Live Blog: Boebert wins reelection, Coloradans protect abortion in state constitution, reject Prop 131

It’s Election Day in Colorado and across the nation. 

Colorado Sun staffers are fanning out across the state to talk to voters and candidates as the races for president, Congress, statehouse and ballot measures come to a close. 

The polls closed at 7 p.m. in Colorado.

We won’t post stories about races tonight until they have been called by our partners at The Associated Press, or if the outcome will be too close to call before tabulation ends today. 

We do not write about early returns like other news outlets because they can be misleading. Our reporters will be tweeting analysis of the first results in the meantime, as well as posting updates from voting centers and campaign watch parties. And you can follow our Colorado Election 2024 page for up-to-date results from all of the state’s major races and ballot initiatives.

We’re expecting a lot of last-minute ballots this year, which will slow the counting process. While results will start being posted at about 7:30 p.m., it may be quite awhile before races are called. 

Check this live blog regularly to get the latest election results and news.

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Voters reject Prop 131, effort to remake Colorado’s election system

10:06 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Colorado voters rejected Proposition 131, which would have moved the state to all-candidate primaries followed by ranked choice general elections.

Supporters of the proposition conceded defeat at about 10 p.m..

Read more

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Ordinance 309 fails: Denver voters reject attempt to ban slaughterhouses within city

9:37 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Denver voters reject Ordinance 309, which proposed to ban slaughterhouses within city.

Read more

— Tracy Ross, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Denver’s 7A: Voters say RTD can keep taxes, remove TABOR cap

9:25 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Metro Denver voters approved RTD Question 7A, allowing RTD to keep taxes, remove TABOR cap.

Read more

— Michael Booth , Colorado Sun staff writer

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Amendment G passes: Colorado voters expand property tax break to more disabled veterans

9:14 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Voters approved Amendment G, expanding property tax break to more disabled veterans.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:40 p.m.

Read more

— Brian Eason, Sun politics reporter

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Proposition 128 passes: Colorado extends prison time for people convicted of some violent felonies

9:10 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Voters approve Proposition 128 passes, extending prison time for people convicted of some violent felonies.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:58 p.m.

Read more

— Olivia Prentzel, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Amendment H passes: Colorado to create a new board to enforce judicial ethics

9:06 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Voters approve Amendment H, creating a new board to enforce judicial ethics.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:41 p.m.

Read more

— Brian Eason, Sun politics reporter

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Voters approve Amendment J, removing Colorado’s constitutional prohibition on same-sex marriage

9 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Voters approve Amendment J, removing Colorado’s constitutional prohibition on same-sex marriage.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:50 p.m.

Read more

— Jennifer Brown, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Lauren Boebert re-elected to U.S. House in 4th Congressional District

8:56 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert has been re-elected to the U.S. House in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District.

Her Democratic opponent, Trisha Calvarese, conceded at 8:48 p.m.

Read more

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Brittany Pettersen re-elected to U.S. House in 7th Congressional District

8:50 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Democratic U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen has been re-elected to the U.S. House in Colorado’s 7th Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:44 p.m.

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Voters approve Amendment I, allowing judges to deny bail for murder defendants

8:47 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Voters approve Amendment I, which allows Colorado judges to deny bail to people charged with first-degree murder.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:43 p.m.

Read more

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Colorado voters approve abortion measure, Amendment 79

8:30 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Colorado voters approved Amendment 79, establishing a constitutional right to abortion.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:28 p.m.

Read more

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Kamala Harris easily beats Donald Trump in Colorado, securing 10 electoral votes

8:13 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Kamala Harris easily beats Donald Trump in Colorado, securing 10 electoral votes.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:08 p.m.

Read more

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Proposition JJ passes, allows Colorado to keep sports betting tax revenue

8:05 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Proposition JJ, which allows Colorado to keep all the sports betting tax revenue it collects, has been approved by voters.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:59 p.m.

Read more

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Cheers erupt at Democratic watch party in Denver

8 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Cheers erupted at a Democratic watch party in Denver’s RiNo neighborhood Tuesday night when U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette took the stage — as much to celebrate her re-election to Congress, as to calm the crowd’s nerves.

“How many of you are feeling a little nervous right now?” DeGette asked, as hands shot up in the packed audience at the Number Thirty Eight bar.

“Don’t be nervous. At the end of the night Kamala Harris will be the next president of the United States.”

