Colorado's primary election will crown winners in dozens of contests

One-quarter of the races on the 2024 ballot will get decided in Tuesday's low-turnout primary election because there is just one candidate or party on the ballot, an Axios analysis finds.

In dozens of other contests, the winner of Tuesday's contest will essentially win the race because the district strongly favors one party, making it uncompetitive in the general election.

Why it matters: The dynamic reflects how partisanship dominates Colorado politics and how Democrats can manage to maintain their grip on the levers of power before a single vote is counted.

• It also gives certain voters in Tuesday's election an outsized role in determining who will get elected.

By the numbers: 23 candidates for the 120 state legislature and district attorney elections on this year's ballot are running without competition. Another five races only have one major party competing for the seat.

The big picture: The dearth of political challenges is a trend in Colorado politics. In 2022, just 13% of voters cast ballots in meaningful races for the Colorado House, where Democrats hold super-majority control.

• Six of the eight U.S. House seats are considered safe for one party or the other, meaning the candidates are picked in primary elections where most voters don't participate.

The intrigue : Unaffiliated and third-party candidates can still surface to challenge the status quo. Candidates not affiliated with a political party have until July 11 to submit signatures to qualify for the November ballot.

Yes, but: Independent and third-party candidates will face a difficult time competing for a win without the apparatus of a major political party. All of the current members of the state legislature or Congress are Democrats or Republicans.