DENVER (AP) — Democrats were expected to take the reins of both chambers of the Colorado Legislature, giving them greater control of the state budget and clearing the way for passage of civil union legislation, which was defeated in dramatic fashion this year.
The Democrats’ apparent victory on Tuesday also sets up a potential first in Colorado history: Two openly gay lawmakers leading the House and the Senate.
Republican House Speaker Frank McNulty says it appeared that Democrats won enough seats to take control of the House, where the GOP had a 33-32 majority since 2010. Democrats claimed they had won at least 34 seats.
Democratic state Rep. Mark Ferrandino, his party’s leader in the House, said McNulty had called him and was gracious. Ferrandino, a gay lawmaker who is widely believed to be the next House speaker, was the co-sponsor of the civil unions bill that McNulty and Republicans killed with a filibuster.
“We’re not going to take it as a mandate to just run it like a dictatorship like we saw at the end of the last session,” Ferrandino promised.
Senate Democratic Leader John Morse said it appears his party had done enough to maintain their lead in that chamber, but it was unclear what the final seat tally would be. Democrats have had a 20-15 seat majority for two years.
“It seems like the people of Colorado have empowered the Democrats once again,” Morse said. Democrats had taken control of both chambers in 2004, but the Legislature became split in 2010 when Republicans won the House.
Many races the parties targeted for control are in Denver’s suburbs, including Jefferson, Arapahoe and Adams counties — vote-rich areas with large numbers of independent voters.
The parties in both chambers planned leadership elections Thursday, and that’s when Ferrandino could be elected House speaker. Sen. Pat Steadman, a gay lawmaker who co-sponsored civil unions, has been mentioned as a possible candidate for Senate president. However, Morse has also long been considered a candidate for that title.
Sen. Bill Cadman, the Republican leader in the Senate, had said before the elections that control of the Senate was within reach for the GOP.
“At the end of the day, when you lose races that you put your heart into, it wouldn’t be human to not be disappointed,” he said.
McNulty said President Barack Obama’s ground game in Colorado helped sway legislative races.
“I think that it can’t be understated how effective the Obama machine is about turning people out to vote,” he said. “I am impressed.”
(© Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
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