The growing crowd at the Democratic watch party was bundled in beanies and coats against the cold, as snow fell on the patio outside. Staffers passed out Kamala Harris pins reading “Yes She Can” — a play on former President Barack Obama’s campaign slogan — and reproductive rights pins in both English and Spanish.

“I promise you I will fight in the first week under President Harris and a Democratic House and Senate to codify Roe vs. Wade,” DeGette said, projecting optimism. “We will do it.”

— Brian Eason, Sun politics reporter

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Joe Neguse re-elected to U.S. House in 2nd Congressional District

7:53 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Democratic U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse has been re-elected to the U.S. House in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:48 p.m.

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Jason Crow re-elected to U.S. House in 6th Congressional District

7:44 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow has been re-elected to the U.S. House in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:40 p.m.

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Diana DeGette is re-elected to U.S. House

7:15 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Democratic U.S. Rep. Diana DeGette has won re-election in Colorado’s 1st Congressional District.

The Associated Press called the race at 7:11 p.m.

— Larry Ryckman, publisher

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Denver slaughterhouse faces local vote

6:54 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Alyson Ware, a Denver Democrat, voted in favor of Ordinance 309, which seeks to ban existing and future slaughterhouses in Denver, after living as a devoted vegan for the past 11 years.

“I stand against industrial animal agriculture pretty strongly,” Ware, 26, said after casting her ballot outside the Denver Botanic Gardens on Tuesday afternoon. “It’s very unethical the way that we slaughter animals in industrial agriculture.”

Edward Simpson, who lives in Denver and identifies as a Libertarian, opposes the ballot measure. Simpson, 29, doesn’t support banning all slaughterhouses in the future in Denver when only one currently operates.

“Why are we shutting off the city to potential future economic opportunities when we could just improve what’s going on at that one?” he said after turning in his ballot outside the Denver Botanic Gardens.

Kyle Johnston, an unaffiliated voter who lives in Denver, voted against the ballot measure out of concern for employees of the one slaughterhouse in Denver. He doesn’t want to see those workers laid off.

“Those people have families to feed as well,” Johnston, 33, said shortly after casting his ballot inside Denver’s Union Station. “As long as (slaughtering is) done properly and humanely and is legal through the USDA and everything like that, I don’t see what the problem is.”

— Erica Breunlin, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Something to keep in mind about results as Colorado’s polls close

6:40 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Ballots are counted in Colorado in the order they are turned in, so the first results that are posted on election night are the ones cast by the earliest voters. 

Election Day ballots are the last to be counted. 

That means the first results often are not representative of the final results. Things can change a lot. 

And remember: The more ballots that are turned in on Election Day, the slower the count. This year, many ballots were turned in the days before Election Day. 

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Nearly 2.8 million ballots had been cast in Colorado as of 2 p.m.

4:34 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Nearly 2.8 million ballots had been cast in Colorado as of 2 p.m. 

Forty-four percent of the ballots were cast by unaffiliated voters, while 28% had been cast by Democrats and 26% had been cast by Republicans. 

The vast majority of ballots cast — or 2.6 million — were mail ballots. Less than 200,000 had voted in person.

There are about 4 million active, registered voters in Colorado. Unaffiliated voters make up the largest share of the electorate, at 48%, followed by Democrats at 26% and Republicans at 23%.

Turnout is still lagging behind what it was in 2020, the last presidential election in Colorado. It has, however, surpassed 2022 turnout in the state.

Voting ends at 7 p.m.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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“Democracy is at stake” for at least one Brighton voter

4:22 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

BRIGHTON — Linda Sturm didn’t hold back when asked why she voted for Kamala Harris.

“I don’t want a convicted felon in the White House, and Trump is unfit to be there,” said Sturm, a Westminster Democrat. “I mean, democracy is at stake here, not just people’s rights. I mean I could give you 100 reasons. He’s a very bad, evil man.”

She voted against Proposition 131, which would establish all-candidate primaries followed by ranked choice general elections.

“Number one, it allows a lot of chaos within the voting system that Colorado has set up,” Sturm said. “And number two, I think some bottom of the barrel people can win with a minimal majority. And I don’t like that, so I voted no. And I don’t like Thiry, who’s behind the thing, I don’t like him. So I think it’s an attempt to rig a system that’s working.”

— Parker Yamasaki, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Denver judge denies Libertarian Party’s attempt to require hand count of ballots in Colorado counties affected by election system password leak

4:09 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

A Denver judge Tuesday rejected the Colorado Libertarian Party’s lawsuit seeking to require a hand count of ballots in counties affected by the mistaken posting of election system passwords online.

