


Democrats pushing a $1 billion income tax increase to overhaul the state's funding system for schools were dealt a resounding defeat, with about two-thirds of voters rejecting the proposal widely championed by the liberal establishment. Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper, who's running for re-election in 2014, threw his political weight behind the education measure.

"What's going to come up immediately is the talk of the next year's governor's race," said Norman Provizer, a professor of political science at Metropolitan State University of Denver. "And whenever you're behind an initiative that fails, everybody starts thinking you're vulnerable."

Republican gubernatorial candidate Tom Tancredo used the proposal's defeat to attack Hickenlooper.

"The voters of Colorado are once again rejecting John Hickenlooper's agenda," the former congressman said.

Hickenlooper remained undeterred.

"We are committed to common sense solutions and remain committed to collaborating with everyone to make Colorado's education system the best it can be," he said in a statement.



Tuesday's results provided little indication of how the state will vote as Colorado prepares for bigger political races next year, including the governor's office and the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Mark Udall.

"We're still a purple state," said Steve Mazurana, professor emeritus of political science at the University of Northern Colorado.
