Purplish

Congressional races across the state are heating up: with the gloves coming off in the Democratic primary for Colorado’s newest, and swingiest, district; other longtime Colorado Democrats facing challenges from more progressive candidates; and a Republican freshman trying to defend his seat from his right flank.CPR’s Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim, along with Kiara DeMare and Rae Solomon, discuss who’s on the ballot, as well as the dynamics of these races and what it says about politics right now.Catch up with our latest coverage: CPR News: 2026 Colorado Primary Election Voter Guide CPR News: A new season of the Who’s Gonna Govern podcast CPR News: Melat Kiros says she’ll bring change, lower costs in bid for Congressional District 1 seat CPR News: Rep. Diana DeGette is focused on healthcare in bid for 30th year in Congress CPR News: Wanda James brings military experience to Congressional District 1 campaign as war in Iran rages Denverite: Denver congressional candidate Wanda James sues other CU Regents over censure CPR News: What voters in Colorado’s newest and most competitive congressional district are thinking about right now Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner. Other music in this episode is courtesy of Blue Dot Sessions. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasts.

Colorado’s primary elections are just around the corner. And there’s a lot riding on them — all of the statewide constitutional offices are on the ballot — and thanks to term limits, all of those races are wide open, including Colorado’s top office: governor. The fields include a who’s who of Colorado politics, and one newcomer who may have the potential to shake things up.CPR’s Bente Birkeland talks with The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul and CPR’s Ben Markus about who’s on the Democratic and Republican tickets and the dynamics at play as they vie for votes. The five hopefuls on the ballot are running at a time when both parties are doing a bit of soul searching, and Coloradans on both sides of the aisle seem frustrated with the status quo. Catch up on our latest coverage: CPR News: 2026 Colorado Primary Election Voter Guide CPR News: Bottoms, Kirkmeyer make their cases to primary voters in CPR News gubernatorial candidates debate CPR News: Democratic gubernatorial candidates Bennet and Weiser make their pitches to voters in live debate The Colorado Sun: A third of Colorado voters have still never heard of Phil Weiser, poll shows CPR News: Colorado GOP governor primary pits MAGA candidates against establishment favorite The Colorado Sun: Tina Peters isn’t the first Colorado convict to become a central figure in a governor’s race Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Startup funding for the Alliance was provided, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. The theme music is by Brad Turner. Megan Verlee is the executive producer.

From another big budget shortfall to unsettled business over artificial intelligence to other pressing policy issues, like housing, the environment and surveillance, the 2026 legislative session kicks off in less than a week and Colorado lawmakers already have a lot on their to-do lists. Plus, while Democrats continue to hold a wide majority in both legislative chambers, tensions between the more progressive and more moderate factions of the party threaten to bubble over. On top of all of that, a big election year that will deliver new leaders for the state. CPR’s Bente Birkeland, KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods and The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul dig into the politics, the policy and the pressures expected to shape a new session. Catch up on our latest coverage: Purplish: Budget balanced (for now), AI decisions punted, relationships ruptured: What went down during special session Purplish: Crude Signal chats, social media attacks, mistreated aides: lawmaker conduct is back in the headlines CPR: Trump cites Colorado in new executive order banning states from creating ‘cumbersome’ AI laws The Colorado Sun: How Medicaid became such a drag on Colorado’s state budget KUNC: Democrats, local governments are gearing up for another round of battles over housing in Colorado The Colorado Sun: Colorado Ethics Commission advances complaints against Democrats who attended dark money-funded retreat The Colorado Sun: Colorado state Sen. Faith Winter was legally drunk when she caused car crash that killed her, authorities say Purplish: Drinking at the Colorado Capitol CPR: Democratic Sen. Faith Winter changed State Capitol culture in the #MeToo era Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. Megan Verlee is CPR News’ executive producer of podcasting. Sound design and engineering by Shane Rumsey. Purplish’s theme music is by Brad Turner. Additional reporting for this episode from Taylor Dolven of The Colorado Sun and CPR’s John Daley.

