Phil Weiser and Michael Bennet entered 2026 with the biggest war chests in the Colorado governor's race, while GOP fundraisers trail far behind. A late Bloomberg gift supercharged Bennet's outside committee.

Colorado Governor Jared Polis praised the state's strength and resilience in his final State of the State address, highlighting his tenure's successes in housing, crime reduction, and education.

Aurora closed most municipal facilities Jan. 16 for the first of four furlough days as officials work to trim a multimillion-dollar budget gap. Essential services remained open while routine in-person services paused.

The Colorado Economic Development Commission approved nearly $6M in job-growth tax credits for three projects — a quantum firm, an aerospace expansion and BlastOne — that could bring hundreds of jobs.

The Colorado PUC refused to ease a 41% greenhouse‑gas cut for natural‑gas utilities by 2035, keeping an ambitious target while scheduling a 2029 review. Regulators say they’ll balance decarbonization with cost and reliability concerns.

Polis has paused early parole sign‑offs for JYACAP graduates, leaving 11 people who committed crimes as youths waiting while Colorado’s prisons strain.

A new Colorado bill, House Bill 25-1180, prohibits public pet sales, targeting operations like puppy mills, to promote animal welfare and public health.

Boulder County will close government offices, including courts, for Martin Luther King Jr. Day but assures essential services will remain operational. Online services are available during the closure.

Douglas County Government offices to close on Martin Luther King Jr. Day but online services remain available; Link on Demand service resumes January 20.

Denver relaunches the Business Impact Opportunity Fund with grants to assist small businesses affected by city construction, particularly along East Colfax BRT Construction zone. Applications are open until February 10, 2026, for aid up to $15,000.

Enforcement of Denver’s flavored tobacco ban began Jan. 1, 2026. Retailers face fines up to $5,000 and undercover inspections as the city steps up compliance checks.

State Sen. Mike Weissman filed bill 26‑5 to let Coloradans sue ICE and other federal agents in state court for protest‑related injuries, rejecting immunity defenses.

In his final State of the State, Gov. Jared Polis put affordability front‑and‑center and warned that negotiators must close roughly an $850 million budget gap.