Magellan Strategies polled 1,136 registered Colorado voters this summer and came back with a depressing but clarifying snapshot. Nearly half of Coloradans are unaffiliated. More than 60% dislike Democrats. More than 60% dislike Republicans. The economy is rated “poor” by 43% of respondents, and a majority believe both state and national conditions are going to get worse, not better.
Governor Jared Polis clocks a 52% disapproval rating, Bennet and Hickenlooper are scraping the 30s, and Congress doesn’t fare much better. Trump, meanwhile, is even deeper underwater in Colorado, with nearly 60% disapproving. And yet – despite this bipartisan disgust – when asked who they’d pick for governor if the election were held today, 50% said they’d choose the Democrat, compared to just 38% for the Republican.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Hate is bipartisan. More than 60% of Coloradans have an unfavorable view of both parties.
- Dems dinged for bad leadership. Voters say Democrats overspend, overreach, and ignore crime and border security.
- GOP dinged for extremism. Voters cite Trump, MAGA, and hardline social stances as reasons they can’t stomach Republicans.
- Economy in the toilet. 43% say the U.S. economy is “poor,” and most think it’ll get worse in the next year.
- Still leaning blue. Despite disapproval, 50% say they’d vote for a Democrat for governor today versus 38% for a Republican.
My Bottom Line
This survey is Colorado in a nutshell: “Things suck. Democrats are in charge. We blame them. But we still hate Republicans more.” It’s twisted, maddening, and – if conservatives are paying attention – an opportunity wrapped in barbed wire.
Coloradans aren’t clamoring for the next Trump rally. They aren’t looking for culture-war cosplay. They’re looking for leaders who can bring down costs, make communities safe, and deliver competence without turning every school board meeting into World War III.
The unaffiliated voter is the golden goose. Nearly half the state wears that label. They’re not loyal to Democrats; they’re resigned to them. And that resignation is fragile. Show these voters a Republican who talks about affordability, cutting government bloat, fixing roads, respecting local control, and investing in schools without micromanaging them – and you’ll see cracks in the blue wall.
But if Republicans stay defined by Trump baggage and performative extremism, voters will keep doing what they’ve done for a decade: hold their nose, vote Democrat, and grumble all the way to the gas pump.
The opportunity is real. Conservatives just need to stop shouting “own the libs” long enough to start earning the trust of the suburban normie. Deliver competence, not chaos. Deliver affordability, not lectures. If Republicans can manage that, Colorado’s independents might finally stop settling for “lesser evil” and start voting for actual solutions.
