GOP leaders and pundits have roasted Democratic legislators for their progressive agenda at the statehouse since last year. Republicans have put up their agenda to appeal to voters in the general election. It’s an eye opener.

Here’s some context about who voting Coloradans are. Between the end of November and the end of January, active voter registrations declined by about 90,000. Democrats dropped by 27,398 voters (-.81), Republicans dropped by 28,106 voters (-1.99), and Unaffiliateds (UAFs) dropped by 33,935 (-2.9).

The Democratic party has a gender demographic distinct from both the GOP and UAFs. Democrats are 63% women, 36.5% men, and 1% undeclared. Republicans are 47.7% women, 51.5% men, and .08% undeclared. UAFs mostly match the GOP at 47% women, 50% men, 3% undeclared.

On the youth v. older scale, Democrats hold a 152,491 registration advantage over the GOP among voters 18 to 44. The GOP holds a 79,220 advantage over Democrats age 45 to 70+.

All together, Democrats have 1,030,764 active voters, Republicans have 971,070 active voters, and UAFs are 1,361,068.

The bottom line based on these figures is thus: the Democratic Party has evolved to comprise women, first, and adults on the early side of middle age second. Republicans continue to engage roughly equal numbers of men and women skewing older. For Republicans to win either legislative chamber in a general election, they will have to appeal to women and younger voters among UAFs and Democrats.

The GOP has put up 23 core issue bills so far at the Capitol. Abortion is a top-of- the-list issue with four bills: Prohibiting abortion after 22 Weeks (HB20-1098), Protecting Human Life at Conception (HB20-1075), and two bills on protecting a born-alive child during an abortion procedure (SB20-077 and HB20-1068). HB20-1075 makes abortion at any point, except in the case of protecting the mother’s life, a class 1 felony for medical practitioners.

Republicans have run similar bills almost every year since an anti-abortion ballot initiative was defeated in 2008 by over 70 percent of voters.

Republicans put up a mixed bag of principles related to “rights.” The Live and Let Live bill, HB20-1033, says the state should butt out of conflicts between religious belief and same-sex marriage, leaning on religious freedoms. But another bill, HB20-1272, says county clerks may only issue marriage certificates to men and women, and gay couples cannot adopt children. Both bills are sponsored by Rep. Steve Humphrey.

Two House bills, HB20-1063 and 1144, take the same bite at the apple of parents’ rights, stating that parents’ control of decisions related to family, education, and health is of the highest order. In a related effort, the GOP advocates for parental rights with vaccination exemptions.

Republicans muddy up their parental rights stands with Protect Minors from Mutilation and Sterilization, HB20-1114. This bill prohibits parents and medical professionals from providing hormonal and other sex reassignment treatments for minors. HB20-1273 prohibits boys and children who may have male characteristics from participating in girls’ sports.

Gun rights are paramount. Republicans offer four 2nd amendment bills: repealing ammunition limits, carrying handguns on school grounds, repealing the red flag gun hold, and using deadly force against intruders at a business.

A Republican bill, HB20-1193, allows workers to put up to $5,000 into a leave savings account with voluntary employer contributions. The contributions receive a state income-tax deduction. Democratic-sponsored family leave legislation has yet to be introduced, but it’s likely to provide some mandatory basis for a period of paid time off for working adults for parental and medical leave.

Sen. Bernie Sanders came to town over President’s Day weekend to gather support for his presidential campaign. He filled the main hall of the Denver Convention Center with over 11,000 people, a majority of whom were in the 18-44 age range. He’s not just talking about paid family leave. His long list of agenda items includes Medicare for all, free four-year state college tuition, and college debt mitigation. Compared to Bernie, Colorado’s Democratic legislators are acting in a conservative fashion.

Given Republican social issue legislation, some might argue that it’s the GOP that’s taken the radical turn.

Paula Noonan owns Colorado Capitol Watch, the state’s premier legislature tracking platform.