Poll: Colorado voters think U.S. politics are in crisis
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Colorado is taking a side-eye view at U.S. politics, a new poll shows.
Why it matters: The bipartisan Colorado Polling Institute survey released Thursday serves as a pulse check on the state's electorate entering the 2026 midterm election cycle.
Stunning stats: The vast majority of likely Colorado voters — 72% — believe American politics are in crisis, and two-thirds believe political violence will worsen in the next few years.
- A scant 3% say politics are in "pretty good shape."
State of play: The negative attitude is consistent across political parties but more pronounced for the state's independent and Democratic voters.
- National politics and divisive issues — including the government shutdown, a state budget deficit and an immigration crackdown — are driving the sentiment.
- It extends to top elected officials, most of whom are viewed with increasing unfavorability.
The big picture: Earlier this year, a separate poll identified government and politics as the leading concern among Coloradans, a data point that fits with the new findings.
What they're saying: Lori Weigel, a Republican pollster who helped conduct the survey, says the assortment of partisan fights is weighing on voters. "We may be having a 'bah, humbug' Christmas," she says.
The fine print: The online survey conducted by Republican and Democratic pollsters reached 622 likely voters and took place Nov. 1–5. The margin of error is plus-or-minus 3.9%.