Happy Thursday! One more day until Halloweekend.

🌤️ Today's weather: Mostly sunny — high of 67.

🎂 Happy birthday to our member Bill Jaffee!

Today’s newsletter is 910 words — a 3.5-minute read.

The statewide ballot has a geographic fault line: All five Democratic candidates live in the Denver area, while most of their Republican rivals call southern Colorado home.

Why it matters: Whoever gets elected sets the agenda — and how they prioritize the state's challenges varies by geography.

State of play: The Democratic nominees for U.S. Senate, governor, attorney general, secretary of state and treasurer call the Denver area home.

• U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who's seeking reelection, and gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser are from Denver.
• Attorney general candidate Jena Griswold lives in Louisville, secretary of state candidate Amanda Gonzalez lives in Arvada, and Jeff Bridges, the treasurer nominee, is from Greenwood Village.

This is the first midterm since 2006 where all Democratic statewide candidates came from the Denver area.

On the Republican end, Victor Marx, a candidate for governor, and Michael Allen, the AG nominee, are from El Paso County. U.S. Senate contender Mark Baisley lives next door in rural Teller County.

• Treasurer hopeful Kevin Grantham is farther south in Cañon City.
• James Wiley, a secretary of state candidate, is the exception. He lists his home as Littleton.

What they're saying: "There is a perception out there that Gov. Polis and these Democratic majorities only care about the Denver-Boulder axis ... and that's at the expense of the rest of the state," Dick Wadhams, a Pueblo native and former state GOP chair, told us.

Keep reading

More than 1 million Colorado voters have cast ballots in the 2026 election.

Yes, but: With less than a week to go, turnout lags the prior midterm cycle, an exclusive Axios analysis finds.

Why it matters: Colorado's lengthy and complicated ballot's likely contributing to the slow start — setting the stage for a late surge that could delay vote counting and results.

State of play: The state counted 1,109,631 ballots through Tuesday, representing just 24% of registered voters.

• That's roughly on pace with the 2022 midterms but almost 40% below 2024 election levels.

By the numbers: Statewide, 32% of Democratic registered voters have cast ballots, compared with 27% of Republicans.

• Just 20% of unaffiliated voters — more than half the electorate — have turned out so far.

The intrigue: The turnout picture's more blue, with Democrats voting at higher rates than their share of the electorate.

The fine print: Our analysis measures all registered voters, not just "active voters" who receive mail ballots, which is how the state inflates its turnout numbers.

The big picture: If unaffiliated voters stayed on the sidelines — an unlikely outcome — it would deliver a huge blow to Democrats.

Zoom in: Turnout is soft in deep-blue Denver at 18%.

• Just 24% of Denver's Democrats have voted, even though they make up 38% of registered voters.
• Republican turnout is 19% — a higher rate than their share of the electorate.

What we're watching: A final-days ballot rush, particularly in Denver.

Tell a voter

The Denver Art Museum will welcome a name synonymous with modern art: Pablo Picasso.

Why it matters: The exhibition will mark DAM's first comprehensive showcase of the Spanish master and its only U.S. stop.

The big picture: DAM's partnering with Musée National Picasso–Paris and Manifesto Expo for "Picasso: Magician," which chronicles seven decades of the artist's pioneering work.

What to expect: The exhibition will feature about 130 Picasso works, including paintings, sculptures, drawings and ceramics, plus 20 by other artists.

• It'll present pieces from the artist's Blue Period, Cubism and Surrealist eras, with special attention to his focus on the human form.

What they're saying: Picasso was "like a magician" with an "ability to transform reality into new creative forms full of humanity, mystery and emotion," DAM director Christoph Heinrich said.

What's next: "Picasso: Magician" runs from Oct. 31, 2027, to Feb. 27, 2028.

🤙 Arapahoe Basin kicked off ski season yesterday, becoming the first resort in North America to open, John reports.

🏠 City Council members want more funding for Denver's rental and utility assistance program after Mayor Johnston's budget proposed cuts. (9News)

👀 Police arrested a 32-year-old man yesterday, linked to a suspicious device left outside the state Capitol, Esteban reports.

• The device prompted a brief building evacuation, though police determined it wasn't a threat.

🗳️ Denver Elections confirmed election judges stationed at the Green Valley Ranch Recreation Center are legit after a post sparked suspicion. (CPR)

👏 Jennifer Jasinski — the chef behind Rioja, Bistro Vendome and Ultreia — was inducted into the Culinary Institute's Hall of Fame. (Westword)

Trick-or-treaters in Denver have until 5:58pm this Halloween before the Sun calls it a night.

Why it matters: Whether you're wrangling little ghosts and goblins or waiting for them to knock, knowing when darkness falls can help you plan your night.

Yes, but: Sunset doesn't mean lights out. Twilight typically buys you another 20–40 minutes of natural light.

The other side: The waning gibbous Halloween Moon won't rise until later in much of the U.S., leaving little moonlight for early trick-or-treaters.

🕑 What's next: Enjoy that last sliver of evening sunshine. Clocks fall back an hour at 2am Sunday.

👻 John can still feel the excitement from being a kid when dusk arrived on Halloween.

🎶 Alayna is listening to this song by The Something Specials.

🏀 Esteban is reading this Denver Post column on Jokić's booing complaint.

Thanks to our editor, Gigi Sukin.