Denver District Court Judge Kandace Gerdes, in denying the request, said the state has enough safeguards in place to ensure that election machines can accurately count ballots.

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office realized last month that a spreadsheet posted on its website contained passwords to voting systems in 34 of the state’s 64 counties. The spreadsheet was online for months. 

State elections officials have since changed the passwords and say they’re confident they weren’t used to access voting systems. The passwords can only be used on the machines in person, and the machines are in secure areas at county clerk’s offices. 

The Colorado Secretary of State’s Office said its investigation of the mistake determined that the passwords were added to a hidden tab on a spreadsheet by a staff member who left their job at the office before the accidental posting took place. The spreadsheet was posted online June 21 and remained there until it was taken down Oct. 24.

Secretary of State Jena Griswold’s office said in a statement that it “is engaging a well-regarded law firm to conduct an outside investigation into the event, determining how it happened, how it could be prevented in the future, and any recommendations for improvement of practices and procedures.”

“Once the investigation has been finalized, the department will release any findings as the law permits,” the statement said. “The department will require additional cybersecurity training with all staff, including password management and security procedures.”

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Boebert, bobcats, canines and charter schools: What else to watch as Colorado’s election results roll in

4 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Here are some of the other storylines The Colorado Sun politics team be watching today:

• The race in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District may be a lot closer than it has been in years past, but, assuming conventional wisdom holds, Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert likely will secure her third term in Congress today. Because Boebert is Boebert, and everyone in Colorado politics remembers the surprise of her close shave in 2022, you can’t totally write off Democrat Trisha Calvarese, who has been raising truckloads of cash. A win is a win is a win, but if Calvarese, a first-time candidate, gets within 10 percentage points of Boebert, that will mark a major underperformance for the congresswoman in Colorado’s most Republican congressional district.
• The Western Slope is still steamed by Colorado voters’ 2020 decision to sign off on wolf reintroduction. This year, people there see Proposition 127, which would ban the hunting of mountain lions, bobcats and lynx, as another example of so-called ballot box biology. Millions of dollars have been spent in support and opposition to the measure, bankrolled by animal rights groups and conservative political nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors. We’ll be watching closely to see which counties vote for and against this initiative. 
• With so many measures on the statewide ballot this year, it can be easy to forget Proposition 129, which would create a new, state-regulated position of veterinary professional associate. But millions of dollars have been spent to influence how voters cast their ballots on this initiative, which, if it passed, would have a major effect on Colorado’s pet care landscape. With no public polling released on the measure, we have no idea what the outcome will be.
• If you ask a random person on the street about the State Board of Education, they’ve probably never heard of it before. But the panel has enormous sway over charter school development in Colorado, and the neck-and-neck race for the 8th Congressional District seat on the board will determine its charter-school posture for years to come. If Democrat Rhonda Solis wins reelection, charter schools that are rejected by local school districts likely won’t find a sympathetic ear with the State Board of Education, which has the power to overturn a local district’s denial. If Republican Yazmin Navarro wins, the pro-charter status quo is expected to remain. The State Board of Education race in the 8th District is just as competitive as the race between Caraveo and Evans, so we may not know the outcome of the contest for several days.
• Proposition 130 hasn’t gotten much attention either, but it has the chance to upend Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal before the Joint Budget Committee even holds its first meeting to discuss it. If it passes, the measure would require lawmakers to set aside $350 million from the state’s general fund for law enforcement recruitment, training and retention. Polis on Friday said his budget request doesn’t include any placeholders to do so. Whether Polis and the legislature would try to fund it all at once or over time, the measure’s passage would deepen the financial hole the state finds itself in.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

This item first appeared in The Unaffiliated newsletter on Tuesday.

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Mesa County voters express distrust of poll workers

3:33 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

GRAND JUNCTION — A steady stream of drop-box voters has been rolling into the Mesa County Clerk and Recorder’s office since 7 a.m. Tuesday. 

And some of those voters showed their election jitters by refusing to hand over ballots to volunteers who were helping to stuff them into the box for voters who couldn’t quite reach the box from their vehicles.

“It seems like a lot of people this year just have a chip on their shoulders,” said election volunteer Dan Lochner, who is in his fourth year of helping with voting. “It seems like they just don’t trust us.”

Mesa County has had some particular problems that have fed that mistrust.

Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters is behind bars for helping election deniers break into her own voting system in 2020. An investigation is ongoing into 10 stolen ballots from a Mesa County neighborhood. And the recent mistaken release of election system passwords from the Colorado State Clerk’s office have also put some voters on edge.

