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Budget cuts and national politics could shape the legislature’s ambitions this year.

The new affinity caucus will be for lawmakers who are Muslim or are from the Middle East, North Africa or South Asia. Its members hope it will serve as a bulwark against possible discriminatory action by the incoming Trump administration.

State Sen. Chris Hansen announced this week he is resigning to take a job in the private sector, even though he won reelection just last week. For him, it’s about paying for his kids’ college education, but it also means the next state senator from Denver will be chosen by a committee rather than by the voters.

Both Amendment J (same-sex marriage) and Amendment 79 (abortion) had wide support, while the closely watched race in Congressional District 8 was still close.

Incumbent Democratic US Rep. Yadira Caraveo and Republican challenger State Rep. Gabe Evans spent the last days of their campaigns trying to win over the last undecided voters. The high-stakes, neck-and-neck race for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District could decide the balance of power in Washington.

There's a lot on the ballot this year: more than a dozen statewide ballot measures, several battleground Congressional races that could decide the balance of power in Congress, scores of State House and Senate seats and, of course, the presidential election. KUNC's Voter Guide is here to help you make sure you're informed when you're filling out your ballot.

With the election less than two months away, political rifts in Grand County mirror those across Colorado and the rest of the country. Changing demographics are exacerbating political differences and making it hard to focus on the issues that matter, even when Republicans and Democrats agree on them.

An annual poll released this week shows inflation, low wages, unaffordable housing, and expensive healthcare are major concerns for Latino voters in Colorado. Also on the list are abortion, immigration, and gun violence.

More than 200 new state laws take effect this week. Most of them won’t affect everyday Coloradans, but some could have big impacts on low-income college students, wearable technology users, law enforcement officers, and alpine wildlife.

Greg Lopez won the special election last week to fill the remainder of former Congressman Ken Buck’s term representing Colorado’s Fourth Congressional District. He wants to prioritize immigration, economic and water policy, and supports a full, national ban on abortion.