Colorado Democrats Sour on Party: “There is a Profound Disconnect”

Every night, like many other Coloradans, Brenda Martinez clears away dinner plates from a kitchen table that doubles as the family’s command center, where the Martinez’s balance bills and debate what the future holds. As an office manager and mother of three, Martinez represents a critical demographic in the sprawling political battleground of Arapahoe County: moderates who once leaned reliably Democratic but are now wavering.

“Frankly, I am tired,” she states. “For the last couple of years, we have been told things are improving, but honestly, it feels like it just got worse. The price for a week’s worth of groceries is still through the roof. My utility bills are higher than they have ever been. These are the things that determine my family’s well-being.”

Colorado Democrats, such as Martinez, are facing a growing challenge as voters and believe that politicians on both sides of the aisle have failed to understand the issues that most affect working-class families.

“It seems there is a profound disconnect between the issues debated under the gold dome and the conversations happening here,” Martinez said. “Last year, the entire country was sending a message about what matters most—the economy, security, the basics. Yet it feels like our state leaders are still focused on niche social issues or celebrating legislative wins that do not put more money in my pocket or make my community feel safer.”

“The truth about the economy is important, and how it is impacting regular people every day,” Martinez continued. “I don’t need another email celebrating a bill I don’t understand. I need to hear our leaders, right here in Colorado, acknowledge that a trip to King Soopers feels like a luxury for a lot of us. It’s not just a talking point; it’s our reality.”

Martinez’s plea cuts straight to the paradox at the heart of Colorado politics: a Democratic party at the height of its power, yet one that voters like her feel is profoundly disconnected from their daily lives.

“They’re all so focused on the national fight, and I get it, I do,” she adds, shaking her head. “But while they’re fighting that war, we’re losing the battle at our own kitchen tables. I voted for them to make my life here, in Aurora, a little bit easier, a little more safe. Is anyone still focused on that?”

On paper, the Colorado Democratic Party has never been stronger. It wields a level of political power unseen in the state for generations, holding a complete trifecta of governance. 

The party’s influence extends from the Governor’s mansion, occupied by Jared Polis, to both U.S. Senate seats, held by Michael Bennet and John Hickenlooper. Democrats command a majority of the U.S. House delegation, control every statewide executive office and boast strong majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. 

By any traditional measure, this is the zenith of political success. Yet the view from Martinez’s kitchen table suggests that power is being eroded by a growing sense of detachment from the voters Democrats claim to represent.

The data behind voters’ discontent 

A Magellan Strategies poll of Colorado voters’ opinions conducted from July 30 to Aug. 12, 2025, found a staggering 68% of Colorado voters view the Democratic Party unfavorably, with only 30% holding a favorable opinion. The Republican Party, despite its minority status and recent electoral defeats in the state, fares the same, with a 68% unfavorable rating and 30% favorable opinion. 

This finding challenges the narrative of Colorado as a reliably blue stronghold, suggesting that while voters may choose Democrats over Republicans, they are far from content with the party in power. 

“That poll doesn’t surprise me one bit,” says Mark Diaz, an unaffiliated voter in Broomfield. “It feels like we’re being taken for granted. We keep handing one party all the power, but we’re not seeing the results on the ground. It’s less about choosing who you support and more about choosing who you’re less disappointed in.”

This discontent is not abstract; it is directed squarely at the party’s leadership. For instance, despite a landslide reelection victory just a few years prior, Governor Polis faces a significant approval deficit, with 52% of voters disapproving of his job performance and only 41% approving. 

The state’s two U.S. Senators are similarly underwater. Michael Bennet holds a 38% approval to 44% disapproval rating, while John Hickenlooper fares worse at 37% approval and 49% disapproval. The state legislature as a whole receives a dismal 39% approval rating. The consistency of these negative ratings across top figures points to a systemic problem with the party’s brand, not just one politician’s unpopularity.

On the public’s overall outlook on the state’s trajectory, a clear majority of Coloradans, 53%, believe the state is “headed in the wrong direction.” Only 40% feel it is on the right track. When asked why, voters consistently point to the same set of pressing, everyday concerns: the high cost of living, the visible crisis of homelessness and rising crime. 

