Colorado voters hold a dim view of national politics, with nearly 3 in 4 characterizing the political situation as “in crisis.” And further, nearly two-thirds of respondents to a new poll fear political violence will worsen over the next few years.

Overall, the results from the Colorado Polling Institute, with the results released in phases on Thursday and Friday, show a dour outlook dominating the Centennial State 10 months into President Donald Trump’s second term. The poll also was conducted a month into the recently concluded — and record-long — federal government shutdown, and less than two months since the assassination on a college campus of conservative political activist Charlie Kirk.

Outside politics, 46% of Colorado voters said they think the economy will only get worse, while another 43% think it’ll only stay about the same — leaving a sliver of voters, just 12%, with a rosy outlook.

“I think it’s a general sense that there’s so many different issues that are weighing on them — they’re concerned about the economy, they’re even concerned about jobs today, it’s not just cost of living anymore. That just combines to be a real downer,” said pollster Lori Weigel, principal of New Bridge Strategy, the Republican half of the bipartisan team behind the poll.

Add in fears of political violence and an overall crisis of governance, Weigel said, and “how can you be sort of positive when you feel like that’s happening?”

Colorado voters are also reeling from the down economy more than the rest of the country, the pollsters found: 61% of respondents said they had cut spending on nonessential items compared to last year, versus 42% of the nation writ large, and 28% of Coloradans said their habits had remained about the same, compared to 43% of the nation.

The poll was in the field Nov. 1-5. The pollsters conducted online interviews with 622 registered voters that featured an over-sample of Hispanic voters to gauge that demographic’s views on certain questions. The survey has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.9 percentage points.

Hits to politicians’ favorability ratings

Coloradans’ souring feelings on politics as a whole have bled over to state leaders, though the changes were often within the margin of error. Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, is now slightly underwater with voters in favorable feelings, at 45% favorable to 46% unfavorable, according to the poll.

It’s a noticeable slip from March, when a bare majority, 51%, of voters held a favorable opinion of the term-limited governor and 40% had an unfavorable view. More voters also hold a very unfavorable view of him now, at 33%, than earlier this year, when it was 26%.

U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, a Democrat who is up for reelection next year, saw a similar slip, going from 49% favorable to 43% between March and this month. His unfavorable rating was 36% in March and 38% this month.

A yearslong effort to purchase two of the most powerful water rights on the Colorado River has cleared another hurdle after the state water board agreed to manage the rights alongside Western Slope water officials.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board voted unanimously Wednesday night to accept the two water rights tied to the Shoshone Power Plant into its environmental flow program. The approval is a critical piece in the Colorado River District’s $99 million deal with the owner of the aging plant in Glenwood Canyon — Xcel Energy — but the deal has faced pushback from Front Range water providers that fear the change could impact their supplies.

Backers of the deal aim to make sure the water now used by the small hydroelectric plant — and then put back in the river — will always flow westward.

“The importance of today’s vote cannot be overstated as a legacy decision for Colorado water and the Western Slope,” Andy Mueller, general manager of the Colorado River District, said in a news release. “It secures an essential foundation for the health of the Colorado River and the communities it sustains.”

Colorado water officials hailed the decision as a monumental achievement for the state that will help protect the river and its ecosystem. The state’s instream flow program allows the Water Conservation Board to manage dedicated water rights for the health of rivers, streams and lakes.

“Acquiring the Shoshone water rights for instream flow use is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to preserve and improve the natural environment of the Colorado River,” Dan Gibbs, the executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said in a news release.

One of the main sticking points during the hourslong meeting Wednesday was whether the board should manage the water rights with the River District. That would include decisions on how and when to require upstream users — like Front Range utilities — to send more water downstream. Generally, the board is the sole manager of water rights in its instream flow program, which the Shoshone rights are now a part of.

Several Western Slope entities said they would withdraw their financial support from the purchase if the Colorado River District was not allowed to co-manage the right with the board. Local governments and other organizations across the Western Slope promised more than $16 million toward the purchase.

Front Range water providers argued that the statewide board is the sole authority that can manage such rights and should have final decision-making power.

The water board instead approved the co-management strategy, which means that the two authorities will decide together how to act when there is not enough water to meet the right’s obligations.

The Colorado River District — a taxpayer-funded agency that works to protect Western Slope water — wants to purchase the Shoshone rights to ensure that water will continue to flow west past the plant and downstream to the towns, farms and others who rely on the Colorado River, even if the century-old power plant were decommissioned.

A stream of Western Slope elected officials, water managers and conservation groups testified in support of the deal and the rare opportunity it presented.

“The Shoshone call is one of the great stabilizing forces on the river — a heartbeat that has kept our valley farms alive, our communities whole and our economies steady even in lean years,” Mesa County Commissioner Bobbie Daniel said, urging the board to approve the plan.

Boulder, Colorado’s most famous symbol of loyalty, has reached yet another milestone. Peggy Coppom, the legendary Colorado Buffaloes superfan, turned 101 this week, celebrating with family, former athletes, coaches, and generations of fans whose lives she’s touched with her simple devotion to CU. 

For Colorado coach Deion Sanders, Peggy is a familiar face in the stands. “Miss Peggy, in her own tremendous, loving way, she gives all of us hope,” Sanders shared last season. “You know how many decades we’re apart? But we still found one another. I thank God for that.”

If you want to know what it means to show up—through good seasons and bad— you’ll hear Peggy’s name every time. After attending her first CU football game in 1940, Coppom, alongside her late twin sister Betty Hoover, became a fixture in the stands. For nearly six decades, the twins rarely missed a home game, their loyalty unwavering even as Boulder changed and college football along with it.

Over the years, Peggy has watched Colorado battle through everything from stadium renovations to conference realignments. Her seat at Folsom Field has weathered championship runs and heartbreaks. 

“Once we could afford season tickets, we jumped in,” she once recalled.

Now, Peggy has watched more than 330 home games, and her near-perfect attendance record is a feat matched by few in college sports.

Peggy Coppom’s story is a legacy that is woven into Boulder’s history. She and Betty saw Boulder transform from a small town into a lively college city of more than 100,000, with the university at its heart. They raised families while supporting CU from the stands and navigated losing seasons, and Peggy has embraced the program’s modern rise under Coach Prime.

Even after breaking her femur in 2024, Peggy made it to the Buffs season opener and is a familiar face at the Downtown Boulder Pearl Street rally and at bowl games. 

MORE: Shedeur Sanders Hit With Unfortunate News Following First NFL Game

MORE: Kenny Dillingham Opens Up About Deion Sanders’ Tough Year At Colorado

MORE: What Myles Garrett’s Candid Comments Tell Us About Shedeur Sanders

Peggy’s enthusiasm and kindness are infectious. On her 101st birthday, she was surprised by former CU star Jaylyn Sherrod at the CU women’s basketball game—one of many small celebrations joining together to honor Peggy. 

For much of the community, Peggy’s life stands as an example of hope and joy, no matter the scoreboard or the challenges that come with being a fan of the Buffaloes.​​

Coach Prime’s public admiration has only magnified her legacy, weaving Peggy’s story into the current era of CU athletics.

“She’s consistent with who she is,” Sanders said. “Her memory is sharp as a tack. Just always pleasant… always has something profound and peaceful to say to me.”

Peggy Coppom’s 101 years encapsulate the best of the Buffs Nation and Boulder community. She shows the ability to show up and to celebrate the players at their very best. Her advice for fans and athletes is to always cherish the memories, love the people, and stay true to the black and gold.

Peggy summed up her induction into the CU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2022, saying, “I can’t think of one person or anybody that’s ever been given an award like this for simply having a good time.”