Poll: Colorado voters say GOP more represents working class

By Elyse Apel
The Center Square

Colorado voters are waning in their support for the Democrat Party, a new poll finds, as immigration and the economy continue to be top concerns.

The Colorado Issues Poll, conducted by One Main Street Colorado, reported that 30% of those surveyed considered the economy and cost of living to have been their most important Election Day issue, while 24% said inflation.

Republicans drove those numbers, with 51% of supporters of President Donald listing the economy and 53% immigration. In contrast, only 12% of supporters of former Vice President Kamala listed the economy and 4% listed immigration.

For Democrats, their top issues included nearly even splits between anti-Trump, abortion, integrity, and democracy.

The poll also took a look at how voters view the Democrat Party, both in the state and in the national election.

In what could be concerning for Democrats, the majority of voters polled said that the Republican Party has done a better job of addressing inflation and the cost of living, understanding the challenges they are facing, and representing the middle class.

Along with that, 24% of voters said that Democrats lost key races on Election Day because they were “out of touch” with voters. Of Harris supporters, 27% identified “poor messaging” as the reason, while 35% of Trump supporters said the Democrats were out of touch.

Going forward, voters encouraged Democrats to focus on the economy and listening to voters, with an overwhelming 72% saying that the Democrat Party needs to recognize that most voters have legitimate concerns around immigration, taxation, the cost of living, etc.

Potentially surprising for some, only 14% of voters said the Democrat Party should move to the left politically, while 27% said it should move to the right and 51% said it should “bridge the divide.”

While Democrats hold a trifecta in Colorado, the poll still found that 51% of voters view the Colorado Democratic Party unfavorably.

This should especially be concerning as the 2024 General Election marked the first in the past decade that Republicans gained seats in the Colorado state House instead of losing them.

Those polled encouraged state Democrats to focus on “reducing financial burdens on families and small businesses while creating opportunities for good paying jobs and building generational wealth,” over issues like rent controls, free healthcare, and a minimum basic income. The latter policy priorities have long been pet issues for Democratic politicians, both nationally and in Colorado.

The poll surveyed 1,225 active voters in Colorado. It had a margin of error of +/- 3.5%.

Elyse Apel is an apprentice reporter with The Center Square, covering Georgia and North Carolina. She is a 2024 graduate of Hillsdale College.