A Politico article touting “The Colorado Way” as a Democratic blueprint for winning elections — by promising to save people money — is a master class in political spin divorced from reality.

The Politico article, published this week and generating buzz, was inspired by an international meeting of the left-leaning Progressive Policy Institute held recently in Denver to find a successful strategy for overcoming widespread disapproval of Democratic leadership. They held the meeting in Colorado because Democrats here know how to win.

They conveniently forgot or ignored a survey by the Colorado Polling Institute that found Democratic favorability among Colorado voters fell to 39% in March from 52% in November, while disfavor climbed to 56% from 45%.

Politico’s chuckle-worthy spin implies that by reducing regulation, lowering taxes and imposing renewable energy mandates a new brand of Democratic leadership has delivered prosperity.

The facts tell a story to the contrary: under Democratic control, Colorado ranks high among most expensive, overregulated, and exclusive states, with soaring living costs, a worsening housing crisis, rising homelessness and stagnating incomes battered by inflation.

Consider that Colorado’s cost of living is 10% higher than the national average based on data compiled by the Economic Research Institute. This occurred while Democrats held strong majorities in the legislature and occupied all statewide offices.

The U.S. Senate Joint Economic Committee found that Colorado households have spent an extra $42,079 since January 2021 because of the state’s above-average inflation rate. Housing costs, a cornerstone of the affordability crisis, have skyrocketed. Between 2017 and 2023, rents in Colorado Springs surged 47%, Loveland 42% and Fort Collins 37% — far exceeding national trends.

The average Denver one-bedroom apartment costs more than $2,000 monthly, unaffordable for those earning less than $60,000 in most metro counties. Home ownership is a distant dream, with mortgage rates near 7% and forecasts showing no relief through 2026.

Democrats’ housing policies have failed to deliver. Despite promises, the 2023 Proposition 123 loosened income restrictions for affordable housing, diverting funds from the working poor to middle-income earners in resort towns, leaving low-income families in the lurch. Homelessness has spiked 30%, based on the 2024 Point-In-Time Count, with encampments proliferating as rents climb. The Colorado Coalition for the Homeless reports record eviction filings, underscoring the crisis.

Inflation has eroded incomes. Real income levels have declined, with 40% of Coloradans “just getting by” and 10% “really struggling” financially, based on data from the University of Colorado, the Common Sense Institute and the federal government. Latino voters, a key demographic, cite inflation, low wages and unaffordable housing as top concerns, with 33% reporting worse financial situations in 2024. Child care costs, among the highest in the U.S., further strain families, with full-time care for one child averaging $15,000 annually.

The state’s $43.9 billion 2025-26 budget, shaped by Democrats, faces a $1.2 billion shortfall that is forcing cuts to transportation, social programs and community health worker reimbursements while Medicaid costs soar.

The Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR) has been a bulwark against unchecked spending. Yet, Democratic leadership relentlessly undermines it, risking further tax hikes or cuts to services benefiting low-income households.

Though Politico claims a new brand of Democratic leadership has focused on reducing regulations and costs for consumers, state government regulations have risen so sharply that Colorado ranks as the sixth-most regulated state. The state budget has grown 25% in five years while taxes and fees rise, making life unaffordable.

“The Colorado Way” does not support a narrative of Democrats benefiting the working class. Reliable data reveals a state in which Democratic policies have driven up costs, deepened inequality and left working families behind. Coloradans deserve better than a fairy tale view of the ruling class.

The Gazette Editorial Board