5 takeaways from Colorado's blue tsunami election
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Amanda Gonzalez, from left, Phil Weiser, Jena Griswold and Jeff Bridges with Colorado Democratic Party Chair Shad Murib at Mission Ballroom in Denver Tuesday. Photo: AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post via Getty Images
A blue tsunami crashed into Colorado in Tuesday's midterm election, with Democrats winning every statewide race and gaining ground in ruby-red districts.
Why it matters: Colorado's blue streak deepened with voters embracing progressive candidates and policies.
- The results delivered a stinging rebuke of President Trump and exposed the Colorado Republican Party's struggles to recruit competitive candidates or fundraise.
Here are five election night takeaways:
1. Democrats claimed all five statewide races with roughly 60% of the vote in each, secured a supermajority in both chambers of the Legislature and appeared competitive in all eight congressional districts.
- Colorado Democrats also helped their party secure majorities in the U.S. House and Senate.
- In progressive victories, Denver elected democratic socialist Melat Kiros to Congress, while voters appeared willing to embrace Amendment 87, a measure to raise taxes on high earners.
What they're saying: "The American people are sick and tired of the status quo," Kiros told us after her win.
- "They are not only upset with this administration, but they're also upset with the people that have been in positions of power and haven't actually done anything to make a difference for working families."
2. The biggest surprise: Democrats didn't just win. They won big — even in Republican strongholds where Trump won by 9+ percentage points in 2024.
- In the 4th District, Republican Lauren Boebert trailed Democrat Eileen Laubacher, a first-time but well-funded candidate, state figures show.
3. Colorado voters made history up and down the ballot, electing barrier-breaking candidates.
- Jena Griswold became the first Democratic woman elected Colorado attorney general.
- Kiros became Colorado's first Black woman elected to Congress.
- Amanda Gonzalez became the first Latina and first openly LGBTQ person elected Colorado secretary of state.
- Jessica Killin led Republican Jeff Crank, according to preliminary state tallies. If she wins, she'd be the first Democrat ever elected to represent the 5th Congressional District in El Paso County.
- Democrat Yolanda Avila claimed victory in an El Paso County commission race — a potential first for the party.
4. Voters didn't write progressives a blank check. Conservative-backed measures fared better than Republican candidates in early vote totals.
- Two measures to toughen criminal penalties for fentanyl and human trafficking drew majority support in early vote counts.
- Two proposals restricting surgery and sports participation for transgender youth also led in preliminary results Tuesday night.
5. We're not done yet. The vote counting will continue for days and offer results on races and measures that remain too close to call.
- One of the closest is Proposition 137, which would direct sales taxes on sporting goods to environmental and conservation efforts. The vote remained split at midnight.
Editor's note: This is a developing story and will be updated.