Coloradans Reject Proposition 131 Amid Bipartisan Opposition

In the 2024 general election, Coloradans voted against Proposition 131, which aimed to change how state and congressional races are conducted. The ballot measure proposed eliminating party primaries and allowing all candidates to compete in an open primary, where the top four finishers would advance to a ranked-choice general election. Supporters believed this would broaden candidate appeal and encourage independent and minor party participation. However, opposition primarily came from Democrats, who argued the changes would lead to confusion and potential invalidation of ballots. Despite supporters citing success in other regions with open primaries and ranked-choice voting, concerns over influence from wealthy interests and the complexity of voting procedures fueled the opposition's campaign. Ultimately, the rejection of Proposition 131 reflects the challenges of implementing significant electoral reforms in a polarized political landscape.