COLORADO, USA — The balance of power in the Colorado legislature could see a shift in the November election, and it's the Democrats who have the most to lose.
Right now, Democrats hold a supermajority in the state House, meaning they make up two-thirds or more of the majority. In the Senate, Democrats are one seat away from a supermajority. Why is that important? Most votes in the legislature require at least a two-thirds majority to pass.
There are 83 legislative seats up for election this year —18 in the Senate and 65 in the House.
In the Senate, 12 of those seats are currently held by Democrats and six by Republicans.
In the House, 46 seats are held by Democrats and 19 by Republicans.
If Republicans manage to hold all six seats they currently occupy in the Senate, Democrats will not gain a supermajority.
It would take more to change the heavily Democratic House — Republicans would have to hold on to all 19 of their seats and flip at least four Democratic seats for the Democrats to lose the supermajority.
In the event that Colorado faces a "red wave," the legislature would face a shift in power the state hasn't seen in years. Colorado has had a Democratic trifecta in state leadership (Democrats holding the governorship and a majority in the state House and Senate) since 2019.
Back in June, more moderate Democrats and Republicans won their state primary elections over far-left and far-right opponents.
From June: Reps. Epps, Hernández defeated in primary
9NEWS went through House and Senate race to anticipate the state's most competitive districts based on party affiliation of active registered voters, results and margins of previous elections, as well as recent redistricting.
We've also consulted political strategists and party leadership working on both sides of the aisle, Republican and Democrat, to see what races the parties will be watching come election night.
From our research, we've made a list of races to watch:
State House of Representatives races:
House District 13 - Julie McCluskie (D), Dave Williams (R)
House District 16 - Steph Vigil (D), Rebecca Keltie (R)
House District 18 - Amy T. Paschal (D), James R. Boelens Jr. (R)
House District 19 - Jillaire McMillan (D), Dan Woog (R)
House District 24 - Lisa Feret (D), Gwen Henderson (R)
House District 25 - Tammy Story (D), George B. Mumma Jr (R)
House District 26 - Meghan Lukens (D), Nathan Butler (R)
House District 27 - Brianna Titone (D), Ed Cox (R)
House District 28 - Sheila Lieder (D), Peter Boddie (R)
House District 38 - Gretchen Jeannette Rydin (D), Jeffrey Patty (R)
House District 43 - Bob Marshall (D), Matt Burcham (R)
House District 46 - Tisha Mauro (D), Kim Swearingen (R)
House District 50 - Mary Young (D), Ryan Gonzalez (R)
House District 57 - Elizabeth Velasco (D), Caleb Waller (R)
House District 59 - Katie Stewart (D), Clark Craig (R)
State Senate races:
Senate District 5 - Cole Buerger (D), Marc Catlin (R)
Senate District 6 - Vivian Smotherman (D), Cleave Alan Simpson (R)
Senate District 12 - Marc Snyder (D), Stan VanderWerf (R)
Senate District 13 - Matt Johnston (D), Scott Bright (R)
Senate District 16 - Chris Kolker (D), Robyn Carnes (R)
> Find all of our political coverage at 9news.com/politics.
