionally limited to four consecutive two-year terms. The House is currently composed of 46 Democrats and 19 Republicans and is led by Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, Majority Leader Monica Duran, and Minority Leader Rose Pugliese.
Judicial branch
The Colorado Supreme Court is the state's highest court, consisting of seven justices who serve ten-year terms. The Chief Justice is selected by the court from amongst its members and serves as the executive head of the Colorado Judicial Branch. Justices are appointed by the governor from a list of three qualified candidates nominated by the Supreme Court Nominating Commission, and must stand for retention by voters in the next general election after serving a provisional two-year term.The Colorado Court of Appeals is the state's intermediate appellate court, consisting of 22 judges who serve eight-year terms. The court hears cases in three-judge panels and primarily reviews decisions from the state's district courts.
Colorado's trial court system consists of district courts, county courts, and various specialized courts. The state is divided into 22 judicial districts, each with its own district court that handles civil cases involving more than $15,000, felony criminal cases, juvenile matters, and appeals from county courts. County courts handle civil cases under $15,000, misdemeanors, traffic infractions, and small claims.
In 2024, voters approved Amendment H, which established an independent judicial discipline commission to investigate complaints against judges, replacing the previous system where discipline was handled internally by the Supreme Court.
Direct democracy
Colorado has a strong tradition of direct democracy through initiatives, referendums, and recall elections. The state constitution reserves these powers explicitly for the people:...the people reserve to themselves the power to propose laws and amendments to the constitution and to enact or reject the same at the polls independent of the general assembly and also reserve power at their own option to approve or reject at the polls any act or item, section, or part of any act of the general assembly.
Significant initiatives have included Term Limits, the Taxpayer Bill of Rights , and Amendment 23, which set a fixed percentage of the budget for K-12 education. Voters passed Referendum C in 2005, amending some restrictions of TABOR and Amendment 23.
Recent events
2024 ballot measures
In 2024, Colorado voters passed several significant constitutional amendments that reflected the state's evolving political landscape:- Amendment 79 enshrined a right to legal abortion in the state constitution and lifted a 40-year ban on public funding for abortion
- Amendment J removed the 2006 same-sex marriage ban from the state constitution
- Amendment G expanded property tax exemptions for disabled veterans
- Amendment H established an independent judicial discipline board
- Amendment I prohibited bail for first-degree murder defendants
- Proposition 128, which increased minimum prison time served for violent crimes
- Proposition 130, which established dedicated funding for law enforcement
- Proposition KK, which created a new excise tax on firearms and ammunition sales