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Voter turnout in Colorado midterms outpaces 2022, but falls short of 2018

As of Monday, about 67.3% of registered voters in Colorado participated in the 2026 midterm elections last week, outpacing participation in the 2022 midterms, but falling short of turnout in 2018. County clerks had processed 2.76 million ballots from Colorado voters as of Monday, according to the secretary of state’s…

Democrats will hold most legislative trifectas since 1984

Along with a dramatic change in congressional majorities on Election Day, an analysis from the National Conference of State Legislatures showed large shifts in legislative majorities around the country, flipping from a majority of Republican legislatures to majority Democratic. Democrats also now hold a large number…

Here’s how school district tax measures fared in Colorado this year

This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters. Voters approved about 60% of 33 school district property tax measures around Colorado on Nov. 3, unofficial election results show, with wins in districts ranging from Denver, the state’s largest district, to…

GOP Congress faces funding deadline, farm bill, lengthy to-do list in year-end session

WASHINGTON — Voters may have given Democrats control of Congress in the midterm elections, but Republicans will remain in charge of both chambers during the lame-duck session that spans November and December. The relatively brief five-week schedule, which begins Monday, gives GOP leaders a chance to wrap up unfinished…

Latino voters singled out by top Democrat for credit in congressional victories

WASHINGTON — The chair of the campaign arm for U.S. House Democrats said during a Friday press conference that this week’s midterm elections resulted in an overwhelming blue wave because of Latinos. Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee Chair Suzan DelBene said majorities won in the House and the Senate by…

Rep. Jennifer Bacon ​becomes first Black woman​ elected ​Colorado House speaker

Colorado House Democrats on Friday elected Rep. Jennifer Bacon of Denver to serve as the next speaker of the chamber. She will be the first Black woman to hold the position. Bacon will lead a Democratic supermajority in the 76th General Assembly, which will convene on Jan. 11. She will succeed Speaker Julie McCluskie…

Young home shoppers still priced out without help, according to survey

The age of the typical first-time homebuyer last year remained stuck at a historic high of 40 years old as younger people continue to get the worst of brutally high prices and interest rates in much of the country. That’s according to new data from the National Association of Realtors, and it’s the second year

Supporters of Colorado’s graduated income tax measure celebrate victory

With their narrow lead holding steady with an estimated 90% of the statewide vote counted, proponents of a ballot measure to establish a graduated income tax system in Colorado declared victory on Thursday, heralding the most seismic shift in state fiscal policy in decades. Amendment 87 will remove the Colorado…

Trump’s gerrymandering push flops as Democrats win redrawn seats

Alabama Republicans had hoped Rep. Shomari Figures would deliver a concession speech on Tuesday night after the state legislature redrew his district to be more GOP-friendly. Instead, the Democrat declared victory — winning nearly 54% of the vote. “We know what happened with this district,” Figures told supporters as…

Denver Democrat James Coleman elected again to be Colorado Senate president

Colorado Senate Democrats elected Sen. James Coleman of Denver to continue his role as state Senate president. The majority party first elected Coleman as president following the 2024 election. “It has been the honor of my life to serve this chamber and to be able to make it so that we can get good things

Colorado’s Joe Neguse vying for No. 4 spot in Democrats’ House majority

U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse on Thursday asked Democrats in the House of Representatives to select him for the fourth highest-ranking role in the chamber’s incoming majority. Neguse, of Lafayette, is now the assistant minority leader in the House. The assistant speaker position is his current role’s equivalent in the majority…

Trans sports bans get voter approval in 4 states

Voters in four states — Arizona, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington — passed measures to restrict transgender athletes’ participation in sports, a key policy focus of the Trump administration. Colorado, Nebraska and Washington’s measures were ballot initiatives, while Arizona reached the ballot by way of the…

Following midterm landslide, Democrats pressed by supporters to deliver on promises

WASHINGTON — As the monumental midterm victories set in, Democrats began to talk strategy Wednesday on how to deliver what voters want: lower prices, attainable health care and an end to a stagnant and expensive conflict in the Middle East. Starting in January, the party will control both chambers of Congress, giving…

