Majority of Colorado voters expect U.S. economy to get worse this year; slightly rosier outlook for state economic performance
DENVER — Colorado voters were lukewarm on the prospects for improvement in both the state and U.S. economies even before President Trump’s April 2 tariff announcement, according to results released today from the Colorado Polling Institute’s latest statewide survey of voters.
In a Colorado Polling Institute (CPI) survey conducted March 27-31, more than eight-in-10 respondents said they expected Colorado’s economy to get worse (47%) or stay about the same (38%) in the next 12 months, while seven-in-10 said they expected the U.S. economy to get worse (54%) or stay the same (16%) in that time.
The online poll of 615 likely Colorado voters was conducted by the bipartisan team of Aspect Strategic (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R) and has a margin of error of +/- 3.95%.
“Voters are more upbeat about the current economy in their own backyard, with nearly twice as many giving positive ratings to the state’s economy than the national economy,” said Kevin Ingham, Principal of Aspect Strategic (D). “Yet, even before last week’s tariff announcements, voters saw dark clouds on the nation’s economic horizon, and many seemed to think Colorado was going to get caught up in that storm.”
Asked for the top issues for state government to address, the top five were:
- Housing affordability (9% in March of 2025 compared to 11% in March of 2024);
- Schools and education (9% vs. 6% last year);
- Homelessness (8% vs.12% last year);
- Immigration issues (8% vs. 14% last year); and
- Cost of living (7% vs. 5% last year).
“The cost of living has been a big part of voters’ concerns for some time now, and voters are telling us that the amount they pay for nearly everything in their lives is problematic,” said Lori Weigel, Principal of New Bridge Strategy (R). “Notably, the cost of housing is still a major concern – as more than two-thirds said it is a very big problem, higher than any other issue we tested. Housing affordability worries cross party lines and financial status as well.”
While Colorado lawmakers this year have worked to close a $1.2 billion gap in the state budget, only 30% of respondents see the budget as in crisis. One explanation for the increased mentions of schools and education as one of the top issues for state government to address could be that 51% of moms indicated that the budget is in crisis.
Asked what to do about transportation in Colorado, a majority (55%) of voters supported expanding public transit options – which face deep cuts in this year’s state budget – over building more roads and expanding existing roads (45%).
A look at the favorability of some state and federal elected officials in Colorado shows Democrats in positive territory, and Republicans in unfavorable territory:
- Gov. Jared Polis: (51% fav/ 40% unfav) +11
- Sen. John Hickenlooper: (49% fav/ 36% unfav) +13
- Sen. Michael Bennet: (45% fav/ 31% unfav) +14
- Secretary of State Jena Griswold: (30% fav/ 23% unfav/ 47% DK) +7
- Rep. Joe Neguse: (27% fav/ 13% unfav/ 60% DK) +13
- Attorney General Phil Weiser: (22% fav/ 18% unfav/ 60% DK) +4
- Rep. Gabe Evans: (18% fav/ 23% unfav/ 59% DK) -5
- Rep. Lauren Boebert: (25% fav/ 59% unfav) -34
Voter trust in public institutions increased for several subgroups CPI first tested in a 2023 survey. State government (+10% trusting vs. 2023), local government (+9%), and Colorado journalists (+9%) are now trusted by at least two-in-five voters. Respondents also said they trust businesses more than in 2023, including small businesses (+7%) and large corporations (+5%). Trust in election administrators and the federal government are consistent with the 2023 data.
Where there isn’t trendline data, the picture is mixed:
- The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) is distrusted by a majority (54%), including 49% who distrust DOGE “a lot”;
- Scientists (69% trust) and public health officials (53%) are seen as trustworthy; and
- Labor unions are more trusted than not, but many (34%) simply were unsure or didn’t have an opinion, the highest neutral response of anything in the trust battery.
Other items of note:
- 84% of respondents said they are proud to be a Coloradan, which is unchanged from a year ago;
- One-in-three Coloradans (32%) say they are a supporter of the Make America Great Again (MAGA) movement; and
- 71% say they are proud to be an American, including 95% of self-identified MAGA supporters.
On Thursday, CPI will release results on national issues, including views on President Donald Trump and some of his key policy priorities, as well as views on Democrats and Republicans in Congress. A Webinar for reporters will be held Thursday at 9 a.m MT. Register here.
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