According to the Denver Post editorial board, even in deep-blue Colorado, the mood has turned sour. Magellan’s August survey of 1,136 voters shows top Democrats are now under 50 percent approval. Voters say everything costs more, politics feels angrier, and the job market is tightening. The board bluntly calls it “the burn.”
The editors stress that, yes, voters still say they are more likely to pick a Democrat for governor if the election were held today. They also note Republicans may be fielding their strongest gubernatorial contender in a decade in Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer. Translation: Democrats are wobbling, not winning, and they had better address the root causes fast.
The Bullet Point Brief
- Blue burn is real. After years of popularity, Polis, Bennet, and Hickenlooper cannot clear 50 percent approval. That is a flashing red light.
- Why voters are grumpy. Cost of living, public safety, and a tightening job market top the list of complaints. The vibe is “everything is more expensive.”
- Still leaning blue, barely. The editorial reminds readers that, for now, voters say they are more likely to back a Democrat for governor. Do not confuse that with love.
- Kirkmeyer watch. The board says the GOP may have its best gubernatorial candidate in a decade in Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer. That is not nothing.
- Editorial’s warning to Dems. Stop running against Trump alone and face real concerns head-on, or keep bleeding favorability. Voters want plans, not panic.
My Bottom Line
It is not often I agree with the Denver Post editorial board, so mark the tape. Even the great suburban normie knows when the wallet is empty. For a decade, Democrats have run Colorado. When groceries hit $350/week and rent climbs into the stratosphere, the normie stops blaming mean tweets and starts blaming whoever holds the keys. The Post knows this piece is a wake-up call to its own base, complete with the usual anti-Trump throat-clearing. That is fine. The signal still cuts through.
My conclusion is simple. If things are bad enough that the Denver Post writes an editorial like this, they are probably worse than anyone on the left wants to admit. Which means Republicans must stop the damned infighting, agree on a message, and rally behind a candidate for governor. With respect to Beasley, Bottoms, and Lopez, the strongest path is the one the Post itself flagged: Barbara Kirkmeyer. The moment is here. The only question is whether Republicans seize it or waste it bickering over purity tests while voters keep bleeding cash.
