In Colorado, progressives challenge establishment Democrats for party's future
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Illustration: Rebecca Zisser/Axios
As the 2026 election approaches, Colorado is emerging as a test case for the Democratic Party's future.
Why it matters: Up and down the ballot, progressives are challenging the Democratic centrist establishment, reflecting the split in the national party and the current battle for its future in the MAGA era.
State of play: The most prominent example is state Sen. Julie Gonzales' bid to defeat U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a former two-term governor and Denver mayor.
- In a video published Monday announcing her insurgent candidacy, Gonzales called for a new generation of battle-ready Democrats to take charge, rather than those who "go along to get along" and represent "the status quo."
Between the lines: "It's emblematic of the kind of change the Democratic base is looking for at this moment," said Wynn Howell, the Colorado director for the progressive Working Families Party. "They want people who fight Trump and don't vote for his nominees."
The big picture: This dynamic is evident in three prominent Democratic contests in Colorado.
- In the governor's race, U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, a three-plus term moderate is competing against Attorney General Phil Weiser, who is pushing back against Trump with dozens of lawsuits.
- In the attorney general's race, David Seligman, executive director of legal and labor rights organization Towards Justice, is garnering attention in his bid against Colorado's two-term secretary of state and a longtime county district attorney.
- In Denver's 1st Congressional District, three-decade incumbent Diana DeGette faces multiple rivals who identify as more activist and liberal.
What they're saying: "The rise of Trump has led to Democrats thinking of different ways to counter and to win elections," Paul Teske, a political expert at CU Denver, told us.
- "Some believe Democrats need the middle and working classes … and the need to emphasize middle stream issues," he adds.
- "Others believe that the corruption and increasing income inequality make the case for an unapologetic, highly progressive economic agenda."
The other side: In Colorado, statewide progressive candidates have struggled at the ballot box, in part because the state's majority independent voter base tends to lean centrist.
- In a statement, Hickenlooper spokesperson Jess Cohen said Hickenlooper "is relentlessly fighting" Trump's agenda, including efforts to sell public lands.