Pushing for Redistricting: What We Heard at the Capitol

This past Friday and Saturday, we sent people to the Capitol to keep up the pressure on Colorado’s leaders about the urgent need for redistricting powers. The conversations we had with Democrats were revealing: they support the idea in principle, but many think it will be difficult to move forward politically.

The hesitation isn’t about fairness or democracy — most agree those are on our side. Instead, it’s about perception. Too many lawmakers see the 70% of voters who approved the 2018 redistricting commission as a fixed, immovable block, unwilling to change their opinions even in the face of new facts.

But that view misses the reality. Voters didn’t back the commission because they wanted to tie Colorado’s hands forever. They backed it because they wanted fairness. And fairness today means something different than it did in 2018. Back then, the threat was partisan games at home. Today, the threat comes from states like Texas and Florida redrawing maps mid-decade, deliberately tilting the balance of power in Congress while Colorado stays frozen.

Fairness cannot be treated as a once-a-decade guarantee when others are actively undermining it. The rules have changed, and Colorado needs the tools to defend itself.

We’ve started the conversation, but now it needs to grow. The message is clear: Coloradans are not locked in place. Given the facts, they will support action to protect our voice in Washington. The only question is whether leaders here are willing to trust voters with the truth.