By Derek Draplin | The Center Square

Colorado voters believe Democrats overreached in the last legislative session, but most don’t support efforts to recall Gov. Jared Polis, a new poll shows.

Republican firm Magellan Strategies’ poll, released on Thursday, found that 45 percent of voters believe Democrats overreached, “passing bills that went too far and were out of touch with everyday Coloradans,” compared to 40 percent who said Democrats didn’t overreach. 

The Democratic-controlled legislature passed several controversial bills supported by Polis, from national popular vote and “red flag” gun control legislation, to setting aggressive green energy goals and new regulations overhauling how the state regulates the oil and gas industry.

Despite voter belief that Democrats overreached, 47 percent of participants said they oppose efforts to recall Polis from office, while 38 percent support the effort and 15 percent are undecided. 

Polis’ approval rating is at 49 percent, with 37 percent disapproving of his job in office and 14 percent of respondents reporting they’re unsure, according to the poll.

Coloradans are also closely split on the direction of the state. Voters who think the state is headed in the right direction (44 percent) slightly outnumber those who think the state is going in the wrong direction (41 percent). 

Magellan conducted the poll “to measure and understand the political environment in Colorado following the 2019 legislative session and looking ahead to the 2020 general election.”

Colorado voters also don’t have a high opinion of President Donald Trump. The president’s approval rating sits at 39 percent, compared to 57 percent who disapprove of his job in office.

The poll asked voters to choose between Trump and a generic Democratic candidate. 

“President Trump trails a generic Democratic Party candidate by 12 points, 44 percent to 32 percent in a 2020 ballot test, with 15 percent of voters choosing some other candidate and 8 percent being undecided,” the poll found.

Magellan said Republican gains in the state will depend on how trends continue leading up to 2020.

“The ability of Republican candidates to make any gains whatsoever in Colorado will be largely dependent on how these trends continue to take shape: Will enough voters be convinced of overreach to give Republicans a shot during next November’s elections, especially following next year’s legislative session? Just as important, how much will President Trump’s negative job approval affect down-ballot Republicans? Those are the two big questions to watch heading into 2020.”

The poll, conducted July 15 to 17, surveyed 500 likely voters across the state, and has a margin of error of 4.38 percent.