Democrats will hold supermajorities in both chambers of the Colorado Legislature after they flipped one seat in the state Senate and up to six in the state House, according to preliminary election results and statements by Democratic state leaders.

Democrats expect to have a 24-11 majority in the Senate and a 49-16 majority in the House. Combined with a Democratic governor, that gives the party a lot of power to enact its agenda.

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Democrats lost their House supermajority in 2024 when Republicans gained seats, and the party has now won back much of that ground.

Douglas County Democrat Kevin Leung declared victory on Wednesday afternoon in Senate District 30 when he led incumbent Republican Representative John Carson with 52.5% of the vote. The Associated Press had not called the race by the time of publication. Republican-backed groups spent millions of dollars to defend the district, especially in October as the race narrowed.

“Outside groups spent millions trying to keep this seat, but our volunteers kept showing up,” Leung said in a statement. “To everyone who gave up a Saturday to walk one more block, and to every neighbor who opened the door and heard us out, thank you. You won this race.”

Democrats also maintained seats and beat heavily-funded Republicans in other Senate districts. Aaron Gutierrez beat Republican Dana Charles with 54.4% of the vote in Pueblo’s Senate District 3. Senator Janice Marchman of Loveland defeated former Republican Senator Rob Woodward in Senate District 15 by 16 points. And, though the AP has not officially called it, Senator Tony Exum looks likely to beat Republican Levon Stilson in the Colorado Springs-based Senate District 11. Exum had 61% of the vote as of Wednesday afternoon.

In a Facebook post, Charles said she congratulated Gutierrez and wrote that she has “every confidence that he will remain committed to putting Pueblo at the forefront, and I look forward to helping him in any way I possibly can.”

Three flips

In the House, Democrats were on track to flip six seats as of Wednesday afternoon. That includes races that brought a lot of attention and money, such as a rematch in a Weld County district, and two seats in Colorado Springs that flew mostly under the radar.

The party won back three seats that Republicans flipped in 2024. Democrat Jillaire McMillan beat Republican Representative Dan Woog in Weld County’s House District 19 with almost 60% of the vote. In House District 16, Steph Vigil won back her seat against Republican Jill Haffley with 57.3% of the vote. And in House District 50, former Greeley City Council member Tommy Butler has 60% of the vote and is poised to defeat Republican Representative Ryan Gonzalez. The AP has not called that race.

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“My team and I are going to try to get a little rest tomorrow, perhaps, and then we have work to do for the upcoming legislative session. Thank you, thank you, thank you to this beloved community — I’m excited to get back in there,” Vigil posted on Facebook on election night.

Gonzalez also weighed in, posting on X, “Mr. President, you would be more effective if you would just shut the f*** up.” While President Donald Trump was not active in Colorado’s statehouse races, he was outspoken in many of the races that ended up going to Democrats on Election Day and told voters to act like he was on the ballot.

Democrats also look likely to flip House District 51, with former Loveland Mayor Jacki Marsh leading Republican Amy Parks by about 5 points. In House District 15 in Colorado Springs, unofficial results show Democrat Jeff Livingston ahead of Pricilla Tiegen by about 600 votes. Whoever wins will replace outgoing Republican Representative Scott Bottoms, one of the most conservative members of the Legislature, who lost a primary run for governor this year. Democrat Michelle Tweed is leading Republican Brenda Miller 50.7% to 49.3% in House District 21, which is currently represented by Republican Representative Mary Bradfield of Colorado Springs.

Leadership elections

The new Democratic caucuses in each chamber will select their leadership this week. As a supermajority — with at least two-thirds control — the party can put constitutional amendments on the ballot and override vetoes from the governor if they are united. That sets Democrats up to try again on bills outgoing Governor Jared Polis has vetoed, including labor union election reform and creating a civil cause of action against federal immigration agents. It also further dilutes Republican membership on the committees that bills must pass through before getting a floor vote.

“In Colorado, Democrats get things done,” House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat who is term-limited and won’t be returning to the Legislature next year, said at the Colorado Democratic watch party Tuesday night. “We have secured a future where everyone can realize their Colorado dream.”