November 2024: CPI Poll Finds Colorado Voters Optimistic About the Future of the State
Unaffiliated Voters Are More Likely to View Both Political Parties as Out of Touch
You can view the full questionnaire here, the crosstabs here, and the full analysis deck here.
DENVER — Colorado voters are optimistic about the future of the state, according to a recent statewide poll by the nonpartisan Colorado Polling Institute (CPI), with respondents saying by nearly a two-to-one margin that the state’s best days are ahead (65% agree the state’s best days are ahead while 34% disagree).
This optimism about the future of Colorado perhaps stems from voters’ belief in the shared values of fellow residents, with 77% of voters saying they believe that as Coloradans we have more in common than what divides us, compared to only 23% that disagree with that sentiment.
The bipartisan team of Aspect Strategic (D) and New Bridge Strategy (R) conducted the poll of 822 likely Colorado voters from Oct. 25 - Nov. 4 via live call (both landlines and cell phones) and online. The margin of error of the survey is +/- 3.42% for the overall sample.
"Coloradans may not agree on everything, but large majorities agree the state has a bright future and a common set of values that guide us," said Kevin Ingham, Principal of Aspect Strategic (D). "Colorado's optimism stands out at a time when national polling tends to show Americans are more pessimistic about the future of the country as a whole."
The poll found that overall Colorado voters are generally liberal on social issues while conservative on fiscal issues, with 48% identifying as liberal on topics such as abortion and LGBTQ issues compared to only 28% who say they are conservative. When asked about fiscal issues like taxes and government spending, 46% identify as conservative compared to only 26% who say they are liberal.
The survey also looks in-depth at unaffiliated voters to better understand the growing voter segment that now makes up 49% of all active voters in the state and who made up 46% of voter turnout in the most recent election.
Among other consequential views of unaffiliated voters, the survey finds that…
57% avoid talking about politics with friends and family;
70% say it isn’t easy to find unbiased information about what is happening in politics;
32% say both the Democratic and Republican parties are out of touch with people like them;
and 45% describe themselves as liberal on social issues and a similar number (47%) describe themselves as conservative on economic and fiscal issues.
“Unaffiliated voters have chosen not to identify with either party for a reason. They are far more likely to see both political parties as out of touch, struggle to find political information they trust, and their views vary based on the issue in front of them,” explained Lori Weigel, Principal of New Bridge Strategy (R), half of the bipartisan research team. “Those seeking to appeal to this segment of the electorate that decides the fate of most campaigns would be well-served to address their concerns.”
Other notable findings include:
More than nine in 10 voters say the laws passed by the State Legislature impact their lives, with 58% seeing a direct impact and another 33% seeing an indirect impact;
Voters are most likely to blame rapid population growth for Colorado’s high cost of living, with 62% picking it as one of the top two factors driving higher prices in the state;
Healthcare, immigration, and housing are the top priorities for the Colorado Legislature in next year’s session. At least two-thirds rank every issue tested as a top or fairly high priority, indicating voters’ desire to see the Legislature address many issues from homelessness to public schools to the budget;
Gov. Jared Polis and U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper are both generally well-regarded by Colorado voters. Nearly half (48%) of the electorate have a favorable view of Sen. Hickenlooper, while 37% have an unfavorable view of him. Gov. Polis is slightly more popular, with 54% holding a favorable view and 39% with an unfavorable view;
And three-quarters (75%) of Republicans in Colorado view themselves as more supporters of Donald Trump than as supporters of the traditional Republican Party (23%).
Full toplines and an analysis deck prepared by the pollsters are attached to this release. For crosstabs and more information, including information on CPI’s donors and leadership, visit: copollinginstitute.org.
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About Us: The Colorado Polling Institute is an independent nonprofit launched in 2023 with the mission of elevating the public dialogue and promoting informed decision-making through timely, trustworthy, and nonpartisan public opinion research on the most important issues facing Coloradans.
