The Republicans start their struggle from a reasonable base. The redistricting process carried out in the summer and fall of 2021 gave them 19 safe-Republican seats in the lower house of the state legislature. On top of those 19, the GOP must win 14 competitive seats in order to reach a ruling majority of 33 members.
What does this political battlefield look like? Let’s take a geographical-political tour of the 14 House districts, spread out across the state of Colorado, the Republicans must win. Remember, if they lose even one, the Democrats will control the Colorado House of Representatives in 2023-2024.
District 43: This House district is located in northern Douglas County along the border with southern Arapahoe County west of Interstate-25. It includes Highlands Ranch. It is very suburban in character, which helps to make it a competitive seat. Its two-party average (of eight recent statewide elections) is 54% Republican to 46% Democratic. It should be one of the easier competitive seats for the GOP to win.
District 16: The battleground shifts to north-central Colorado Springs, to an area north of downtown between I-25 and Academy Boulevard. It is dominated by post-World War II middle-income ranch houses and split-level homes. That is where…