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How Colorado Trump Voters Feel About the President’s Tumultuous New Term
In the ever-evolving landscape of American politics, Colorado presents an intriguing case study when it comes to the divided sentiments surrounding former President Donald Trump. As the 2024 presidential race unfolds, many of Trump’s loyal supporters are navigating an increasingly complex political terrain. For those who remain staunch Trump voters in Colorado, their views are shaped by a variety of factors: the successes and challenges of his first term, his controversial post-presidency actions, and the political polarization that has come to define his tumultuous new term. Colorado, traditionally seen as a battleground state, has undergone significant demographic shifts in recent years, with a growing liberal presence in cities like Denver and Boulder, while the rural and suburban areas have continued to hold strong to conservative values. This dichotomy plays a pivotal role in shaping how Colorado’s Trump voters view the man they once championed.
The Rise of Trump and the Shifting Landscape
To understand how Colorado’s Trump voters feel about his new term, it is important to first revisit the political journey of the former president in the state. Colorado, long known for its swing-state status, had been a Republican stronghold for much of the 20th century. However, as the 21st century progressed, demographic changes, particularly in urban areas, began to shift the state to the left. The 2016 election marked a turning point when Trump’s unconventional candidacy shook up the traditional political order. Despite losing the state to Hillary Clinton in 2016 by over five points, Trump still garnered a significant portion of Colorado’s voters—particularly in the rural regions and among the state’s working-class white voters.
In 2020, Trump once again lost Colorado, this time by a larger margin to Joe Biden, but his base remained remarkably loyal. As the dust settled from the 2020 election, many Trump voters in Colorado were left grappling with their sense of loyalty to the president versus the realities of his controversial post-presidency phase. Trump’s baseless claims about election fraud and the January 6 Capitol insurrection only intensified the divide, leaving voters with mixed emotions about their support for him in a second term.
Trump’s Tumultuous New Term: The Fallout
As Trump prepared for a potential second run in 2024, his political future seemed uncertain. A series of investigations into his business practices, his handling of classified documents, and his role in the Capitol riot had painted a complex picture of a former president in the midst of legal battles. The question of whether Trump could reclaim the White House after all of this turmoil loomed large over his candidacy. However, despite these legal challenges and controversies, Trump’s grip on a large portion of the Republican Party and his enduring influence among voters remained steadfast.
For many of his supporters in Colorado, Trump’s “new term” began with a sense of unease. The results of his first presidency—marked by tax cuts, deregulation, the COVID-19 pandemic, and significant judicial appointments—were seen through different lenses depending on the region and the individual voter. For some, his successes were a rallying cry for continued support. However, for others, particularly those who had once been on the fence about his style of leadership, his post-presidency actions and the ongoing legal troubles raised significant concerns.
1. The Enthusiasts: A Loyal Base That Still Sees Trump as a Champion
For a large portion of Trump’s Colorado base, particularly those in more rural and suburban areas, the former president remains a hero. These voters view Trump as a fighter who unapologetically went after the political establishment and disrupted the status quo. In communities outside of Denver, where rural voters are more likely to feel disconnected from the state’s urban centers, Trump’s persona as an outsider resonates deeply. These voters see him as someone who prioritized their economic interests, particularly with his focus on jobs, energy independence, and a “tough” stance on immigration.
Moreover, Trump’s promise to “Make America Great Again” resonates in areas where jobs have been lost to outsourcing, and the opioid crisis has taken a toll on local communities. His policies on trade and his tough rhetoric on China were seen as a necessary counter to the globalist agenda. In Colorado, especially in the western and southern regions, these policies were viewed as empowering workers who felt left behind by traditional politics. For many of these voters, Trump’s legal challenges and controversies are little more than a smear campaign against a leader who is still fighting for the people who voted for him.
“I don’t think he did anything wrong,” says Jason, a rancher from southern Colorado who supported Trump in both 2016 and 2020. “The Democrats and the media are just out to get him. He did a lot for this country, and I think he can do it again if they’d just let him.”
The idea that Trump’s troubles are manufactured by the establishment is a prevalent sentiment among this group. They view his legal challenges as politically motivated and remain steadfast in their belief that his policies were good for the country, regardless of the controversies surrounding him.
2. The Skeptics: A Growing Divide Among Trump Voters
While Trump still has a significant and loyal following in Colorado, there is also a growing divide among his supporters, particularly in the suburbs and urban fringes. In these areas, voters who once supported him may now be having second thoughts. The legal challenges, including ongoing investigations, have made some question whether Trump is the right leader for the future of the Republican Party. In Colorado’s suburban communities, where voters are often more moderate, Trump’s divisiveness has turned many once-enthusiastic supporters into skeptics.
The January 6th insurrection and Trump’s rhetoric leading up to the event remain major points of contention for these voters. Some argue that his behavior undermines the very democracy he claims to protect. These concerns are especially pronounced among women voters, suburban parents, and college-educated voters, who are looking for a more stable, less combative political figure.
“I supported him in 2016, and I even voted for him in 2020, but I can’t ignore what happened on January 6th,” says Sarah, a suburban mother and former Trump supporter from the Denver area. “It’s hard to separate the man from the chaos. I’m not sure if I can vote for him again.”
For these voters, the question is not whether Trump was effective in office but whether he can unite the country again after the chaos of his first term. Some are looking for a Republican leader who can embody the values of conservatism without the polarization that Trump has come to symbolize.
3. The Shift to DeSantis?
As a potential alternative to Trump, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has gained significant traction among Colorado Republicans who are weary of Trump’s drama and divisiveness. DeSantis represents a more traditional conservative figure who can uphold conservative values without the chaos associated with Trump’s leadership. While DeSantis does not yet have the same level of fervent support as Trump in Colorado, his appeal to moderate Republicans has become evident.
“I like DeSantis. He’s got the right ideas, and he doesn’t seem to have the same baggage as Trump,” says Tom, a small business owner in northern Colorado. “If it comes down to Trump or DeSantis, I’ll go with DeSantis. We need someone who can win and not tear the country apart.”
Though DeSantis still faces an uphill battle in winning over Trump’s most loyal base, his growing appeal in Colorado suggests that many Republicans are beginning to seek an alternative who can unify the party and the country without the baggage that Trump has accumulated in his post-presidency.
Conclusion: A Complex Political Landscape
In Colorado, as across the nation, the feelings of Trump voters about his tumultuous new term are anything but monolithic. For many of his most loyal supporters, the controversies surrounding his presidency and legal troubles are seen as part of a larger political game designed to undermine him. These voters continue to stand by him, believing that his leadership brought tangible benefits to the country, particularly in areas like jobs, the economy, and national security.
However, there is a growing group of voters, especially in the suburbs and urban areas, who are rethinking their support for Trump. His divisiveness, his rhetoric, and the storm of legal challenges surrounding him have raised significant questions about whether he is the right leader for the future of the Republican Party. This group of skeptics is looking for a figure who can bring stability, unity, and a return to traditional conservative values.
As Colorado’s political landscape continues to evolve, the future of Trump’s support in the state remains uncertain. His base of loyal supporters is undeniable, but the growing divide among Republican voters could determine the outcome of the 2024 election in this critical swing state. The next chapter in Colorado’s political story will depend on whether Trump can maintain his grip on the electorate or if a new Republican standard-bearer, like Ron DeSantis, can emerge to lead the party into the future. Only time will tell how Colorado’s Trump voters will ultimately shape the next phase of American politics.
