Colorado 2026 Election Outlook & Forecast
Competitive ratings, key races, and political forecast for Colorado in the 2026 midterm elections.
Lean D
2026 State Rating
-11
Trump 2024 Margin
Economy, housing costs, crime (suburban concerns)
Key Issue
Colorado
State
2026 Election Overview
Colorado has become a lean-Democratic state but 2026 presents challenges. An open governor race without Jared Polis and potential Senate opening create Republican opportunities. Lauren Boebert’s retirement from CO-3 creates a competitive race. Suburban Denver continues to drift Democratic.
Key Races
| Race | Status |
|---|---|
| State Rating | Lean D |
| Trump 2024 Margin | -11 |
| U.S. Senate | John Hickenlooper (D) — retirement or reelection? |
| Governor | Jared Polis (D) term-limited — open race |
| U.S. House Seats | 4D, 3R — CO-3 (Boebert open), CO-8 competitive |
| Key Issue | Economy, housing costs, crime (suburban concerns) |
Forecast
Democrats favored but 2026 environment creates real competitive races. Governor race is toss-up to lean-D. CO-3 is likely R. Senate open seat would be very competitive.