Trump accepts the blue tsunami, despite months of election legal battles, threats

Ahead of the midterms, Democrats wargamed dozens of scenarios looking at how President Donald Trump might try to undermine the election, everything from seizing voting machines to falsely declaring a foreign attack. But when the blue tsunami arrived Tuesday night, Trump seemed to let it wash right over him. In a…

Democrats claim supermajorities in Colorado state House and Senate

Democrats will hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Colorado Legislature after they flipped one seat in the state Senate and up to six in the state House, according to preliminary election results and statements by Democratic state leaders. Democrats expect to have a 24-11 majority in the Senate and a 49-16…

The election is over. What’s supposed to happen next for Congress?

WASHINGTON — Voting ended Tuesday in this year’s midterm elections, leaving officials and volunteers counting tens of millions of ballots to determine which U.S. House and Senate candidates will take the oath of office in January. The post-election process includes numerous steps and varying deadlines for when ballots…

Democrat Jessica Killin in 5-point lead over Rep. Crank in Colorado Springs district

Democrat Jessica Killin as of Wednesday afternoon had a 5-point lead over Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in the congressional district that’s centered on Colorado Springs. Killin had about 51% of the vote over Crank’s 46% as of 3:20 p.m. Wednesday. These are preliminary figures and can change. The Associated Press…

Colorado voters reject measures requiring mail-ballot ID numbers, ICE cooperation

Colorado voters on Tuesday rejected a ballot measure that would have required them to put part of their Social Security number or other identifying information on mail-in ballots. The Associated Press said at 10:18 p.m. on Election Night that Amendment 84 failed. As of midday Wednesday, 63.4% of voters were against…

Who is Hakeem Jeffries? Meet the likely first Black speaker of the US House.

WASHINGTON — U.S. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries got one step closer to becoming the next speaker after Democrats delivered a sweeping victory in the midterm elections. If elected by a majority of House members, Jeffries would make history as the first Black person to hold the gavel. The 56-year-old Brooklynite…

The blue tsunami sweeps the US, as Democrats land huge gains in Congress

Voters across the country administered a sharp reprimand to President Donald Trump and Republicans who hold majorities in Congress, with Democrats gaining comfortable majorities in the Senate and the House. Several U.S. Senate and House races remained uncalled by The Associated Press as Election Day ended on the East…

Democrats score control of US Senate in stunning midterm victory

WASHINGTON — In a stunning upset, Democrats ousted Republicans and flipped control of the U.S. Senate Tuesday night, effectively establishing a barricade for President Donald Trump’s agenda for the last two years of his term. Democrats will now have the power to block many of Trump’s nominees, both executive and…

Early results show support for Colorado ballot measures led by anti-LGBTQ organization

Preliminary election night results show two Colorado ballot measures that would restrict the rights of transgender children are polling ahead, and a third measure to increase penalties for human trafficking has passed. As of 9:45 p.m., Proposition 134, which aims to prevent transgender children from participating in…

Dwayne Romero, Rep. Jeff Hurd in close race in Colorado’s 3rd District

Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd of Grand Junction and his Democratic challenger, Dwayne Romero, were in a close race after polling Tuesday. Romero held a narrow lead until Hurd pulled slightly ahead as county clerks across Colorado’s sprawling 3rd Congressional District continued to process ballot returns into…

Democrat Killin ahead of Rep. Crank, early Colorado election results show

Early election night results show Democrat Jessica Killin has an early lead over Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Crank in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District. Killin had 52% of the vote over Crank’s 45% as of 8:30 p.m. The Associated Press estimated 74% of votes were counted as of 7:44 p.m. Democratic voters have outpaced…

Rutinel defeats Republican Rep. Evans, flipping Colorado’s 8th District seat

Democrat Manny Rutinel defeated Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans, flipping Colorado’s 8th Congressional District. Rutinel had 56% of the vote over Evans’ 41% as of 10:18 p.m. The Associated Press called the race at 9:49 p.m. Tuesday. The district was long one of a handful of toss-ups in the country. The race will help…

