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.

Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold speaks during a press conference at her office in Denver on Thursday, Oct. 24, 2024. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Justice Department sues Colorado secretary of state to force release of detailed voter information

December 12, 2025 at 10:51 a.m.

The lawsuit follows months of demands from the Justice Department for voter and election data and other information about Colorado's and other states' voting systems.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis asks Trump administration to reconsider killing free online tax-filing program

December 4, 2025 at 12:44 p.m.

Gov. Jared Polis asked the federal government to reconsider its decision to halt IRS Direct File in a letter sent Wednesday to U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Jose Castanon with Paonia, a telecommunications construction company, gets ready to feed a cable underground through a pipe as the crew installs broadband in Boulder as part of the city's gigabit speed broadband buildout on Dec. 6, 2022 in Boulder. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Colorado says $420 million from feds will provide high-speed internet for nearly 100,000 residents

December 3, 2025 at 4:57 p.m.

The federal government is set to award Colorado $420 million to bolster high-speed internet access in the state -- enough to connect nearly 100,000 Colorado locations to broadband.

Brandon Perna poses for a portrait inside the "That's Good Sports" studio on Friday, Nov. 14, 2025, at his home in Aurora. Perna has crested 800,000 followers with his NFL show and its centerpiece curse wheel. (Photo by Daniel Brenner/Special to The Denver Post)

Broncos fan finds massive YouTube show success with a mix of the profane, the inane and unabashed homerism

December 16, 2025 at 3:27 p.m.

Brandon Perna might be the only Broncos fan grateful for the Russell Wilson era of Denver football.

Victoria Isherwood shops at Safeway in Cherry Creek on September 28, 2017, in Denver. A new poll found most Coloradans have cut back on nonessential spending compared to this time last year. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Coloradans have gloomy outlook on economy, elected leaders — and fear rise in political violence, poll finds

November 21, 2025 at 5:00 a.m.

Nearly 3 in 4 Colorado voters characterized the political situation as "in crisis" in a new poll, while nearly two-third feared political violence would worsen over the next few years.

LEFT 鈥� U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet walks out of the Senate chamber in the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 1, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) RIGHT 鈥� Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser poses for a portrait in the Ralph L. Carr Judicial Center in Denver on May 14, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

In Colorado governor鈥檚 race, two heavy-hitting Democrats cleared the primary field. But the fight抖阴ap just starting.

November 16, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet and Attorney General Phil Weiser have cleared the field in the Democratic primary for Colorado governor. Each has seven months to persuade voters he's the right...

Rep. Emily Sirota listens during a Joint Budget Committee hearing at the Legislative Services Building in Denver on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. She is now the JBC's chair heading into the 2026 session. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Gov. Jared Polis’ proposed Medicaid cuts, Pinnacol spin-off get cold reception from lawmakers

November 12, 2025 at 8:53 p.m.

"This isn't a trim. It's a blow to families who are already fighting just to get care," said Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, who's also seeking the GOP nomination for Colorado governor...

Traffic moves along on Interstate 25 in Denver on Sept. 25, 2025. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)

Gov. Polis has a new strategy to reduce Colorado’s high auto insurance rates, but ‘there’s not one silver bullet’

November 6, 2025 at 3:02 p.m.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis hopes to wrestle down the state's high auto insurance rates by deploying more speed cameras, ramping up auto theft prevention efforts and targeting uninsured motorists.

Amie Baca-Oehlert, president of the Colorado Education Association, speaks during Colorado Democrats' election night watch party at Stoney's Bar and Grill in Denver on Tuesday, November 7, 2023. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Former teachers union president drops out of primary to take on Rep. Gabe Evans

November 3, 2025 at 12:56 p.m.

Amie Baca-Oehlert dropped her bid to unseat Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans on Friday, narrowing the Democratic field to four -- led in fundraising by state Rep. Manny Rutinel.

From left, Lt. Governor Primavera, Gov. Jared Polis and Mark Ferrandino, director of the Colorado Office of State Planning and Budget, discuss Polis' state budget proposal for the 2026-27 fiscal year at the Governor's Residents at the Boettcher Mansion in Denver on Friday, Oct. 31, 2025. (Photo by Hyoung Chang/The Denver Post)

Gov. Jared Polis’ budget proposal takes aim at Medicaid spending, eyes Pinnacol spin-off — again

November 3, 2025 at 2:58 p.m.

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis warned Friday that Medicaid costs would consume most of the state budget in coming years if work isn't done now to rein in its spending.

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