The politics of Colorado, United States, have changed drastically in the 21st century. Once a purple state that leaned Republican, it has now become a blue state. This shift has been attributed to demographic changes, an increase in the number of unaffiliated voters who lean toward Democrats, and the rightward shift of the state's Republican Party towards social and religious conservatism. Affirmative action is a measure taken by employers and universities to increase the proportion of historically disadvantaged minority groups in those institutions.
The Colorado Senate is the upper house of the Colorado General Assembly, comprised of 35 seats with approximately 143,000 people each. The Colorado House of Representatives is the lower house of the General Assembly, comprised of 65 seats with approximately 77,000 people each. The 64th Colorado General Assembly was the first to be controlled by Democrats in forty years, as the Republican Party traditionally had control of the state government. Colorado public pensions are the state mechanism through which state government employees and many local government employees receive retirement benefits.
Representing northern Colorado Springs is Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado's 5th congressional district. The political landscape of Colorado has a direct impact on social policy. The Democratic Party has been in control since the beginning of the 21st century and has pushed for progressive policies such as affirmative action and public pensions. The Republican Party has shifted to the right and has been more conservative on social issues such as abortion and same-sex marriage.
Despite this shift, both parties have worked together to pass legislation that benefits all Coloradans.
