From Fox-31 News(no less)
DENVER -- Democrats have prevailed in the year-long fight over Colorado's congressional district boundaries.
The state Supreme Court Monday upheld the ruling of Denver District Judge Robert Hyatt, who ruled last month in favor of a Democratic map that, most importantly, made a long-time safe GOP seat -- the Sixth C.D. -- a toss-up. [emphasis added]
A written ruling from the state's highest court has yet to be issued, but Hyatt's decision has been found to be Constitutionally sound.
The Court heard oral arguments last Thursday after Republicans appealed Hyatt's October ruling and had until Dec. 6 to issue a ruling.
Now, county clerks can set about adjusting voter rolls ahead of next November's 2012 election.
Democrats, who fought all year long for more competitive districts, succeeded in splitting up conservative Douglas County, only half of which remains in the Sixth C.D.
Aurora, which had been split between the Sixth and Seventh districts, is now whole within the Sixth, where Republican Congressman Mike Coffman could face a tougher reelection fight than he's had since winning the seat handily in 2008.
Under the new boundaries Rep Coffman's (R-CO) his conservative 6th CD becomes a new swing district. Coffman's most serious Democratic challenger appears to be State House Rep. Joe Miklosi. Coffman has been more than pointed in attacking the growing Latino population where now his map moving north incorporates a large constituency.
The new map also shored up GOP freshman Rep. Cory Gardner's 4th CD for the GOPs and furtherm maintained the 3rd CD (once held by John Salazar) where tea party Republican Scott Tipton's (R-CO is again considered a tossup. He is expected to face State Rep Sal Pace (Minority Leader) who has already built a strong campaign organization. This happens to be the 4th consecutive time in the last four decades that Colorado had to resort to the courts to draw a new map.