Colorado's Shift to the Left Follows New England

Denver, Boulder and some of the stylish ski towns in the mountains have pulled Colorado's vote to the left for quite some time, and as population in those areas increases, the conservative vote in more rural areas has been outnumbered. Some of Colorado's dual personality can be seen in the new Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter's overtures to unions and creative attempts at tax increases to fund increased spending.

The former even shocked the left-leaning Denver Post, which thought the governor's concessions to unions were excessive, although with union concern about supporting the Democratic National Convention due to be held in Denver, the governor's actions on that front might make more sense. One of the current ballot questions would repeal another controversial Ritter move, reinstatement of paycheck deduction of union dues for state employees which was eliminated by his Republican predecessor.

Like New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine, states bordering liberal Massachusetts, Colorado has seen an influx of new residents with many seeking to create their dream in the style to which they are accustomed. The New England states saw similar effects as New Yorkers began to populate Vermont, and Massachusetts residents migrated to New Hampshire.

Since New Hampshire is highly visible in national elections, its population change has been especially notable. The local effect of the northward migration into the state is a good example of the pattern overall - Massachusetts residents moved north to a state with no income tax, but found that the services, public education, and social benefits were not to their liking. Court cases were filed to force change, and gradually legislative positions were filled with more liberal legislators, even the governor of the Granite State is now a Democrat.

Vermont, once a bastion of cows and laconic farmers with little use for politics has now become the home of activists, gentleman farmers from New York City, and others whose first glimpse of the state might have been on a stop off the Interstate during a ski trip. Jim Jeffords, U.S. Senator from the state, is known for his jump from Republican to Independent (aligned with Democratic votes) during his term in office.

Colorado is following a similar pattern, with tens of thousands of new residents coming from many places, with Chicago and California some of the more evident, along with diverse ethnic populations from many sources. The face of the state is changing. The Metro Denver area in particular is growing, and incoming residents are finding other areas attractive as well. Conservative Colorado Springs is seen by many to be out of character with the rest of Colorado at this point.

"Ritter Laboring for Unions?", Dan Haley, http://www.denverpost.com/ci_6821469?source=rss-scrape