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Republican · Colorado Senate, district 1

Serving since Jan 9, 2023CO 2025–26 session

Portrait of Byron Pelton, rendered as a two-tone print
Official portrait
4.2×
the State Senate Republican rate of policy criticism

39% of 365 statements criticize a policy (144 statements); the average for State Senate Republicans is 9.5%. Ranks 3rd of 354, where 1st is the highest rate.

An AI model reads each of Pelton’s posts on X and marks whether it criticizes a specific policy, law or ruling. The rate is the share of statements marked; it is compared with the average among State Senate Republicans and ranked against the same group.

At a glance

6 measures against State Senate Republicans. 85% of the 78 bills Pelton sponsored got out of committee, in the bottom 5% of the Colorado Senate. 55% of Pelton’s statements discuss policy, in the top quarter of State Senate Republicans (average 37%).

The measures on which Pelton sits furthest from the middle of State Senate Republicans, each against the same group, with the CSIP score when there is one. Every number is explained in its own section below.

Policy criticism

39%

State Senate Republicans average 9.5% · ranks 3rd of 354

Out of committee

85%

Colorado Senate average 94% · ranks 34th of 35

Policy discussion

55%

State Senate Republicans average 37% · ranks 66th of 354

Personal attacks

3.3%

State Senate Republicans average 2.3% · ranks 91st of 354

Talk-to-bills agreement

0.61

State Senate Republicans average 0.52 · ranks 55th of 226

CSIP ideology

+0.25

Right of 0, the centre of the scale · ± 0.04

Peer group: State Senate Republicans. Rank 1 is the highest value in the group; the thick bar is Pelton, the thin grey bar the peer average. The headline is the measure on which Pelton is most unusual among peers (Methods, §08).

Back to topNext: What politicians say

What Pelton says

Pelton criticizes policies more than 99% of State Senate Republicans. Policy criticism in 39% of 365 statements, against 9.5% for the average State Senate Republican; 3rd of 354.

An AI model reads each of Pelton’s 365 statements in the CO 2025–26 session (365 posts on X) and marks the kinds of statement it contains: a personal attack, criticism of a policy, discussion of policy, bipartisanship, credit claiming, and extreme labels. A statement can carry several. Every rate is compared with the average for State Senate Republicans and ranked among them.

Kinds of statement

Share of statements carrying each label, the CO 2025–26 session

0%80%
Pelton
Peers
Rank
Policy discussion200 statements
55%
37%
66th of 354
Policy criticism144 statements
39%
9%
3rd of 354
Credit claiming23 statements
6%
15%
255th of 354
Personal attacks12 statements
3%
2%
91st of 354
Bipartisanship2 statements
1%
2%
242nd of 354
Show the data
Pelton's share of statements in each category against the State Senate Republicans average.
RowPeltonPeers
Policy discussion55%37%
Policy criticism39%9%
Credit claiming6%15%
Personal attacks3%2%
Bipartisanship1%2%
365

statements classified

365 posts on X.

posts on X: 365 (100.0%)posts on X 365
Show the data
Pelton's statements by source
PartValue
posts on X365
How to read the bars

The thick bar is Pelton; the thin grey bar is the average State Senate Republicans. A longer thick bar means Pelton does this more than peers. Rank 1 is the highest rate in the group.

Extreme labels

Pelton used extreme labels in 1.6% of statements, above the peer average. 6 statements, most often aimed at the left; peers 1.3%.

  1. “woke”1

Who gets the labels

Targets named alongside an extreme label, by number of statements

  1. the left1
What an extreme label is

Calls a politician, a party or a policy “far left”, “far right”, “MAGA”, “extreme”, “radical”, “woke”, “fascist” or “communist”. The target is who or what the label was aimed at. The lists show the five most used labels and targets; the toggle shows the rest.

