Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has covered Colorado politics and government since spring of 2006. She loves the variety and challenge of the state capitol beat and talking to people from all walks of life. Bente's work has aired on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, American PublicMedia'sMarketplace, and she was a contributor for WNYC's The Next Big Thing. She has won numerous local and national awards, including best beat reporting from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. Bente grew up in Minnesota and England, and loves skiing, hiking, and is an aspiring cello player. She lives in Lakewood with her husband.
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As the House's public impeachment hearings start Wednesday, voters' reactions are all over the map. Some say the hearings are vital, others see a social media-driven partisan quest.
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Colorado Sen. Cory Gardner has to be more careful than most Republicans talking about impeachment, as he's seeking reelection in a very purple state. GOP voters are split on Gardner's position.
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Colorado is expected to have one of the most closely watched 2020 Senate races. The entry of former governor John Hickenlooper into a crowded Senate primary field is dividing the party in the state.
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Nineteen states allow voters to try to recall elected state officials for a number of reasons, and those efforts have increased exponentially. Including in Colorado where there were six in 2019.
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Democratic Gov. Jared Polis is expected to sign the bill this week, allowing guns to be temporarily taken from individuals deemed a threat to themselves or others.
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There's a political fight brewing in the Colorado legislature. Republicans are pulling out all the stops to slow down Democrats who are pushing forward with their ambitious progressive agenda.
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NewsBills to abolish the death penalty are being debated in state legislatures across the country. In Colorado, a couple of lawmakers have a very personal connection to this political lightning rod. -
NewsThe 67-year-old former geologist, beer brewer and mayor of Denver points to accomplishments such as Medicaid expansion and increased spending on infrastructure and public education. -
NewsMonday, Nevada's Legislature becomes the first in U.S. history to have a majority of female lawmakers. In Colorado, also a first, women hold the majority in the House of Representatives. -
This year, two legislative chambers across the country have a majority of women, but in Colorado that's been in the making long before 2018.
