Colorado Democrats fell short of a supermajority in the state Senate but maintained their dominance in both chambers as voters largely re-elected the status quo at the state Capitol.

Democrats entered the election one senator short of the 24 seats needed to secure a two-thirds majority in the Senate — and failed to win the extra seat. This prevented the party from gaining a rare level of political power that would have allowed Democrats to override gubernatorial vetoes, submit constitutional amendments without Republican help, and extend their advantage on key committees that shape and advance legislation.

Their chance at a supermajority vanished as Republicans held on in rural districts and flipped the suburban seat of incumbent Sen. Kevin Priola, a Henderson Democrat who was a Republican when he was elected.

The Associated Press on Thursday morning called for a decisive race denying Democrats supermajority control — the District 5 Senate contest on the Western Slope, where state Rep. Marc Catlin, R-Montrose, defeated businessman Cole Buerger, a Glenwood Springs Democrat.

As of 11:49 a.m., with 95% of ballots counted, Catlin was in the lead with 52% of the vote. He will replace Republican Senator Perry Will, who was elected to Garfield County Commission.

In Denver’s northeast suburbs, Republican businessman Scott Bright defeated Brighton City Councilman Matt Johnston, a Democrat, to replace Priola in Senate District 13. Bright had 56% of the vote to Johnston’s 44% as of 12:43 p.m., with 86% of the vote. votes counted.

Democrats had won 20 Senate seats and held a slight lead in three other elections that remained too close to call as of Thursday afternoon.

In the House, Democrats appeared poised to retain their large majority.

As of 2 p.m. Thursday afternoon, they had won 42 seats to the Republicans’ 19 and were ahead in three other elections that remained too close to call. At least 44 seats are needed in the House to constitute a qualified majority.

State Rep. Bob Marshall, a Democrat from Highlands Ranch, defeated Republican activist Matt Burcham to retain his seat in Douglas County’s District 43. With 95% of the ballots counted, the incumbent Marshall led 51% to 49% as of 12:53 p.m. Thursday, when the AP called the race.

Two other Democratic incumbents faced razor-thin margins, as Republicans sought to flip their seats.

In House District 50, Republican Ryan Gonzalez led by fewer than 200 votes over Rep. Mary Young, a Democrat from Greeley, in a rematch of their 2022 race. Gonzalez received 50.4% of the vote against 49.6% for Young, with 89% of the votes counted as of 12:43 p.m.

In Colorado Springs, Democratic Rep. Stephanie Vigil maintained a slim lead Thursday in House District 16 over Republican challenger Rebecca Keltie. Vigil received 50.6% of the vote to Keltie’s 49.4%, with 81% of ballots counted as of 2:06 p.m.

While Democrats needed a net gain of one seat to gain a supermajority in the Senate, Republicans needed to overturn at least three in the House to eliminate the Democratic supermajority in the lower chamber. Instead, it looked like lawmakers would return to the Capitol in January with roughly the same lineup as voters elected in 2022.

The Democratic success in Colorado was a nationwide exception, where voters shifted to the right in races up and down the ballot.

Their continued dominance of Colorado politics could embolden the progressive left to push for a more aggressive agenda on a range of issues such as workers’ and tenants’ rights, the environment and social services. And there will likely be growing pressure from their base for this to serve as a bulwark against a second Donald Trump presidency.

But even if Democrats maintain their large leads in both chambers, their ability to reshape state government next year may be limited. Lawmakers will return to the state Capitol in January with an urgent need to reduce more than a billion dollars in spendingthe cuts are expected to weigh heavily on Democratic priorities like Medicaid and education.

And although Republicans remain out of power in the Legislature, conservative groups outside the Capitol have once again shown their strength in influencing state fiscal policy.

Voters approved this week Proposition 130a conservative-backed measure directing the Legislature to spend an additional $350 million on law enforcement rather than social services. This follows Conservatives threatening two budget-crisis-causing ballot measures to extract property tax reductions of the Democratic majority.

Here’s where some of the other key races were taking place around 2:30 p.m. Thursday:

State Senate

• Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa won re-election against Democrat Vivian Smotherman, a Durango farmer, to retain Senate District 6 is in Republican hands. Simpson had 56% of the vote at 12:56 p.m.
• Rep. Marc Snyder, D-Manitou Springs, held a narrow lead over El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf in Senate District 12 — a seat currently held by term-limited Republican Sen. Bob Gardner. Snyder received 50% of the vote to VanderWerf’s 47%, with Libertarian John Angle collecting the remaining 3% in a potential spoiler role. The AP had not called the race with 81% of votes counted.
• Sen. Chris Kolker, D-Centennial, was ahead in his re-election bid in Senate District 16, leading Centennial City Councilwoman Robyn Carnes, 52% to 48% in south suburban Denver. With 79% counted, the AP had not called the race.
• In District 21, incumbent Sen. Dafna Michaelson Jenet, D-Commerce City, held a slight lead over Republican Frederick Alfred, a chemical engineer. Michaelson Jenet led 51.6% to 48.4%, with 82% reporting.

State House

• Democrat Jillaire McMillan led former state Rep. Dan Woog 51.5% to 48.5% in a District 19 seat held by Democratic Rep. Jennifer Parenti of Erie.
• In District 25, state Rep. Tammy Story, D-Evergreen, defeated Republican George Mumma, a former police chief, in western Jefferson County. With 99% of ballots counted, Story won 52% to 48%.
• In House District 58, Republican Larry Don Suckla defeated Democrat Kathleen Curry to fill the seat of Republican Marc Catlin, a candidate for state Senate. Suckla led 54% to 46% with 96% of the votes counted.
• Democrat Katie Stewart led 51.4% to 48.6% in District 59 over Republican Clark Craig to fill the vacant seat of Rep. Barbara McLachlan, a Durango Democrat. With 92% of the votes counted, the AP had not called the race.