Month by month

Share of statements per month, the CO 2025–26 session

Statements2025-01: 482025-02: 222025-03: 382025-04: 152025-05: 122025-06: 202025-07: 282025-08: 292025-09: 172025-10: 382025-11: 482025-12: 32026-01: 122026-02: 82026-03: 02026-04: 12026-05: 82026-06: 32026-07: 32026-08: 32026-09: 72026-10: 2peak 48 · Jan ’25Personal attackspeak 25.0% · Jan ’26 · latest 25.0%Personal attacks, 2025-01: 2.1% of 48Personal attacks, 2025-02: 0.0% of 22Personal attacks, 2025-03: 2.6% of 38Personal attacks, 2025-04: 0.0% of 15Personal attacks, 2025-05: 0.0% of 12Personal attacks, 2025-06: 5.0% of 20Personal attacks, 2025-07: 3.6% of 28Personal attacks, 2025-08: 0.0% of 29Personal attacks, 2025-09: 0.0% of 17Personal attacks, 2025-10: 5.3% of 38Personal attacks, 2025-11: 2.1% of 48Personal attacks, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-01: 25.0% of 12Personal attacks, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Personal attacks, 2026-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticismpeak 72.4% · Aug ’25 · latest 8.3%Policy criticism, 2025-01: 27.1% of 48Policy criticism, 2025-02: 31.8% of 22Policy criticism, 2025-03: 23.7% of 38Policy criticism, 2025-04: 46.7% of 15Policy criticism, 2025-05: 33.3% of 12Policy criticism, 2025-06: 15.0% of 20Policy criticism, 2025-07: 57.1% of 28Policy criticism, 2025-08: 72.4% of 29Policy criticism, 2025-09: 47.1% of 17Policy criticism, 2025-10: 65.8% of 38Policy criticism, 2025-11: 47.9% of 48Policy criticism, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-01: 8.3% of 12Policy criticism, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy criticism, 2026-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussionpeak 83.3% · Jan ’26 · latest 83.3%Policy discussion, 2025-01: 33.3% of 48Policy discussion, 2025-02: 40.9% of 22Policy discussion, 2025-03: 36.8% of 38Policy discussion, 2025-04: 53.3% of 15Policy discussion, 2025-05: 66.7% of 12Policy discussion, 2025-06: 55.0% of 20Policy discussion, 2025-07: 71.4% of 28Policy discussion, 2025-08: 82.8% of 29Policy discussion, 2025-09: 52.9% of 17Policy discussion, 2025-10: 68.4% of 38Policy discussion, 2025-11: 60.4% of 48Policy discussion, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-01: 83.3% of 12Policy discussion, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Policy discussion, 2026-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanshippeak 4.5% · Feb ’25 · latest 0.0%Bipartisanship, 2025-01: 0.0% of 48Bipartisanship, 2025-02: 4.5% of 22Bipartisanship, 2025-03: 2.6% of 38Bipartisanship, 2025-04: 0.0% of 15Bipartisanship, 2025-05: 0.0% of 12Bipartisanship, 2025-06: 0.0% of 20Bipartisanship, 2025-07: 0.0% of 28Bipartisanship, 2025-08: 0.0% of 29Bipartisanship, 2025-09: 0.0% of 17Bipartisanship, 2025-10: 0.0% of 38Bipartisanship, 2025-11: 0.0% of 48Bipartisanship, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-01: 0.0% of 12Bipartisanship, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Bipartisanship, 2026-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claimingpeak 18.2% · Feb ’25 · latest 0.0%Credit claiming, 2025-01: 4.2% of 48Credit claiming, 2025-02: 18.2% of 22Credit claiming, 2025-03: 7.9% of 38Credit claiming, 2025-04: 6.7% of 15Credit claiming, 2025-05: 16.7% of 12Credit claiming, 2025-06: 15.0% of 20Credit claiming, 2025-07: 7.1% of 28Credit claiming, 2025-08: 13.8% of 29Credit claiming, 2025-09: 0.0% of 17Credit claiming, 2025-10: 0.0% of 38Credit claiming, 2025-11: 2.1% of 48Credit claiming, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-01: 0.0% of 12Credit claiming, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Credit claiming, 2026-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labelspeak 8.3% · May ’25 · latest 0.0%Extreme labels, 2025-01: 0.0% of 48Extreme labels, 2025-02: 0.0% of 22Extreme labels, 2025-03: 5.3% of 38Extreme labels, 2025-04: 6.7% of 15Extreme labels, 2025-05: 8.3% of 12Extreme labels, 2025-06: 0.0% of 20Extreme labels, 2025-07: 3.6% of 28Extreme labels, 2025-08: 0.0% of 29Extreme labels, 2025-09: 5.9% of 17Extreme labels, 2025-10: 0.0% of 38Extreme labels, 2025-11: 0.0% of 48Extreme labels, 2025-12: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-01: 0.0% of 12Extreme labels, 2026-02: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-03: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-04: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-05: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-06: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-07: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-08: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-09: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Extreme labels, 2026-10: not plotted (fewer than 10 statements)Jan ’25Jul ’25Jan ’26Jul ’26Oct ’26
Show the data
Monthly rates for Pelton, each row shaded against its own peak, with statement volume. Months with fewer than 10 statements are left blank.
ColumnStatementsPersonal attacksPolicy criticismPolicy discussionBipartisanshipCredit claimingExtreme labels
Jan ’25482.1%27.1%33.3%0.0%4.2%0.0%
Feb ’25220.0%31.8%40.9%4.5%18.2%0.0%
Mar ’25382.6%23.7%36.8%2.6%7.9%5.3%
Apr ’25150.0%46.7%53.3%0.0%6.7%6.7%
May ’25120.0%33.3%66.7%0.0%16.7%8.3%
Jun ’25205.0%15.0%55.0%0.0%15.0%0.0%
Jul ’25283.6%57.1%71.4%0.0%7.1%3.6%
Aug ’25290.0%72.4%82.8%0.0%13.8%0.0%
Sep ’25170.0%47.1%52.9%0.0%0.0%5.9%
Oct ’25385.3%65.8%68.4%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Nov ’25482.1%47.9%60.4%0.0%2.1%0.0%
Dec ’253— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jan ’261225.0%8.3%83.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%
Feb ’268— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Mar ’260— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Apr ’261— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
May ’268— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jun ’263— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Jul ’263— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Aug ’263— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Sep ’267— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
Oct ’262— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)— (fewer than 10 statements)
How to read the strips

