Peter Marcus

Republican Brian Davidson, who recently lost his challenge to Democrat Stephen Ludwig for University of Colorado at large regent, agrees with his former opponent on at least one point: Democrats did a better job getting out the vote. And he believes that in the down ballot contest, motivating voters to the polls is the most important factor, which cost him the election.

Senate Democrats on Thursday shuffled the deck of its leadership following the Tuesday elections, choosing Majority Leader John Morse of Colorado Springs to lead them as Senate president in the upcoming session that begins Jan. 9. The nomination bucked speculation that Sen. Pat Steadman of Denver was the favored choice.

Morse, who was nominated by Caucus Chair Morgan Carroll of Aurora, will replace outgoing Senate President Brandon Shaffer of Longmont. Shaffer on Tuesday lost a challenge to U.S. Rep. Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, in the 4th Congressional District. His political career ostensibly came to an end, at least for now.

On a night when all eyes were on toss-up races across the state and nation, five of Colorado’s incumbent U.S. representatives quietly won reelection on Tuesday with decisive victories.

U.S. Reps. Diana DeGette, D-Denver, Jared Polis, D-Boulder, Scott Tipton, R-Cortez, Cory Gardner, R-Yuma, and Doug Lamborn, R-Colorado Springs, all claimed victory with little drama.

Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, a well known Aurora Republican whose previous elections have mostly been without much uncertainty, claimed victory late Tuesday night over Democratic challenger Joe Miklosi, a state representative from Denver in a contest that lived up to its billing as the closest congressional race in the state.

Around 9 p.m. on Election Night, the backers of a statewide initiative to end prohibition of marijuana got word that voters had heeded the call. The reggae music blasting at Casselman’s Bar and Venue in Denver — where supporters had gathered — faded into the background as an explosion of cheers and tears poured from the dozens of activists dancing in the energy-intensive room.

Voters on Tuesday backed a statewide ballot initiative directing the Colorado congressional delegation to support efforts to overturn the controversial campaign finance Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court ruling, and another that takes aim at state personnel reform.

The two constitutional amendments were overshadowed by the smoke created from a third ballot question approved by voters that legalized marijuana in Colorado. But proponents behind Amendment 65 and Amendment S say their efforts to bring reforms to campaign finance laws and an outdated state personnel system resonated just as much with voters.

Gov. John Hickenlooper on Thursday proposed a $21.9 billion state budget for the 2013-14 fiscal year that represents a $1.1 billion, or 5.4 percent, increase in total funds. The $8.1 billion from the general fund that is part of the budget includes a $387 million boost, or about 5 percent, over the current budget that ends in June.

The bitter and hotly contested race in the 6th Congressional District between incumbent Republican Mike Coffman of Aurora and Democratic challenger state Rep. Joe Miklosi of Denver is finally approaching the finish line, with outside interests having poured $5.6 million into the prolonged battle.

A coalition of Colorado business leaders and politicians have joined a national campaign asking Congress to put aside its partisan differences and work on long-term solutions for solving the nation’s ballooning deficit and looming so-called “fiscal cliff.”

The University of Colorado at-large regent race is the only party-affiliated, statewide race this year, but the two main candidates and two minor party contenders aren’t receiving a whole lot of attention leading up to the Nov. 6 election as they compete with a heated presidential contest that has grabbed the electorate’s attention. In fact, interest in this under-the-radar contest seems to have peaked in early summer, when Republican nominee Brian Davidson easily knocked off opponent Matt Arnold in a bitter and divisive primary.