Colorado Elections Decide Potential Democratic Legislative Supermajorities
Colorado voters decide Tuesday if Democrats will secure supermajorities in both the House and Senate, potentially enabling constitutional amendments to the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
Colorado's state legislative elections on Tuesday center on whether Democrats can secure supermajorities in both the House and Senate. The party currently holds 43 of 65 House seats and 23 of 35 Senate seats, leaving them one seat shy of a two-thirds margin in each chamber. A supermajority would allow the party to refer constitutional amendments to voters, specifically targeting the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights (TABOR), and increase their power over veto overrides and committee assignments.
Outside spending for the cycle has exceeded $21 million, with conservative groups contributing approximately $14 million and Democratic-aligned committees spending $7 million. Key contests include the Highlands Ranch Senate seat, where Republican John Carson faces Democrat Kevin Leung, and House District 16 in Colorado Springs, where Democrat Steph Vigil is seeking to reclaim her seat.
Republican leaders warn that a Democratic supermajority could lead to a one-party state and marginalize the GOP in the legislature. Conversely, Democratic candidates suggest that while the strategic margins are important to party leadership, voters are primarily focused on the cost of living, public safety, and government size.