In statehouses across the country, the political playing field is being redrawn, as states wade into the murky waters of midcycle redistricting. President Donald Trump kicked off this effort, when he urged Republicans in Texas to draw new Congressional maps, years ahead of schedule. Then came Missouri and North Carolina, and earlier this month, California voters agreed to put aside their independently drawn map and give Democrats more seats. Colorado — a blue state with its congressional seats split evenly between the parties — is a tempting target as Democrats look to further offset Republican gains.But not so fast. CPR's Bente Birkeland and Caitlyn Kim dive into the guardrails Colorado voters put in place years ago to keep politics out of the state’s redistricting process — and why changes to the process could be slow and costly. They’re joined by NPR’s Larry Kaplow, who has been covering this issue on the national level. Read and listen to our redistricting coverage: As state after state weighs partisan redistricting, the people who drew Colorado’s map hope it stays out of the fray Should Colorado join the gerrymandering war? Attorney General Phil Weiser thinks so The man who helped Colorado and California take politics out of redistricting calls the race toward partisan gerrymanders a living ‘nightmare’ Colorado officially has new state legislative maps Purplish’s 2021 redistricting miniseries: The Great Redraw Purplish is produced by listener-supported CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. This episode was edited by Megan Verlee , and sound designed and engineered by Shane Rumsey. Theme music is by Brad Turner. Big shout out to Rachel Estabrook, who has led the audio projects team this past year and is leaving CPR at the end of the month. Thanks for your leadership!Editor's note: This episode has been updated to remove an inaccuracy about the current partisan split in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Anti-hunger advocates and education groups did a victory dance election night, celebrating the passage of Props. MM and LL, two statewide ballot measures to increase funding for Colorado’s universal free school meal program. CPR’s Jenny Brundin joins Purplish host Bente Birkeland to talk through what voters thought of these measures and what it means for the programs' future. They also dig into the results of school board races around the state. Then, a pivot to look ahead at the 2026 midterms, and the big races on the horizon, including the fight for control of Congress and the candidates who hope to win the governor’s office. The Colorado Sun’s Jesse Paul, KUNC’s Lucas Brady Woods and CPR’s Caitlyn Kim are on the podcast this week to preview what they're watching for on as the state gears up for a big election year.If you're enjoying the show and want everyone to know it, email us at purplish@cpr.org and we'll send you a Purplish sticker to thank you for being an awesome listener!Purplish is produced by listener-supported CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. This episode was edited by Megan Verlee and Rachel Estabrook, and sound designed and engineered by Shane Rumsey. Theme music is by Brad Turner.

There are just two statewide questions on the ballot this year, and both are related to a universal school meals program intended to feed all public school students in the state regardless of income.Three years ago, voters approved a tax on wealthier Coloradans to fund the Healthy School Meals program for All. That original measure set out to do several things, with the marquee item being to provide free breakfast and lunch for all K-12 public school students in Colorado. But it’s running short on cash, and lawmakers are going back the ballot again, asking voters to increase that tax to fully fund the program.CPR’s Bente Birkeland and CPR’s Jenny Brundin dig into the original measure and how its promises have matched up with reality so far, why the program is in financial trouble, and how lawmakers on both sides of the aisle feel about going back to taxpayers about the issue. They explain what Propositions MM and LL will do, and why Democratic lawmakers hope they could help with hunger at home as well as school.Read CPR's voter guide for the 2025 election here.Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.Purplish’s producer is Stephanie Wolf. This episode was edited by Megan Verlee, and sound designed and engineered by Shane Rumsey. Theme music is by Brad Turner.And a moment of gratitude:Purplish is a Signal Award winner!The podcast won a Gold and Listener’s Choice awards in the Local News show category. Thanks to all who voted! We're honored to have your support; thanks for nerding out on Colorado politics with us.

Last year, Buc-ee’s opened its first Colorado location, an expansive 74,000 square-foot outpost in Weld County filled with beaver-branded merch, brisket sandwiches and sweets. Not too long after that, the company began plans for a second store, landing at a parcel of land about a two-hours drive away in northern El Paso County. But the prospect of a Buc-ee’s arriving on the edge of the small town of Palmer Lake quickly became a larger-than-life controversy. CPR’s Bente Birkeland, KRCC’s Andrea Chalfin and KRCC’s Briana Heaney dig into the story behind this big development proposal -- and its big opposition. It's a tale which raises questions around growth, representative government and how communities navigate bitter political divides.Read their coverage: Colorado’s governor and senators sign letter asking Buc-ee’s to reconsider Monument Hill location In debate over new Buc-ee’s, early results show Palmer Lake residents want a public vote and recall of two trustees Buc-ee’s gets a thumb’s down from the Palmer Lake Planning Commission Here’s what the agreement between Palmer Lake and Buc-ee’s looks like, mostly. The annexation still needs approval Mayor of Palmer Lake resigns with town divided over possible Buc-ee’s Purplish is produced by CPR News and the Capitol News Alliance, a collaboration between KUNC News, Colorado Public Radio, Rocky Mountain PBS, and The Colorado Sun, and shared with Rocky Mountain Community Radio and other news organizations across the state. Funding for the Alliance is provided in part by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting.You can also help support Purplish, with a gift at cpr.org.Purplish's producer is Stephanie Wolf. This episode was edited by Megan Verlee and sound designed and engineered by Shane Rumsey. Our theme music is by Brad Turner.