Democrat Laubacher ahead of Rep. Boebert in Colorado’s most conservative district

Democratic challenger Eileen Laubacher is ahead of Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in the race to represent Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, early election night results show. Laubacher has 51% of the vote over Boebert’s 46% as of 7:57 p.m. The Associated Press estimates about 74% of votes in the district…

Melat Kiros, 29-year-old Democrat, wins election to Congress

Denver voters on Tuesday elected Melat Kiros, 29-year-old former attorney and democratic socialist, as the congressional representative from Colorado’s 1st District. The Associated Press called the race at about 7:30 p.m. Kiros led with 78% of the vote, ahead of Republican Christy Peterson with 14% and unaffiliated…

Colorado Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper wins reelection

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper of Colorado won reelection Tuesday, with the well-known Democratic incumbent brushing aside challenges from Republican state Sen. Mark Baisley and self-funded third-party candidate Bob Chew. As of 8 p.m., Hickenlooper led with over 61% of the vote, ahead of Baisley’s 35% and Chew’s 2.5%…

Democrat Phil Weiser elected Colorado governor

Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser was elected the state’s 44th governor Tuesday, defeating Republican Victor Marx and independent candidate Greg Lopez. As of 9 p.m., Weiser led the race with nearly 62% of the vote, with Marx winning just under 33% and Lopez trailing with less than 3%. The Associated Press called…

US Supreme Court justices doubtful of Colorado rule in Catholic preschool case

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices appeared doubtful Tuesday of yet another Colorado policy involving the balance of state anti-discrimination protections for LGBTQ+ people and religious exemptions. The Archdiocese of Denver and two Catholic preschools say in a lawsuit that they were unable to participate in…

As Election Day arrives, Democrats poised to see gains and pump brakes on Trump agenda

WASHINGTON — Tens of millions of Americans have already cast a ballot in the 2026 midterm elections that will determine control of Congress and shape President Donald Trump’s remaining policy agenda. As of Monday, more than 57 million Americans had cast a vote, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab…

Commentary: The government must not be required to fund discrimination

The U.S. Supreme Court today heard a Colorado case that could walk back what legal precedent has established for years. In 2020, Colorado voters overwhelmingly approved a tax-funded universal preschool program. The Legislature passed a law to implement the program, including basic requirements such as a minimum number…

Colorado election 2026: Live updates

Welcome to Newsline’s Election Day coverage. We will have live results after polls close at 7 p.m. Coloradans can register to vote and vote until polls close. Here’s how to vote. Our voter guide offers election tools, descriptions of candidates and ballot measures, and other useful information. Our 2026 election…

It’s Election Day. It’s not too late to register and vote in Colorado.

More than 1.5 million Coloradans have already cast their ballots in the 2026 midterm elections. If you’re eligible to vote, it’s not too late to join them — even if you’re not yet registered. On the ballot are elections for U.S. senator, eight congressional representatives, governor and three other statewide executive…

US Supreme Court rejects Trump DOJ’s attempt to freeze California vote counting

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, mere hours before Election Day in the midterms that will determine control of Congress, denied the Trump administration’s final attempt to force California to set aside the ballots of 20,000 people it suspects are noncitizens. The decision marked a significant blow to President Donald…

‘This is our year’: Will a blue wave swing Pueblo back to Colorado Democrats?

