Colorado Politics

 Mysterious letter causes uproar, investigation in Mesa County GOP | A LOOK BACK

Twenty Years Ago This Week: An unregistered activist group calling themselves ‘The Colorado Republican Caucus’ mailed letters to at least 160 Republicans in Mesa County calling various Grand Junction Republicans “turncoats” and “traitors.” “The danger was that the letters were...

 Colorado Politics Calendar Apr. 20-26

CoPo’s weekly political calendar helps you find political and public policy events throughout Colorado. It includes candidate and issue campaign events, public policy meetings, court hearings, state and local party conventions, assemblies, debates, rallies, parades, speaking engagements, traveling dignitary appearances,...

 A happier budget week | Capitol M | Week of April 18, 2026

It’s budget time at the state Capitol, and generally, it’s a humorless situation. It certainly was that way in the House last week, with a 15-hour reading of the long bill at 661 pages that resulted in lawmakers having to...

 Colorado lawmakers advance bill to tackle Colorado’s prison capacity issues

As lawmakers move the 2026–27 state budget toward completion, they are intensifying efforts to address overcrowding and capacity challenges within the Department of Corrections and related agencies—issues that have contributed to increased spending in the budget. The state Senate on...

 Colorado justices, lawyers speak with rural students through outreach program

Members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared before students from eight rural schools on Thursday to hear a pair of cases, field questions, and mark the first time the state’s newest justice participated in the long-running program. “I had such...

 Democrats want Colorado colleges to provide medication abortion

A bill proposing to require Colorado colleges and universities to provide abortion medication services cleared a legislative committee on Thursday. Advocates said the measure — which exempts religious-based institutions but applies to public, private, and community colleges — will improve...

 Trump ‘in discussions’ with IRS to cut deal in tax record lawsuit

President Donald Trump is in talks with the Internal Revenue Service to strike a deal over the release of his tax records. The news was revealed in a legal filing, where his legal team said they were in “discussions” with...

 Governor’s wildlife commission picks face pushback ahead of Colorado Senate hearing

Colorado’s largest coalition of hunters, anglers, and wildlife conservation groups is urging state lawmakers to reject two of Gov. Jared Polis’ latest nominees to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, setting up a contentious confirmation hearing before the Senate Agriculture...

 Colorado justices skeptical of snowboarder’s bid to revive injury lawsuit after signing new waiver

The Colorado Supreme Court seemed to agree on Thursday that a plaintiff is not entitled to continue his snowboarding injury lawsuit because he purchased another pass in the middle of litigation that released all past legal claims. “It says you’re...

 Colorado Supreme Court appears OK with revised ‘reasonable doubt’ instruction

The Colorado Supreme Court appeared largely comfortable on Thursday with the recently revised definition of “reasonable doubt” that is now part of the template jury instructions for criminal cases. To date, multiple Court of Appeals decisions have endorsed the constitutionality...

 Senate passes 10-day extension of federal surveillance powers without debate

The Senate unanimously passed a 10-day extension of the federal government’s power to surveil individuals suspected of being national security threats without debate on Friday. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) brought the measure to the floor during a brief...

 Ex‑Bronco Montee Ball backs push at Colorado Capitol for stronger concussion protocols

Amid rising worries about the long‑term effects of head injuries in youth sports, a Colorado committee began reviewing legislation that would tighten concussion protocols and expand mental health awareness among coaches. Senate Bill 060 would require youth sports coaches to...

 Colorado drivers, mad about rising gas prices, may turn midterm election ire on Republicans

WELD COUNTY, Colorado — The touch-and-go race for House control in the Nov. 3 midterm elections could very well be decided in places like this wind-swept stretch of Interstate 25. Specifically, at gas stations in this rapidly growing area north...

 Residents want more police presence after deadly north Denver shootings

The residents of the Five Points and Cole neighborhoods are calling for increased police patrols after three fatal shootings in less than a week. Community members gathered Thursday at a north Denver neighborhood meeting organized by Cole Neighborhood Association President...

 Cannabis overhaul introduced in Colorado Senate

Colorado lawmakers on Wednesday introduced a measure that, if approved, would place a ballot proposal before voters this fall that contains changes backers say would improve consumer safety and overhauls how the marijuana industry is taxed.  The proposed ballot initiative would fund a testing...

