When voters created the landslide that resulted in Democrats winning all statewide electoral offices, a 4-3 congressional delegation and legislative majorities in both chambers of the state legislature in 2018, it seemed that things probably couldn’t get much better for Democrats in Colorado. Then came 2022.
Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Treasurer Dave Young were all reelected by very comfortable margins. U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet coasted to victory with a larger percentage than even the most Democratic leaning polls could have suggested. Now with eight members of Colorado, there will be at least five, and possibly six, Democratic members of Congress. And Democrats majorities in the General Assembly will likely be larger than anytime in state history.
While it was obvious that Polis and Weiser would cruise to victory, Griswold and Young appeared to be facing more difficult challenges from Pam Anderson and Lang Sias but final results saw all four incumbents winning very comfortably. Bennet’s easy victory over Joe O’Dea suggests that his reelection was never really in doubt. Democrat Yadira Caraveo won a close battle over Barb Kirkmeyer in the new 8th Congressional District.
As expected, Democrats easily held congressional districts 1, 2, 6 and 7 and Republicans handily retained districts 4 and 5. But in the biggest surprise, former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch is giving Republican Lauren Boebert the fight of her life in an election for the 3rd District that seems likely to be decided by a recount. After just two years in office and regardless of the outcome, voters in the heavily Republican district seem to be telling Boebert they’d like her to stop being a leader in the lack of decorum and civility movement.
Most observers expected Democrats to stay in control of the legislature, but for the size of their majorities to decrease. While final vote counts could adjust the final numbers, it now appears that the House of Representatives will have a 46-19 split with the Senate majority increasing to 23-12. Democrats appear to have won House seats in previously safe Republican districts in El Paso, Douglas and Weld Counties.
Colorado’s new process of drawing legislative and congressional district lines by independent commissions was expected to level the playing field for minority Republicans compared to a more partisan process, but it’s hard to imagine even the most partisan maps drawn by Democrats could have resulted in better results for them.
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It looks like a million dollars didn’t buy much for Tim Walsh. Walsh, who lost overwhelmingly to Lisa Cutter for State Senate District 20, spent over a million dollars of his own money to pursue the seat. He ran earlier television ads than had been seen previously for a state senate race. His misleading attacks against Cutter’s record as a member of the House of Representative seemed to have little impact on voters.
Greg Romberg had a long career in state and local government and in government relations. He represented corporate, government and trade association clients before federal, state and local governments. He lives in Evergreen with his wife, Laurie.