The last time Pueblo, Colorado, was represented in Congress by a Democrat — Rep. John Salazar, who served three terms before losing reelection in 2010 — Aaron Gutierrez was a young staffer in Salazar’s Washington, D.C., office. Now an attorney, father and cancer survivor, Gutierrez is his party’s nominee for a crucial…

Resources available for voters amid flooding in southwest Colorado

The Colorado secretary of state’s office is providing resources to support voters in Archuleta and La Plata counties due to rain and the risk of flooding. Election officials closed the voting center at the Ross Aragon Community Center and the Pagosa Springs Town Hall drop box amid historic flooding, which began in the…

Explosive spending, ugly ads and courtroom battles set stage for tense midterm elections

WASHINGTON — When the polls close Tuesday night, the 2026 U.S. election will go down as one of history’s most expensive and extraordinarily ugly midterms — galvanizing record-breaking early voter turnout among a deeply divided electorate. Voters on Saturday crossed the high-water mark of 52.7 million early votes cast…

Election officials brace for federal interference but expect to persevere

As concerns rise about the potential for federal influence over the results of next week’s midterm elections, many voting experts and advocates remain confident that the nation’s highly localized systems of administering and counting votes will persevere. Facing sinking approval ratings over high prices, the White…

Trump loses appeals over California ballots, Homeland Security operations

A federal appeals court on Friday denied a Trump administration demand that California set aside and not count the ballots of 20,000 suspected noncitizen voters, setting the stage for a possible appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. A three-judge panel of the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled against a U.S…

Federal subpoenas to election officials mark escalating Trump DOJ pressure campaign

As the Trump administration waged a public legal fight with California over the ballots of suspected noncitizen voters in mid-October, behind the scenes a federal grand jury in Santa Ana issued a series of subpoenas to election officials in Los Angeles County at federal prosecutors’ urging. The subpoenas demanded a…

Adams County could see up to 12 federal monitors on Election Day

There could be up to 12 federal election monitors in Adams County on Election Day next week, though they will not be allowed to go inside polling locations. U.S. Justice Department spokesperson Kiersten Pels wrote in an email Friday that the department expects to deploy between four and 12 monitors to Adams. Justice…

Early voting sets midterms record, breaking 2022 mark

WASHINGTON — As of early Friday, more than 46 million Americans had cast ballots ahead of Election Day, eclipsing the early voting turnout of the 2022 midterms, according to the University of Florida’s Election Lab. In the 2022 midterm elections, 45.9 million Americans voted early, according to the UF Election Lab…

Trump administration has slow-walked 380K potential immigrant voters

The Trump administration cut naturalization sharply over the past year, leading to accusations it’s holding back hundreds of thousands of people who might have voted in the midterms. It’s hard to say how those people might have voted had they become U.S. citizens. Naturalized citizens voted Democratic for president by…

Commentary: If you care about affordability, vote with climate in mind

Like many Americans, the issue that is top of mind for me as we approach the midterms is affordability, or rather, a lack thereof. That’s why I’m disappointed to see how few voters, and even candidates, are focused on climate change this election. Wait — really? Yes. Whether we talk about it or not, climate

Caring for aging parents is getting more expensive

Costs are soaring for people who care for their older parents and other family members, according to a new study. Out-of-pocket expenses are nearly 60% higher than they were just five years ago for family caregivers, who now spend an average of $11,508 a year on caregiving, according to a report released this week by

Commentary: I want a cure for brain tumors, so I’m going to vote for it

Scientific research is the reason we have treatments for thyroid cancer, surgery options for breast cancer patients, and hope for individuals fighting brain tumors. For five years, I fundraised and ran marathons to raise money for scientific studies researching the causes of, and treatments for, cancers, including an…

Buttigieg, Colorado Democrats rally in Boulder ahead of pivotal midterm elections

After an unprecedented eight years in full control of state government, Colorado Democrats are confident they’re days away from not just keeping their grip on power, but turning the state a deeper shade of blue than ever. On stage at the Boulder Theater Wednesday night, the state’s top Democratic leaders rallied the…

Colorado officials prepare for Medicaid eligibility changes set for 2027

Colorado’s Medicaid program is preparing to implement new work requirements and shorter renewal periods for the program beginning next year. Beginning Jan. 1, some Coloradans on Medicaid, known as Health First Colorado, will need to self-attest that they are meeting new requirements or are exempted. Otherwise, they…

Time for change? Permanent daylight saving time bill awaiting US Senate action

Most of the nation returns to standard time Sunday morning, and Congress could decide as early as next month whether it will be the last time people have to change their clocks. President Donald Trump wants year-round daylight saving time. The U.S. House voted overwhelmingly in July for the change. Lots of Democrats…

Results: Colorado general election 2026

For a full list of preliminary results, visit the secretary of state’s results page, where vote totals are posted starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.

