On Wednesday, Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) attributed his state’s shift to the left to the success of tax cuts in recent years, especially after President-elect Trump’s win in the 2024 election.
While Republicans made gains across much of the United States, some areas on a map from The New York Times, including parts of Colorado, saw Democratic success. Polis, who has served as the state’s governor since 2019, highlighted this trend.
Responding to a question on social media platform X about why Colorado was moving in a different political direction than much of the country, Polis explained the shift by pointing to the state’s “prosperity and abundance agenda.”
“We’ve worked on saving people money through three income tax rate cuts—two approved by voters and one through the legislature—along with cutting property taxes, providing free preschool and kindergarten, eliminating sales taxes on essential items like diapers and feminine hygiene products, and advancing pro-housing initiatives.
We’re also focusing on public transit and improving living opportunities while safeguarding personal freedom and respect for all,” he added in his X post. As President Trump secured another term on Wednesday, Democrats nationwide felt the shockwaves.
Trump triumphed in all seven crucial battleground states—Arizona, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Nevada, Wisconsin, Michigan, and North Carolina—six of which had supported Biden in 2020, according to Decision Desk HQ projections.
Additionally, Trump became the first Republican presidential candidate to win the popular vote since 2004, intensifying reflection and division within the Democratic Party.
Despite Trump’s victories in these battleground states, Democrats still saw success in several key Senate and gubernatorial races. Senators Jacky Rosen (Nev.), Tammy Baldwin (Wis.), Rep. Elissa Slotkin (Mich.), and North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein all emerged victorious in their respective races, according to Decision Desk HQ projections.