Mesa County Clerk Bobbie Gross said nervous Election Day voters have not caused problems over their mistrust of the voting system. Those complaints came prior to Election Day in a spate of emails alleging the system is rigged. Some contained threats.

As a line of in-person voters stretched down a hallway and a sidewalk since the polls opened at 7 a.m., Gross said she expects nearly 30,000 voters to cast ballots on Election Day. 

In case any of those voters might choose to cause problems, she said security guards and sheriff’s office volunteers are patrolling at polling places.

— Nancy Lofholm, special to The Colorado Sun

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Colorado Springs voters speak out on candidates, issues

3:15 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

COLORADO SPRINGS — Nancy Entenza, 60, of Green Mountain Falls, said she voted for Kamala Harris.

“As a lifelong Democrat, her policies align with my fundamental beliefs,” she said Tuesday. “I struggle with the loss of freedoms that women are facing right now.”

Entenza voted for Amendment 79, which preserves access to abortion in Colorado’s constitution.

“I think it is unfortunate that we have to debate or fight for something that should be a fundamental freedom — a woman’s right to make her own decision,” she said. “But if that’s how it is going to be, it needs to be codified.”

Alex Albrecht, a 24-year-old unaffiliated voter, opposed the measure.

“It goes without saying that I view the value of life to start at conception,” Albrecht said. “I believe that God cares and thinks about us while we are still in the womb so if God created a life, it’s not for me to end it.” 

“I’ve had a lot of good conversations with people who are pro-choice who see it as the potential for life and it’s been really good to be able to discuss with people my age in a not-so-divisive kind of way, where they can still respect me and I can still respect them,” she said. “That is definitely, of all things on the ballot, what I was most passionate about.” 

Michelle Hassler, a 57-year-old Democrat, explained her reason for voting for Kamala Harris.

“Reproductive rights, women’s rights, the fate of democracy,” she said. 

“I’m against facism,” she added. 

Hassler said she opposed Amendment 80, which would place a right to school choice in the state constitution.

“I voted against that for the idea that tax dollars could be used to fund private schools,” she said. “I don’t like the idea of tax dollars being used to pay for wealthy people’s private schools because I don’t think the measure was designed to ensure that lower income children have that same opportunity.”

Hassler dropped off her ballot in downtown Colorado Springs with her three dogs, Bosley, a Staffordshire Bull-Terrier and Boston Terrier mix; Angus, a shih tzu, pinscher and chihuahua mix; and Tess, a Boston terrier. 

Tavianna Seidl, a 21-year-old unaffiliated voter, said she voted for Harris for president.

“I voted for Kamala because she sounds as if she is going to do the right things for where America needs to go, obviously for women’s rights,” Seidl said. “That’s really the only thing that drove it: women’s rights.”

— Olivia Prentzel, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Super PAC spending in Colorado’s highly competitive 8th Congressional District approaches $29 million

2:54 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Federal super PACs reported spending nearly $29 million on the race in Colorado’s highly competitive 8th Congressional District through midday Tuesday. 

Most of the spending was to benefit Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo of Thornton, who is running against Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans of Fort Lupton.

Here’s a look at the super PACs that spent the most money in the race.

— Sandra Fish, Colorado Sun correspondent

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What some Eagle voters were saying at the polls today

2:41 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

EAGLE — Jason Strine is unaffiliated and voted for Kamala Harris for president. 

“A lot of environmental reasons,” said the 29-year-old Gypsum resident after dropping off his ballot Tuesday afternoon in Eagle. 

Strine voted yes on Proposition 127, which would ban hunting of mountain lions and bobcats. 

“I’m for the protection of animals and I think mountain lions benefit the ecosystem,” he said. “I see them doing a lot of good.”

Strine voted for Proposition 131, which would eliminate party primaries and allow all candidates, regardless of political affiliation, to compete in an open primary election. 

“I think having that kind of system would be more beneficial and help getting the right people elected,” Strine said. “There will be better opportunities if that passes.”

Teddy Sadler, an unaffiliated Eagle resident, voted no on Proposition 127, which would ban mountain lion hunting.

“If we make it illegal the government is gonna go out there and kill cats so you might as well let the guys who enjoy doing it with their dogs and whatnot have that chance. And let the state make a little money doing it that way,” Sadler said. 

Sadler also voted no on Proposition 131, the ranked choice primary measure.

“It just seems a little weird. Like, not how we have ever done things, right?” he said. 

Lucila Tvarkunas, a 44-year-old mother and unaffiliated resident of Eagle, said she voted for Harris for president. 