Colorado Capitol briefly evacuated Wednesday over ‘suspicious device’ found outside

The Colorado Capitol in Denver was evacuated Wednesday morning after Colorado State Patrol found a “suspicious device” that looked like an explosive on a windowsill outside the building, the agency said. Lincoln Street and 14th Avenue, two streets directly adjacent to the building, also shut down. The Denver Police…

Colorado requests $65M in federal relief to help with Pagosa Springs area flooding

The Colorado Department of Transportation on Tuesday asked for $65 million from the federal government to assist with significant road repairs in the southwest part of the state, which experienced immense flooding over the weekend. The total is just an estimate of the damage, and the state wants $6.5 million released…

Looming Medicaid cuts will increase burden for Colorado patients, advocates say

Oliver Giminaro became fully dependent on caregivers after a spinal cord injury in 1992. His parents acted as those caregivers when he was still living at home in Delta. Before the injury, he loved playing football, camping, hiking, skiing and mountain biking, he said. Now, if he didn’t have access to caretakers with…

900+ women criminally charged for their conduct during pregnancies

In the first three years after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the constitutional right to an abortion in June 2022, more than 900 women faced criminal charges for conduct related to their pregnancies, according to a new report. Most state laws that prohibit or regulate abortion seek to penalize those who provide…

Millions in ‘dark money’ spent to influence votes on Colorado ballot measures

Colorado’s most expensive ballot-measure showdown in the 2026 midterms is an overlapping series of fights over several high-stakes tax questions, with a mishmash of left- and right-leaning groups spending a combined total of more than $14 million to influence Colorado voters on the measures ahead of Election Day…

Rising prices squeeze more Americans ahead of pivotal midterm elections

Americans’ growing frustration over high prices has defined many political campaigns ahead of November’s midterm elections. Rising costs of healthcare, gas and groceries during President Donald Trump’s second term have put Republicans on defense, not only in Washington, but in statehouse and gubernatorial races across…

‘We don’t want it’: Voter backlash against data centers consumes midterm elections

SPRINGDALE, Pa. — Residents in a small southwestern Pennsylvania town are facing the prospect of a 47-acre data center facility on their doorstep. “Right here behind this fence is where they want to put up the data center, and as you can see, there’s houses right across the street, roughly 100 feet,” said lifelong…

Questions or concerns about voting? Text them to Colorado Newsline.

In a high-stakes, high-turnout midterm election, every vote counts — and Newsline wants to hear any questions or concerns Coloradans have about what they’re seeing at the polls this year. As of Friday, more than 730,000 Coloradans had already returned their ballots ahead of the Nov. 3 election, putting voter turnout…

2026 ballot measures are written at a graduate-school reading level, report finds

This year’s statewide ballot measures are written, on average, at a graduate-school reading level, according to a new report. The readability of 2026’s ballot questions — which ask voters to weigh in on issues as varied as abortion, property taxes, voter ID and firearms — varies by state, political data tracking…

Colorado must approve federal election observers in Adams County, state law says

Colorado election officials are treating the U.S. Department of Justice’s plan to send election monitors to Adams County for the upcoming midterm elections as a request that requires approval, rather than a mandate, according to correspondence between state and federal officials. The DOJ’s Civil Rights Division first…

Trump’s DOJ sues over Alaska Senate race, expanding preelection legal fights

The U.S. Department of Justice is stepping up its legal campaign over the midterm elections, suing Alaska over its U.S. Senate election and appealing a lawsuit against suspected noncitizen voters in California. Election law experts have cast doubt on the strength of the cases, criticizing them as performative. The…

