Colorado

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Colorado is a rapidly growing state that could gain one congressional seat following the 2020 Census. This year, we are targeting the open governor’s race, the state Senate, and a ballot measure that would reform how congressional and state legislative lines are drawn.

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How Redistricting Happened in Colorado

The following timeline is a high-level overview outlining major redistricting events and activity in the state of Colorado over the last 10 years.

2011

Census data delivered to Colorado.

A divided legislature failed to send a congressional map to Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper.

The legislature’s failure to draw a new congressional map spurred a flurry of litigation in Colorado state court. The district court adopted a new map proposed by one of the plaintiff groups during the litigation, and the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed that decision.

The map initially submitted by the Colorado Reapportionment Commission was rejected by the Colorado Supreme Court and returned for re-drafting. The Commission submitted revised plans, which were approved by the state Supreme Court.

2012

President Barack Obama won the state with 51% of the vote and the congressional delegation was almost evenly split between Democrats and Republicans.

2018

Voters have the opportunity to elect Democrats to the state legislature and governor's mansion who will draw fair maps that reflect the diversity of Colorado. An initiative to reform the redistricting process could also be on the ballot.

Know the Races that Impact Redistricting

  • Governor. Gov. John Hickenlooper is term-limited, meaning that this is an open race we need to defend. Under the state’s current redistricting rules, the governor can veto congressional maps drawn by the legislature.
  • State Senate. The Colorado Senate is also a key battleground chamber, with Republicans currently holding a narrow one-seat majority.

1 Know the Decision Makers

In Colorado, Congressional redistricting is controlled by the state legislature and the governor. Legislative redistricting is controlled by an 11-member bipartisan commission, with members appointed by the Chief Justice of the state Supreme Court and chosen by five elected officials. Those elected officials are:

  • Governor
  • State Senate Majority Leader
  • State Senate Minority Leader
  • Speaker of the State House
  • State House Minority Leader

2

Governor

Jared Polis

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3 Know Your State Legislature

Colorado Lower Chamber
36

Democratic-held
seats

29

Republican-held
seats

Colorado Upper Chamber
16

Democratic-held
seats

18

Republican-held
seats

1 Held by a third or unaffiliated party

4 Register to Vote

Register to vote in Colorado

You can also confirm that you are already registered to vote.

5 Vote

Vote for candidates who will unrig the system. We will have a list of candidates we are supporting later in the year.

 

Primary Election Date: June 26, 2018

General Election Date: November 6, 2018

Learn more about Ballot Initiatives in Colorado

Earlier this year, unanimous bipartisan votes in both the House and the Senate referred a pair of redistricting measures to the ballot. If approved, the measures would create new independent commissions to draw Colorado’s congressional and state legislative maps. In November, voters will have the opportunity to vote for an independent redistricting commission that will create fair districts.

Court Cases Impacting Colorado

Because the legislature could not agree on a map, the Colorado congressional map was decided in court.

Hall v. Moreno

Read the Colorado Supreme Court's decision in Hall v. Moreno.

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Get Involved in Colorado Today

The fight to fix gerrymandering is right now—and we need your help in Colorado! Here’s what you can do:

Join Organizing for ‘18

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee and Organizing for Action (OFA) launched a partnership to build a more fair democracy by strategically targeting legislative chambers, governorships, and ballot initiatives that will be critical in determining how maps are drawn after the 2020 Census.

Join a Local OFA Chapter

Alongside the National Redistricting Action Fund (an NDRC affiliate), OFA is engaging with activists and volunteers to help educate people about gerrymandering and involve them in the process of fixing a badly rigged political system.

Find an OFA Chapter

Attend Events Near You

The National Democratic Redistricting Committee and MobilizeAmerica have teamed up to bring you the highest-impact volunteer opportunities in Colorado to help elect Democrats up and down the ticket — and bring an end to Republican gerrymandering.

You can register to vote for the general election in Colorado up until November 6, 2018.

Register
to Vote