“Love versus hate,” she said, pausing for a moment atop her electric bike after dropping her ballot. 

Tvarkunas voted no on Proposition 131, which would eliminate party primaries and allow ranked-choice voting in primary elections. 

“After doing some research, it sounded like it was just funded by very rich people and after studying it, I think we should keep things the way they are,” Tvarkunas said.

Anne Helene Garberg voted in her first U.S. election on Tuesday. The native of Norway recently became a U.S. citizen and she voted for Harris for president. 

“In Norway, you definitely have more diversity in politics and while there are big things I’m against that the Democrats do, I definitely don’t like Donald Trump. So there you go,” she said. 

Garberg voted to ban mountain lion hunting. 

“I come from a sheep farm in Norway and I used to live out in the woods and I had little babies and they were outside a lot. I totally understand people living out in the wilderness … and I believe we need diversity in our wildlife,” said Garberg, walking home after dropping off her ballot in downtown Eagle.

She voted in favor of allowing open primary elections.

“I feel like this two-party kind of thing here, I think it’s kind of bad,” she said. “I haven’t really studied the whole process but it seems like this would be a good change.”

Jeff Kenney, an unaffiliated Eagle resident, said he voted for the Libertarian Party candidate.

“Because I’m sick of the two parties ruling and I’m just trying to get a third option some day,” he said, walking his dog after dropping off his ballot in Eagle.

Kenney voted no on the proposal to ban mountain lion hunting. 

“I think it would disrupt our nature too much,” Kenney said. “If they want to do something like that, it should be up to scientists and maybe it would be better to do it gradually. I’m not a hunter myself and I’m not really a big fan of predator hunting, but I know it’s important to keep a balance and that balance is better decided through science.”

Eagle resident Nathan Allison is a registered Libertarian who voted for Robert Kennedy Jr. for president.

“His policies are not contained to specific parties. He can be for one thing and then a different thing, unlike with most parties where you can’t be part of a party and support certain policies,” Allison said. “He built his philosophy on what he believes is right and that lines up with my philosophy.”

Allison voted in support of Proposition 131 to give more candidates opportunities.

“That’s a good way to go,” Allison said. 

— Jason Blevins, Colorado Sun staff writer

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“Mamala!” What some voters in Durango had to say as they cast their ballots

1:37 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

DURANGO — Jen Ribera, a La Plata County Democrat, voted before Election Day. But on Tuesday she dragged a friend over to the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office to make sure he voted.

Ribera was quick to share her choice for president.

“Mamala!” Ribera said, referring to Vice President Kamala Harris. “It’s just that she’s a woman. I hate that people say that, but it’s a really big deal — a minority woman — considering I am one and I have children who are minorities. It’s really important to see someone in office that represents the rest of the population.”

She also said she didn’t think a felon should be president, a reference to former President Donald Trump.

Ribera, 34, who works as an office assistant at a local asphalt company, voted against Proposition 131, which would move Colorado to a system with all-candidate primaries and ranked choice general elections. She was in favor of Amendment 80, which would place a right to school choice in the Colorado constitution, and Amendment 79, which would preserve abortion access in the state constitution.

“I just believe that the government shouldn’t be able to touch your body. That’s your business,” she said.

As a rural voter, Proposition 127 — which would ban hunting and trapping mountain lions, bobcats and lynx — was the statewide ballot measure she cared about most this year. She wanted to maintain the current system, she said.

“My chickens just got attacked by a bobcat a couple months ago … and if things get changed, that would be worse,” Ribera said.

— Shannon Mullane, Colorado Sun staff writer

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Jason Crow is “cautiously optimistic” about Kamala Harris’ chances, won’t say how he voted on Proposition 131

12:20 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Democratic U.S. Rep. Jason Crow, D-Centennial, is expected to cruise to reelection Tuesday in Colorado’s 6th Congressional District. But he’s been working hard this election cycle to help fellow Democrats across the state and country.

We caught up with Crow on Tuesday morning to see how he’s feeling about the final hours of the 2024 election. 

The following has been edited for clarity and length.

The Colorado Sun: How are you feeling about the presidential race? 

U.S. Rep. Jason Crow: I am cautiously optimistic. It’s a close race. We all know that. But Vice President Harris has done a remarkable job in a very short period of time of putting together a stellar campaign — of generating enthusiasm. She and her team have worked incredibly hard. I’ve been able to spend some time in swing states — Georgia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania — and the energy is very high

The Sun: What’s your message to people in Colorado and across the country who are anxious about the outcome of the races being decided today?

