COLORADO, USA — The balance of power in the Colorado legislature could look a little different after the 2024 election, but we won't know how different until final vote tallies are made in a handful of races. So, what does that mean for Democrats and Republicans?
It means we're still waiting to see if Colorado Democrats will maintain their supermajority in the state House and gain a supermajority in the state Senate.
Prior to the election, Democrats held a supermajority in the state House, meaning they made up two-thirds or more of the majority. In the Senate, Democrats were 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 were 83 legislative seats up for election this year —18 in the Senate and 65 in the House.
In the Senate, 12 of those seats were previously held by Democrats and six by Republicans. Currently, nine have been won by Democrats, five by Republicans.
In the House, 46 seats were held by Democrats and 19 by Republicans. Currently, 36 have been won by Democrats and 17 by Republicans.
A supermajority in both chambers would give Colorado progressives the power to push a more aggressive agenda through the legislature on things like social and environmental issues, and siding with labor unions over business interests.
Even without two supermajorities, large numbers would bolster Democratic majorities on legislative committees that determine which bills make it to a floor vote.
Republicans, on the other hand, hoped to flip enough seats in both chambers to restore a party balance to the legislature, giving them more influence over the state's fiscal decisions.
A slim path to a Democratic supermajority in the state Senate depends on calls going for the Democratic candidate in Senate districts 5, 12, 16 and 21. As of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Republican Marc Catlin leads Democratic opponent Cole Buerger 52% to 48% with 92% of the votes counted. The Democratic candidates in districts 12, 16, and 21 hold similarly slim leads over their Republican rivals.
As of the last vote drop just before 2 p.m., Marc Snyder (D) leads Stan Vanderwerf (R) by about 1,400 votes in District 12.
District 16 incumbent Chris Kolker (D) leads Robyn Carnes (R) by fewer than 5,000 votes, and District 21 incumbent Dafna Michaelson Jenet (D) leads Frederick Alfred (R) by about 1,500 votes.
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 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 made a list of races to watch, which included state Senate districts 5, 12 and 16.
Here's where the rest of those results stand:
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 6 - Vivian Smotherman (D), Cleave Alan Simpson (R)
Senate District 13 - Matt Johnston (D), Scott Bright (R)
To view all 2024 Colorado election results, click here.
