Nick Coltrain

Politics reporter

Nick Coltrain

Nick Coltrain covers state politics for the Denver Post. He joined the news organization in 2022 after covering the Iowa caucus and COVID-19 for the Des Moines Register and all things for the Fort Collins Coloradoan.

Reps. Sean Camacho, right, and Jacque Phillips speak in the House chamber at the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Camacho is sponsoring a bill that would create new regulations for chatbots powered by artificial intelligence. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Colorado lawmakers grapple with limits on kids鈥� AI chatbot interactions — and access to adult content

April 26, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

"I think when you鈥檙e trying to regulate something that moves inherently faster than legislation ever could, it抖阴ap going to be a moving target," said Rep. Sean Camacho, who's sponsoring a...

Jamie Frederick wears pins during hearings on House Bill 25-1312 in the Old Supreme Court hearing room at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on April 30, 2025. The Senate Judiciary Committee listened to testimony from opponents and proponents of the proposal to extend legal protections to transgender people. Legislators took testimony for eight hours. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Gov. Jared Polis signs new law sealing name-change records for people younger than 18

May 5, 2026 at 9:39 a.m.

Colorado courts will now need to suppress name change records for minors under a new law signed by Gov. Jared Polis.

Robin Reichhardt, director of organizing with the Globeville Elyria Swansea Coalition, speaks to a small crowd at the edge of Elyria Park during a news conference to voice concerns about the CoreSite data center under construction directly across the street on February 13, 2026, in Denver. (Photo By Kathryn Scott/Special to The Denver Post)

Lawmakers prep for final dash on housing, data centers, gambling in the Colorado legislature this week

April 20, 2026 at 12:13 p.m.

The Colorado legislature has less than a month to complete its work -- both giving the 100 lawmakers and dozens of lobbyists a light at the end of the tunnel...

Debbie Fox poses for a portrait at her apartment in Arvada on Thursday, April 17, 2026. She was defrauded by a man she matched with on a dating app. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

A Colorado woman, defrauded of $58,000 by a dating match, says a bill requiring bank delays would鈥檝e saved her

April 20, 2026 at 11:31 a.m.

"I was devastated,鈥� Arvada resident Debbie Fox said of falling victim to fraud. 鈥淢y body collapsed to the floor. I couldn't comprehend this amount of harm that was done to...

Senators convene in the state Senate chamber at the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver on Thursday, March 5, 2026. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

State budget passes Colorado Senate and nears final decision point, with committee weighing changes

April 17, 2026 at 5:07 p.m.

鈥淭his was an extraordinarily hard budget. ... It kept me up at night (on) many, many days. It抖阴ap taken a huge emotional toll,鈥� said Sen. Jeff Bridges, the budget committee's...

State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer announces her run for Colorado governor during a news conference at the historic Fort Lupton replica on Tuesday, Sept. 9, 2025. Kirkmeyer represents Colorado Senate District 23, which covers parts of Larimer and Weld Counties. (Photo by Matthew Jonas/Daily Camera)

Barbara Kirkmeyer qualifies for GOP primary for Colorado governor as state contests take shape

April 15, 2026 at 3:04 p.m.

State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer qualified for the Republican primary for Colorado governor on Wednesday. She will face state Rep. Scott Bottoms and political newcomer Victor Marx on June 30.

Rep. Emily Sirota, right, talks with Rep. Kyle Brown in the House chamber of the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver on Thursday, April 2, 2026. Both serve on the Joint Budget Committee, which proposed major cuts in state spending to other lawmakers. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Lost sleep for Colorado lawmakers as they reckon with budget cuts for disabled people, immigrant children

April 15, 2026 at 10:58 a.m.

"This is a lot to take in,鈥� Rep. Emily Sirota, the chair of the budget committee, told her fellow Democrats. 鈥淭hese are a lot of very, very painful cuts we...

Families of people with developmental disabilities protest proposed budget cuts for their services at Civic Center Park in Denver on Wednesday, March 25, 2026. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

A closer look at Colorado’s proposed budget cuts, from a dental fund to financial aid to health provider fees

April 11, 2026 at 6:00 a.m.

Here is a sampling of some of the programs that are either on the chopping block or slated to be pared back in Colorado's proposed budget that's under consideration by...

Gov. Jared Polis delivers his final State of the State address in the House chamber at the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026. A new governor will be sworn in early next year. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

In poll, Coloradans express growing economic fears — and dimming views of Polis, Bennet and Hickenlooper

April 8, 2026 at 3:55 p.m.

"We've seen Democrats become quite frustrated with incumbent legislators and executives across the state and across the country," pollster Kevin Ingham said.

Colorado House Speaker Julie McCluskie looks at the results of a vote during floor proceedings in the Colorado State Capitol Building on Wednesday, April 23, 2025. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Colorado lawmakers take another stab at spinning off the state鈥檚 workers鈥� comp carrier

April 7, 2026 at 11:01 a.m.

"It抖阴ap our responsibility that we leave no stone unturned, that we look at every possible action that we can take to shore up the state鈥檚 fiscal health," House Speaker Julie...

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