Crow: I recognize their anxiety, because this is a close election and there’s a lot at stake. We have Donald Trump, somebody who’s clearly unstable and unfit for office in every conceivable way, against Vice President Harris, a remarkable servant leader. The contrast is extremely clear, and it will take us in two radically different directions. Turn that anxiety and nervousness into action and get out and call your friends, call your neighbors, knock on doors, and, if there are folks who haven’t voted yet, every vote is going to matter.

The Sun: Why do you think the presidential race is so close? And if Harris does lose, do you think that’s reflective of the Democratic message not breaking through or Democrats not presenting a good enough plan to Americans?

Crow: I think there’s a lot of reasons for the divisions. Maybe one of the biggest is the siloing of information in media. As Americans, we simply are not receiving information from the same sources, and there’s a lot of disinformation and misinformation. People are tuning in to infotainment, not actual media. They’re getting a skewed view of the facts and reality. Then, you add on top of that our foreign adversaries, which are pumping misinformation into our election systems, into our media-election environment, and that is adding fuel to the fire. 

The Sun: How did you vote on Proposition 131, the all-candidate primary and ranked choice general election measure on the November ballot?

Crow: I’m not going to talk about my particular votes on all these matters. There are obviously too many to go through. But we have one of the best election systems in the country. We have the second highest voter turnout in the country. We are a model. I’m reluctant to have large changes in a system that works very well. I understand and appreciate people’s concerns about wholesale changes to a system that’s working well.

The Sun: So you don’t want to say how you voted on it?

Crow: I will refrain.

The Sun: I know you have been traveling around the state, helping out different Democratic congressional candidates. Do you have any Colorado race predictions?

Crow: I think Yadira Caraveo wins in the 8th Congressional District. I just kicked off a rally. The energy is unbelievably high in that race. I haven’t seen energy in a race on the congressional level like that since my 2018 race flipping the 6th Congressional District. The volunteer side is extremely high. It’s been a street fight in every way. The amount of money that’s poured into this race has been unbelievable.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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La Plata County expects record-high turnout

12:08 p.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

DURANGO — A steady flow of voters moved through the polling station at the La Plata County Clerk and Recorder’s Office in Durango on Tuesday morning. 

“It’s going very well. Very busy, but very smooth,” said Ted Holteen, a La Plata County spokesperson. 

Before polls even opened Tuesday, nearly 65% of the county’s 44,541 registered voters had already voted. Of those early votes, about 27,460 were mail-in ballots and about 1,380 were in-person votes.

The pace has been brisk so far, Holteen said. In the first two hours of Election Day, about 210 people walked into polling stations ready to make their choice on everything from the next president to state issues, like abortion, same-sex marriage and school choice. 

And this year, La Plata County is anticipating high, potentially even record-breaking, turnout. 

“Our record was in 2020 with 77%,” Holteen said. “We do think we’ll hit 80%.”

— Shannon Mullane, Colorado Sun staff writer

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2.5 million ballots had been cast in Colorado as of 9 a.m. on Election Day

11:59 a.m. :MST on Nov. 5, 2024

More than 2.5 million ballots had been cast as of 9 a.m. on Election Day. That’s out of roughly 4 million active, registered voters in the state.

Unaffiliated voters are leading the returns, with Democrats and Republican returns coming in at a similar pace. Unaffiliated voters make up the largest share of the electorate in Colorado, at 48%, followed by Democrats at 26% and Republicans at 23%.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Kamala Harris’ team leaves town as Colorado appears a foregone conclusion

10:10 a.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Kamala Harris’ campaign appears to feel very good about its chances in Colorado. 

Members of the vice president’s presidential campaign who were stationed in the Centennial State were moved to Arizona, which is far more competitive, in the closing days of the election. Some key staff remain in Colorado, however, and the campaign is still staffing a voter protection hotline in the state.

Former President Donald Trump, meanwhile, has effectively had no presidential campaign operation in Colorado this year.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

This item first appeared in The Unaffiliated newsletter on Tuesday.

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Last-minute misleading messaging bombards Colorado voters

10:09 a.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Colorado voters were bombarded with some misleading messaging in the lead-up to Election Day. 