Each row is one kind of statement; each cell is a month, shaded against that row’s own peak (darker = closer to the peak), with the peak and the latest value written at the right. The top row counts statements. The strip covers every month of the CO 2025–26 session, the same span as the rates above, including months with no statements. A month with fewer than 10 statements is hatched, not shaded: one or two posts would swing its rate to 0% or 100%. 10 months are hatched here; 1 of them have no statements.

In Pelton’s words

Real statements from the classifier’s example set, with the labels it assigned

Bipartisanship

The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

Mar 13, 2025 · Posts on X (state legislators) · policy criticism; policy discussion; bipartisanship; credit claiming; Crime and Law Enforcement · Source

Policy criticism

The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

Oct 16, 2026 · Posts on X (state legislators) · policy criticism; policy discussion; Transportation and Public Works; Economics and Public Finance · Source

Extreme label

The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

Sep 7, 2025 · Posts on X (state legislators) · extreme label “extreme” aimed at the left · Source

Examples by category

Up to five recent statements in each category

Category

Overtly questions a named person’s character, integrity or loyalty, or calls them names. Criticising a record or a policy does not count.

  1. Posts on X (state legislators)

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    personal attacks · target: Unnamed OfficialSource

  2. Posts on X (state legislators)

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    personal attacks · target: this guySource

  3. Posts on X (state legislators)

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    personal attacks · target: Kyle ClarkSource

  4. Posts on X (state legislators)

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    personal attacks · policy discussion · Agriculture and Food · Environmental Protection · target: GovofCOSource

  5. Posts on X (state legislators)

    The text of this post is on X; follow the source link to read it.

    personal attacks · policy discussion · Taxation · Economics and Public Finance · target: DemocratsSource

All 365 statements

Newest first, the CO 2025–26 session

The full feed

Five statements at a time, newest first; filters apply to the statements loaded so far. Export saves the statements that match. Sources: 365 posts on X.

Back to topNext: Policy

Policy

Agriculture and Food is what Pelton talks about most: 21% of policy statements, 3.3 times the peer share. Talk and legislation agree at 0.61 on a 0–1 scale (State Senate Republicans average 0.52; 55th of 226).

Each policy statement is tagged by the AI model with one or more of 25 policy areas from the Congressional Research Service list, so the shares say what Pelton talks about. The bills Pelton sponsors and cosponsors carry the same areas, so the two can be compared.

What Pelton talks about

Share of policy statements by area, the CO 2025–26 session

0%35%
Pelton
Peers
Agriculture and Food41 statements
21%
6%
Economics and Public Finance38 statements
19%
12%
Taxation28 statements
14%
7%
Transportation and Public Works26 statements
13%
6%
Health24 statements
12%
9%
Show the data
Policy areas Pelton talks about, as a share of policy statements, against the State Senate Republicans average.
RowPeltonPeers
Agriculture and Food21%6%
Economics and Public Finance19%12%
Taxation14%7%
Transportation and Public Works13%6%
Health12%9%
How to read the bars

The thick bar is the share of Pelton’s policy statements in an area; the thin grey bar is the average share for State Senate Republicans. A statement counts once in each of its areas, so shares can add to more than 100%. The five largest areas are shown; the toggle shows the rest.

Talks about · legislates on

Left: share of statements by policy area. Right: share of bills. Areas in order of their share of statements; both sides run from 0 to 35%. Grey ticks are the State Senate Republicans averages.