Dispute over Colorado’s congressional seat arose in wake of 1876 election

As the weather continued cooling off in October 1876, Denver’s Rocky Mountain News looked ahead to what a headline called “our winter campaign.” “Denver promises to be unusually cosmopolitan and lively during the coming winter,” the paper predicted. “Already the town is filling up with strangers, many of them…

Dems in Congress say they’re wary Trump won’t accept results of election

As Election Day approaches, top Democrats on the intelligence committees in Congress are preparing for the possibility that President Donald Trump will allege foreign interference to discredit unfavorable results. And they want leading U.S. intelligence officials to be immediately reachable if he does. Sen. Mark…

Commentary: Proposed grazing rules would hurt Western cattle ranchers

A wave of new rules and proposals from the current federal government pose a severe threat to the health of public lands used for grazing livestock. The federal agencies that manage public lands say they are trying to help American ranchers by bolstering the country’s dwindling cattle herd, which is at record low…

Cost of employer-sponsored health insurance plans rises again, nonpartisan survey finds

WASHINGTON — The price health insurance companies charge for employer-sponsored plans increased again this year, as did the deductible many people must pay before those plans begin covering most healthcare costs, according to a survey released Thursday by the nonpartisan health organization KFF. The cost of individual…

Millions from partisan outside groups pour into Colorado statehouse races

Outside partisan groups are spending millions of dollars this election cycle on competitive statehouse races in Colorado, and in some instances that spending is far greater than what the candidates themselves are putting up. Democrats will almost certainly retain the majority in both the state House and Senate, but…

Commentary: Colorado is way behind on Waymo rules

Last month, as vendors were setting up booths at a farmers market on South Pearl Street in Denver, a car drove down the closed road. It evaded barricades, ignored signs and came precariously close to market participants, who eventually were able to guide it out of the danger zone. The behavior would likely be…

Colorado priest from Uganda released after 13 months in ICE detention in Aurora

After 13 months in an Aurora immigrant detention center, where he became reliant on a wheelchair as his health deteriorated, a Ugandan priest who has lived in Colorado for more than 25 years was released by federal immigration officials Tuesday. A judge ordered Rev. Edward Nalwamba’s release earlier this week. Two…

Trump set to campaign in tight US Senate contests in Iowa, Texas, Ohio, Michigan

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s midterm travel blitz will continue in the coming days, with Election Day on Nov. 3 now less than two weeks out, headlining rallies in several states hosting hard-fought Senate contests seen as toss-ups. Trump began his October campaign road trip in GOP-friendly states, but has…

Early voting in Colorado outpaces 2022 midterm election

More than half a million Coloradans have already voted in the 2026 midterm election, according to the first turnout report from the secretary of state’s office. As of late Monday, 509,364 voters already submitted their ballots — good for about 12.6% of all active voters in Colorado. Most ballots returned have been…

Audit finds flaws with Colorado’s marijuana testing framework

Colorado’s regulatory framework to test marijuana for contamination and warn consumers about risks has significant gaps, a state audit found. The recently-released audit focused on problems with product testing and inconsistent monitoring from the Marijuana Enforcement Division. Auditors did not find evidence of…

5 members of Colorado’s congressional delegation report suspicious letters

All four of Colorado’s Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives and one U.S. senator received letters with a suspicious substance Monday, the lawmakers said. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating letters sent to officials in several states, including Nebraska, Minnesota, Arizona…

Bear killings skyrocket as garbage, bird feeders draw them into conflict

Bears are having a very bad year. Across much of the United States, a warm winter and persistent drought have decimated the natural foods that black and brown bears rely on. With nearly every station at the buffet in short supply, the adaptable eaters are turning to human food. From California to Connecticut…

Ukrainians and Sudanese with temporary legal status will keep protections for now

WASHINGTON — Immigrants living in the United States with humanitarian status from Ukraine and Sudan will retain their deportation protections and work authorizations for now, the Department of Homeland Security said over the weekend. More than 100,000 Ukrainians and roughly 2,000 Sudanese with Temporary Protected…