Here are a few questionable campaign messages we were tipped off to in recent days:

• A text message sent to voters suggests that Democratic U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper has endorsed Amendment 80, which would place a right to school choice in the state constitution. It includes an image of Hickenlooper and an out-of-context quote of him talking about apprenticeships. It’s unclear who sent the text message, as it does not include a disclosure. On social media, Hickenlooper posted that he doesn’t support the measure. “This amendment would harm our public school system,” he said. This isn’t the first time supporters of Amendment 80 have sent out misleading texts.
• Save Western Culture, a super PAC that has been seeking to undermine Republican congressional candidates across the country, sent a mailer to voters in the 8th Congressional District labeling GOP state Rep. Gabe Evans a “RINO” — or “Republican-in-name-only.” “Gabe Evans is a threat to traditional values and our independent way of life,” says the mailer, which appears aimed at boosting Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo’s reelection chances. “Colorado can’t afford more failed Leftist policies.” The PAC formed in October in a way that allows it to hide its donors until after Election Day. Evans is a conservative Republican.
• The Working Families Party, a progressive group, sent out a text linking Pueblo County Commissioner Eppie Griego, who is unaffiliated and running for reelection, to Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert in an underhanded way of trying to erode his support. The text appears to be celebrating the link between Boebert and Griego. “Conservative unaffiliated Eppie Greigo is the MAGA choice for county commissioner!” the text says. But the Working Families Party is hardly a friend of Boebert. The real purpose of the message is to hurt Griego’s chances. The Working Families Party has endorsed Democrat Miles Lucero in the race.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

This item first appeared in The Unaffiliated newsletter on Tuesday.

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What The Colorado Sun will be watching for as the results start posting

9:55 a.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

As the results roll in tonight, here are the storylines the Colorado Sun politics team will be watching most closely. 

• The nation’s eyes will be on Colorado’s 8th Congressional District today, where Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo is running for reelection against Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans. Some $30 million has been spent on the race, which could determine which party controls Congress next year. Polling shows it’s razor close. If Evans wins, it would be the biggest victory for Republicans in Colorado since 2014, when Cory Gardner unseated Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Udall, the GOP took back control of the state Senate and Republicans won or defended a number of congressional and statewide contests. We might not know the outcome of this race for a few days.
• The 3rd Congressional District is where we think there’s the best chance of an election night surprise. Yes, the district leans in the GOP’s favor, but Republican Jeff Hurd is a first-time candidate who hasn’t made much of a name for himself since launching his campaign in August 2023. His Democratic opponent, former Aspen City Councilman Adam Frisch, has effectively been running for the seat for nearly three years. He ran in 2022 against Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and lost by 546 votes. And he has used his Mount Elbert-size campaign war chest to dominate the airwaves heading into Election Day. If Frisch wins, he’ll be the first Democrat to represent the 3rd District since U.S. Rep. John Salazar was unseated in 2010 — and his victory would improve Democrats’ chances of retaking the House.
• Proposition 131 would shake Colorado’s political landscape to its core if it passes today,  changing most of the state’s primaries so candidates from all parties run against each other. The top four vote-getters would advance to a ranked choice voting general election. Led by Kent Thiry, the wealthy former CEO of the dialysis giant DaVita, more than $16 million has poured into the effort to pass the all-candidate primary and ranked choice general election measure. If Thiry gets his way, the measure would go into effect in 2026, and this year’s election would be the last as we know it for Colorado. 
• Colorado voters have been asked many times in recent years to restrict abortion access, and each time they’ve said “no.” Amendment 79 on this year’s statewide ballot is the first time Coloradans are being asked to preserve the unrestricted abortion access that exists in the state. The initiative, which would change the state constitution, requires the support of 55% of voters to pass, which is a high bar. The measure will test just how much Colorado voters support abortion rights — and whether they’re comfortable opening the door to taxpayer funds potentially being used for the procedure in the future.
• No one was more surprised than Democrats when they won a long list of toss-up and Republican-leaning legislative districts two years ago. Today will determine whether they keep many of those seats — and whether the party secures a supermajority in both the House and Senate. The outcome of the state House and Senate contests on the ballot this year will determine the trajectory of the Colorado legislature through early 2027.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

This item first appeared in The Unaffiliated newsletter on Tuesday.

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More than 2 million ballots had been cast through Sunday

8:51 a.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Colorado voters had cast more than 2 million ballots through Sunday, according to the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office. 

That’s out of about 4 million total active, registered voters in the state. 

Unaffiliated voters, who make up the largest share of the electorate, had cast 881,000 ballots, while Democrats, who make up the second largest share of the electorate, had cast 600,000 ballots. Republicans were in third place, at 570,000 ballots cast.