“They can’t understand our problems from the Capitol in Denver,” said Grace Connors, a rancher in Delta County. “They talk about water conservation, but do they know what it’s like to see your ditches run dry? They celebrate reintroducing predators, but they’re not the ones out there at 3 a.m. listening for a pack howling near a newborn calf. It’s more than just policy for us; it’s our livelihood and our heritage, and it feels like they’ve forgotten that.”

This sentiment is underpinned by a deep and pervasive economic pessimism. An overwhelming 72% of voters rate the U.S. economy as “fair” or “poor,” with 66% holding the same negative view of Colorado’s own economy. Even among Democrats, pessimism runs high: 68% rate the national economy as poor and 94% believe it will get worse in the coming year.

“I’m a lifelong Democrat, it pains me to say this, but my phone buzzes all day with texts asking for another donation, while my grocery bill just went up another $50,” says Alicia Brause, a Registered Nurse at St. Anthony North Hospital, and mother of two from Lafayette. “I see the press releases about legislative wins, but that’s the reality gap right there. We voted for help with the cost of living, and it feels like we’re getting fundraising pitches instead of real action.” 

The kitchen table disconnect

This widespread dissatisfaction is not born from a single policy failure but from a widening disconnect. It is a gap between the party’s legislative focus and the electorate’s anxieties, a communication breakdown that fails to translate policy wins into voter confidence and a growing schism between the party’s progressive and moderate wings.

The Colorado Democratic Party’s platform says it is fighting for working people, cutting the cost of living and creating an “era of abundance and freedom.” Yet for many, that promise feels increasingly distant. For Sarah Jennings, a former DPS teacher, the Colorado dream feels more like a daily exercise in financial survival.

“I loved teaching, watching that lightbulb go on when they finally grasp a new concept. That’s why I’m here,” she explains. “But passion doesn’t pay rent, and my salary barely qualified me for my apartment. It was a constant stress I carried everywhere.”

The statistics are stark. Homelessness among families with children in Colorado surged by an astonishing 134% in 2024, one of the largest increases in the nation. This doesn’t even account for the hidden homelessness of families doubled up with relatives or couch surfing. 

For those with a roof over their heads, the burden is immense. The state faces a shortfall of over 162,000 affordable rental units, and a majority of renters are now considered cost-burdened, paying more than 30% of their income on housing. The cumulative effect is a pervasive sense of anxiety, with 78% of Coloradans reporting that the cost of living causes “serious” or “some” stress on their families.

These numbers translate into heartbreaking personal choices. For Jennings, it meant putting her dream of having her own children on hold.

“My husband and I looked at the cost of daycare, doctor’s visits, everything… it was just impossible,” she says. She eventually became a foster parent, a decision born of love but also shaped by economic reality. “It’s something we always wanted to do, but I’d be lying if I said the small stipend wasn’t a factor.”

The Democratic-controlled legislature has not ignored the problem. Lawmakers have passed measures aimed at providing some relief, such as expanding protections for renters and passing HB25-1090 to crack down on deceptive “junk fees.” But for people on the front lines of the crisis, these steps feel inadequate.

“I’m glad they’re talking about these things; every little bit helps,” Jennings said. “But that’s like putting a Band-Aid on a bigger issue. It doesn’t change the fact that a teacher’s salary can’t afford a home in the community she works in. It doesn’t solve the fundamental problem.”

What voters like Jennings want is not just an acknowledgment of their pain, but bold, effective solutions that provide tangible relief. “I don’t want to hear about an ‘era of abundance’ when I’m choosing between saving for retirement and buying new tires for my car,” she says. “I want to see a plan that treats this housing crisis like the emergency it is.” 

Colorado citizens consistently say they want a more pragmatic government that solves problems, lowers living costs, has a tangible strategy to make housing affordable and a plan to increase community safety. The data from the Magellan Strategies poll show a clear shift in voter priorities, with financial stability and public safety taking precedence over other concerns, which was strongly supported by voters we spoke with.

“We’re not asking for miracles,” Martinez said. “We’re just asking for them to focus on the basics. Make it so a regular family can afford to live here and feel safe. That’s the job.”