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.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell speaks during a news conference outside the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse in Denver on June 2, 2025, before the first day of a trial in a defamation case. Former Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer is suing Lindell for defamation, tying back to claims the MyPillow founder made about fraud in the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell takes stand in Denver defamation trial, continues attacks on plaintiff

June 9, 2025 at 6:48 p.m.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Lindell also continued his attacks against Eric Coomer, the former Dominion Voting Systems executive.

Colorado Senate Minority Leader Paul Lundeen speaks during a press conference in the west foyer of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver on Jan. 14, 2025. Colorado Republicans, long languishing as a minority in the Capitol, were looking to build momentum from Gov. Jared Polis' December stunt of “buzzsawing” a stack of old executive orders by identifying a slate of regulations and fees they said were ripe to repeal. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Colorado Senate’s top Republican official resigns seat to take new job

June 9, 2025 at 1:31 p.m.

State Sen. Paul Lundeen, one of Colorado's highest-ranking elected Republicans, resigned Monday to take the helm of a national conservative foundation.

Gov. Jared Polis signs Senate Bill 129 into law at the Colorado State Capitol Building in Denver on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Eleven bills passed by lawmakers in 2025 did not get a signing ceremony -- or signed at all, with Polis vetoing them. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Gov. Jared Polis sets personal record for vetoes — with grumbles from fellow Democrats

June 7, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Gov. Jared Polis set a personal record for issuing vetoes in a single legislative session -- and, potentially, made history as the first governor to veto a bill that passed...

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs Senate Bill 45 into law during a ceremony at the Governor's Mansion on Wednesday, May 14, 2025. SB-45 requires the Colorado School of Public Health to create a report on model legislation for universal, publicly financed health care in Colorado. (Photo by Eric Lutzens/The Denver Post)

Easier subscription cancellations, more access to weight-loss drugs among flurry of new Colorado laws

June 5, 2025 at 2:21 p.m.

Among dozens of new laws signed this week by Gov. Jared Polis are consumer-friendly rules making it easier to cancel services online and a measure increasing access to weight-loss drugs.

Incumbent Democratic Colorado State Treasurer Dave Young speaks during an election watch party Tuesday, Nov. 8, 2022, in downtown Denver. Young, who is term limited, plans to run to represent the 8th Congressional District. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Treasurer Dave Young launches bid for hotly contested 8th Congressional District

June 4, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Colorado Treasurer Dave Young is joining the increasingly crowded Democratic primary for the 8th Congressional District.

Colorado Bureau of Investigation forensic scientist Yvonne "Missy" Woods prepares a known blood sample for DNA analysis as part of a sexual assault investigation at the agency's lab in Lakewood, Colorado, on Aug. 13, 2003. Investigators later found Woods had manipulated the results of more than 1,000 DNA tests, resulting in calls for oversight and reform by Colorado lawmakers. (Photo by Karl Gehring, The Denver Post)

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis signs law creating rape kit oversight board, setting 60-day goal for processing

June 4, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

Calling Colorado's long turnaround times to process sexual assault evidence kits "simply unacceptable," Gov. Jared Polis signed a law Tuesday that creates a review board and adds new requirements.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell holds a press conference outside the Alfred A. Arraj United States Courthouse in Denver on June 2, 2025. A jury trial began Monday in U.S. District Court in a defamation case against Lindell brought by former Dominion Voting Systems executive Eric Coomer over claims Lindell made about fraud in the 2020 presidential election. (Photo by Helen H. Richardson/The Denver Post)

Defamation trial starts in Denver over 2020 election claims, pitting ex-Dominion executive against MyPillow CEO

June 2, 2025 at 6:02 p.m.

A voting systems industry player's defamation trial against MyPillow CEO and prominent election denier Mike Lindell began in Denver Monday with jury selection. It's expected to last two weeks.

In this Sept. 27, 2017, photo, kratom capsules are displayed in Albany, N.Y. (AP Photo/Mary Esch, File)

Gov. Jared Polis signs new kratom regulations after behind-the-scenes fight on policy

May 31, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

In a signing statement, Gov. Jared Polis wrote that he supports people making their own choices — but emphasized the need for people to be able to make informed choices.

Gov. Jared Polis listens as Lt. Gov. Dianne Primavera speaks during a news conference at the Colorado State Capitol building in Denver on Thursday, April 24, 2025. Polis signed both SB25-129 and SB25-183, both abortion-related bills, into law. (Photo by AAron Ontiveroz/The Denver Post)

Gov. Jared Polis vetoes bill that would have banned algorithm that White House said drove up Denver rents

May 30, 2025 at 6:46 a.m.

Investigators say the software enables price fixing, which the Biden White House said costs Denver tenants $1,600 in additional rent each year.

FILE - In this May 28, 2021, photo, the morning sun shines on the State Capitol shines in downtown Denver. On the last day of their 2022 session, Colorado's Democratic-led Legislature scrambled Wednesday, May 11, 2022, to pass key bills on election security, attack the fentanyl crisis and promote more affordable housing after overcoming a stonewalling effort by House minority Republicans that put dozens of bills in limbo with just hours to go. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Colorado’s struggling low-income health care centers to get boost under new law

May 29, 2025 at 6:00 a.m.

The new law, Senate Bill 290, will take a $60 million, interest-free loan from the state's unclaimed property trust fund to create the provider stabilization fund.

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