 Colorado House passed a bill raising threshold for agriculture overtime by one vote

The bill that would raise the overtime threshold for overtime pay for certain agricultural workers won the narrowest of votes Thursday in the Colorado House. Senate Bill 121 won a 33-32 vote, a dramatic difference from votes cast Wednesday on...

 Colorado’s $46.8 billion budget nears finish line

The Colorado Senate on Thursday voted largely along party lines to approve $46.8 billion in spending for the next state budget. The spending plan is bigger than what legislators originally approved for the current fiscal year’s budget, driven by increases...

 Colorado Senate passes bill for voluntary $5 fee to fund wildlife crossings

The Colorado Senate approved bipartisan legislation allowing drivers to voluntarily pay an extra $5 when registering their vehicles to help finance wildlife crossings and reduce the growing number of dangerous collisions between cars and animals on state highways. In 2024...

 DPS names panel to shape $43M tax hike

A newly appointed Mill Levy Override Advisory Committee has been tasked with deciding how Denver Public Schools should spend more than $40 million in additional revenue, should voters approve the tax hike in November. The district received about 30 applications...

 Colorado awards $26M in tax incentives to keep aerospace company in state

A technology company in the aerospace and defense industry is looking to expand and could bring 1,250 jobs to Colorado if it chooses to continue growing in the state. The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved $26 million in job growth...

 Taking Colorado workers’ ID documents would be a crime under this proposal

After a narrow 6–5 vote, a bill to bar employers from taking workers’ identification documents is moving to the full Colorado House, sparking questions about how often such intimidation occurs and whether a new state law is necessary. House Bill...

 House rejects effort to withdraw US forces from the Iran war as Republicans stick with Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House rejected a resolution Thursday requiring President Donald Trump to withdraw U.S. forces from the war with Iran unless Congress authorizes military action. It was the latest such vote that fell short of passage as Republicans...

 9 Colorado hospitals at risk of closing due to Medicaid cuts

The $900 billion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade could threaten the viability of more than 400 hospitals nationally and at least nine in Colorado, a new report has found. The hospitals span the Front Range and rural communities,...

 Democrats vow to block next Trump Supreme Court pick amid Alito speculation

Justice Samuel Alito hasn’t tipped his hat on retiring just yet, but Senate Democrats are already entrenched in opposing the confirmation of a successor that would deliver President Donald Trump his fourth lifetime appointment to the high court. Democrats need...

 Lakewood mayor calls for unity, community in State of the City speech

Lakewood held its first State of the City address since 2018 on Wednesday — timing Mayor Wendi Strom attributed to fate. “We got bumped a few times on dates,” Strom said to a room of nearly 100 residents and officials....

 Colorado Senate reworks key programs, gives preliminary nod to $46B budget

With the Senate’s traditional Budget Day barbecue setting a lighter tone, lawmakers worked through the $46.8 billion state budget Wednesday, navigating a long list of amendments but avoiding the partisan clashes that defined the House debate last week. The Senate...

 Colorado budget plan seeks to keep $306 million by canceling TABOR refunds

Tucked deep within the hundreds of pages of the proposed $46.8 billion 2026–27 state budget is a line item showing $306.1 million in savings — achieved by canceling Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights refunds. Gov. Jared Polis has recommended withholding TABOR...

 RTD lays off two dozen managers in operations ‘realignment’

More than two dozen managers at the Regional Transportation District learned in March that their jobs would be eliminated, with their last day of work set for July 2. That’s according to documents provided to The Denver Gazette by an...

 Colorado Supreme Court concerned about police overreach in interrogations

Some members of the Colorado Supreme Court appeared hesitant on Tuesday to endorse the ability of police to interrogate a suspect after they have obtained a court order authorizing only the collection of physical evidence. Under Colorado’s criminal rules, law...

 Colorado House committee advances Democratic bill to reduce penalties for ‘extreme indifference’ murder

Lawmakers on the Colorado House Judiciary Committee narrowly passed a bill proposing changes to the state’s sentencing guidelines for murders facilitated with “extreme indifference to the value of human life.” Colorado is one of several states with this type of...