Here are the top ten political stories of the year in Colorado, no recount needed:
The Pandemic
This has been a painful year for all Coloradans — and a challenging one for Governor Jared Polis, who set out to walk a narrow path between shutting down the state for maximum safety and allowing variances for maximum flexibility in aiding businesses and other organizations. As the state exits 2020, the numbers are looking slightly better in Colorado — and a lot better compared to much of the rest of the country. But there are some dreadful numbers, too: The state has lost thousands of lives to COVID-19, and massive revenue shortfalls on the local and state level will lead to strict cost-cutting measures in the months ahead.Lauren Boebert's Rise
Although Coloradans overwhelmingly rejected Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election, voters in the 3rd Congressional District elected a political newcomer who ran to the right of Scott Tipton, the incumbent Republican congressman whom Trump himself had endorsed. Short on detailed policy ideas but long on kooky conspiracies, Lauren Boebert, the pistol-packing restaurant owner who defeated Diane Mitsch Bush in the general election, is framing herself as the anti-AOC. She's also got a shot at becoming the face of the Colorado Republican Party, which has been awash in losses lately.