The Colorado Supreme Court issued three separate opinions ruling that each proposed measure violated the state’s constitutional “single subject” requirement. The measures would have temporarily halted the commission’s work and redrawn district lines.
The Court’s Reasoning
Chief Justice Monica Marquez wrote that changing the redistricting frequency “represents a seismic shift to Colorado’s longstanding redistricting process enshrined in the state constitution.” The court found the proposals exceeded what could be addressed in a single ballot measure.
Supporters of the measures had argued the changes were necessary to redraw districts, while opponents said the proposals would fundamentally alter the state’s established redistricting procedures.
Part of a Larger National Battle
The Colorado decision follows a similar court ruling in Virginia, where the state Supreme Court blocked a Democratic effort to redraw congressional maps outside the independent redistricting process. Virginia voters had narrowly approved the measure, but the court prevented its implementation before the 2026 elections.
The redistricting battles reflect broader partisan struggles ahead of the 2026 midterms. Texas Republicans initiated aggressive map redrawing efforts last year, prompting Democratic-controlled states to pursue comparable strategies in response.
A spokesperson for Coloradans for a Level Playing Field did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the rulings.
This story has been updated. CNN’s political team contributed to this report.