Turnout through Sunday was lagging behind the state’s turnout at the same period in 2020, the last presidential election year.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Why the race in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District is so close

3:00 a.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

The race between Democratic U.S. Rep. Yadira Caraveo and Republican state Rep. Gabe Evans in Colorado’s 8th Congressional District remains statistically tied, according to a recent poll.

The Emerson College/The Hill poll of 485 likely voters Oct. 24-26 showed that Caraveo had 48% of the vote to 46% for Evans, with 7% undecided. That may appear to show a lead for Caraveo, but when you factor in the survey’s 4.4 percentage point margin of error, the contest is a dead heat.

A race is considered a statistical tie when neither candidate leads by more than a poll’s margin of error. The margin of error in the Emerson College poll means that Caraveo’s lead could be larger or that Evans could even have a narrow advantage.

The poll’s crosstabs provide some indication of why the race is so close:

Keep in mind that the margin of error for some of these may be higher because they are smaller sample sizes.

• Only 3% of the voters who cast their ballots for Caraveo in 2022 said they would be backing Evans this time around, while 95% said they would vote for her again this year. The rest were undecided. Meanwhile, 5.5% of those who voted for Republican state Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in 2022 said they would vote for Caraveo this time, while 94% said they were backing Evans and the rest were undecided. 
• Of the voters who didn’t cast a ballot in the 8th District in 2022, 36% said they were voting for Evans this year, while 41% said they were voting for Caraveo. The rest were undecided.
• The presidential race in the 8th District is also statistically tied, according to the poll, with 48.5% of survey participants saying they are backing Kamala Harris, while 48% said they are backing Donald Trump. Three percent said they would be voting for someone else while 1% said they were undecided.
• Some 94% of 8th District voters who said they are backing Harris this year said they would also be supporting Caraveo, with 5% undecided. Meanwhile, 92% of the voters backing Trump this year said they were also supporting Evans, with 8% undecided in the 8th District race. 
• There was only one Harris voter in the 8th District who said they were planning to back Evans, while no Trump voters said they planned to back Caraveo.
• About 48% of the unaffiliated or third-party voters who participated in the poll said they’ll be backing Caraveo, while 46% said they’ll be supporting Evans. Seven percent were undecided.
• The number of decided voters polled by Emerson College decreased to 7% from 12% from an earlier survey in the district conducted by the pollster.

The bottom line: This race remained an absolute toss-up heading into Election Day. Don’t be surprised if it takes several days before a winner is known. Also, beware of incorrect interpretations of this poll. It would be statistically incorrect to say the survey shows that Caraveo has a lead.

The Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election prognosticator, last week called Caraveo one of the 10 most vulnerable House incumbents this year.

This item first appeared in The Unaffiliated newsletter on Friday.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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Kamala Harris leads Donald Trump by 12 percentage points in Colorado, poll shows

3:00 a.m. MST on Nov. 5, 2024

Vice President Kamala Harris heads into Election Day with a big polling lead over former President Donald Trump in Colorado.

A survey of 600 likely voters by Keating Research found that 53% said they had either voted for or planned to vote for Harris, compared with 41% for Trump. That’s a 12-point gap. Two percent of those polled said they planned to vote for someone else, while 5% said they remain undecided in the race.

“Harris’ strong position heading into the final weekend of voting is due to a commanding 18- point lead with unaffiliated voters (53% Harris, 35% Trump) and a decisive 29-point lead with women (61% Harris, 32% Trump),” the Democratic firm wrote in a polling memo.

The poll was conducted via live telephone interviews and through text messages from Oct. 28 to Oct. 30. It had a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

The pollster also asked participants about Amendment 79, which would preserve unfettered abortion access in the Colorado Constitution. Sixty percent said they have or planned to vote yes on the measure, while 32% said they planned to vote no. The initiative needs 55% support to pass because it would amend the constitution. The margin of error could mean the poll reflects that as little as 56% of the electorate really supports the measure.

“Amendments are very hard to pass,” said Chris Keating, the principal at Keating Research, “but I think this one is in as good a shape as you could expect on any amendment.”

Proposition JJ, which would let Colorado keep all of the sports betting tax revenue it collects, is also poised to pass. Sixty-eight percent of those polled said they planned to vote for it, while 24% said they planned to vote no. The measure needs a simple majority to pass.

This item first appeared in The Unaffiliated newsletter on Friday.

— Jesse Paul, political reporter & editor

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CREDIT

Reporting: Jesse Paul, Shannon Mullane
Editing: Larry Ryckman

Type of Story: Live Blog

Continuous updates as facts and sources are still being cross-checked.