Colorado voters may be divided on many of today’s top political and policy issues, but it seems the state’s professional sports teams and stars are bridging the divide.
In a survey we conducted on behalf of the Colorado Polling Institute, we found majorities of Coloradans describe themselves as at least a casual fan of the state’s four major professional sports teams:
Notably, both Republicans and Democrats are united in their support for these teams with comparable shares of respondents from both parties describing themselves as fans.
There is little “Bad Blood” in Colorado for music superstar Taylor Swift, who was routinely spotted cheering on boyfriend Travis Kelce of the rival Kansas City Chiefs this past NFL season. Nearly half (47%) of Colorado voters have a positive view of her, while one-in-four (26%) holds an unfavorable impression.
There’s more of a ‘Love Story’ between female Coloradans and the pop star than among men, but there is a decided partisan dynamic. Republicans are more divided in their views of Taylor Swift (33% favorable, while 37% are unfavorable), while Democrats hold an overwhelmingly positive impression of her (63% favorable and just 17% unfavorable).
Coloradans are also united in their positive regard for two-time league MVP and last year’s NBA Finals MVP Nikola Jokić (51% hold a favorable opinion of him, while a mere 1% have an unfavorable impression). The “Joker” is better known than all-time World Cup alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin (53% have heard of her), although she is equally well thought of with 30% favorable and only 3% unfavorable in their views.
Better known than any other star in the Colorado sports constellation is Buffs Coach Deion Sanders, whom 84% recognize. Coach Prime is generally well regarded (50% favorable, 12% unfavorable), and he has one of the least partisan and most unusual ratings with high regard from a disparate patchwork of Colorado sub-groups, from voters of color (51% favorable, 13% unfavorable) to Republican men (66% favorable and only 10% unfavorable).
In Colorado, sports teams and stars have a unique ability to bridge divides. From the courts to the stadiums, Coloradans come together to “root, root, root for the home team.”