Talks aboutLegislates onAgriculture and FoodAgriculture and Food, talks about: 21% (State Senate Republicans 6%)21%Agriculture and Food, legislates on: 6% (State Senate Republicans 3%)6%Economics and Public FinanceEconomics and Public Finance, talks about: 19% (State Senate Republicans 12%)19%Economics and Public Finance, legislates on: 2% (State Senate Republicans 3%)2%TaxationTaxation, talks about: 14% (State Senate Republicans 7%)14%Taxation, legislates on: 12% (State Senate Republicans 10%)12%Transportation and PublicWorksTransportation and Public Works, talks about: 13% (State Senate Republicans 6%)13%Transportation and Public Works, legislates on: 11% (State Senate Republicans 6%)11%HealthHealth, talks about: 12% (State Senate Republicans 9%)12%Health, legislates on: 14% (State Senate Republicans 11%)14%
Show the data
Pelton's share of statements against share of bills in each policy area.
AreaTalks aboutState Senate Republicans, talks aboutLegislates onState Senate Republicans, legislates on
Agriculture and Food21%6%6%3%
Economics and Public Finance19%12%2%3%
Taxation14%7%12%10%
Transportation and Public Works13%6%11%6%
Health12%9%14%11%
0.61

talk-to-bills agreement, 0 to 1

State Senate Republicans average 0.52. Ranks 55th of 226.

What agreement means, and what it doesn’t

Agreement is 1 minus the distance between the two distributions (Jensen–Shannon): 1 means Pelton legislates on exactly the areas Pelton talks about, in the same proportions; 0 means no overlap. It does not say whether the bills match the positions in the statements, only the subjects. Bills Pelton sponsored count fully, cosponsored bills a quarter. Shown with at least 20 policy statements and 5 bills.

Back to topNext: Ideology

Ideology

Pelton sits at +0.25 on the CSIP scale, right of 0, more liberal than 67% of State Senate Republicans. Approximate range +0.22 to +0.29, which understates the uncertainty; from 114 donors and 582 roll calls.

CSIP, the lab’s Common-Space Ideal Point, places every official, federal and state, on one left–right scale, estimated from roll-call votes, who gives money to whom, and the text of statements. Negative is left of 0, positive right of it; 0 is the centre of the scale, not a definition of “moderate”.

+0.25

CSIP ideal point

Approximate range +0.22 to +0.29. From 114 donors and 582 roll calls. Run 2026-10-25T215945. Blue is left of 0, red right of 0.

← More liberalMore conservative →0Pelton +0.3State Senate Republicans +0.4Colorado Senate −0.7All State Senate +0.1

The outlined dot is Pelton, coloured by its side of 0 (blue left, red right, deeper further out); the bar through it is the approximate range (±1.96 standard errors), which understates the uncertainty; the grey ticks below are the medians of Pelton’s groups. 0 is the centre of the scale, not “moderate” by definition.

What this means, and what it doesn’t

The score summarises how an official votes, who funds them and how they talk, relative to everyone else. It does not grade positions as good or bad, and two officials with the same score can differ on any single issue. The ± range is 1.96 standard errors, which understates the uncertainty: scores whose ranges overlap may not differ at all, and even scores whose ranges do not overlap may not differ.

Where Pelton sits

Every official in each group, on the CSIP scale

−2.0−1.00.0+1.0+2.0← More liberalMore conservative →State Senate Republicansmedian +0.4Pelton +0.3Colorado Senatemedian −0.7All State Senatemedian +0.1
Show the data
Pelton's CSIP score of +0.25 placed against State Senate Republicans, Colorado Senate, All State Senate.
GroupOfficialsMedianShare left of Pelton
State Senate Republicans1083+0.433%
Colorado Senate35−0.780%
All State Senate1909+0.162%
How to read the strips

Every small dot is one official on the same scale, coloured by its own score (blue left of 0, red right of 0, grey at 0, deeper further out) and spread up and down only to keep dots apart; where a group is crowded the dots overlap, and darker patches mean more officials. The large outlined dot is Pelton in every row; the rule is each group’s median. The table under the figure gives the share of each group to the left of Pelton.

Back to topNext: Money

Money

Pelton reported $37.9K in the 2026 cycle, below the State Senate Republicans’ median of $46.2K. State filings report no small-donation total. 89% of itemized individual money came from Colorado.

Campaign money from state campaign-finance filings, as aggregates only; the lab never shows an individual donor. Campaigns must report by name every person who gives them more than $200 in a cycle (“itemized”); smaller gifts are reported only as one total (“unitemized”), so donor counts, donor states, employers and occupations describe itemized donors only. State filings report no small-gift total, so these figures add up itemized contributions only.

Election cycle
$37.9K

itemized in the 2026 cycle

From 48 itemized donors. State Senate Republicans’ median $46.2K.

Where the money came from

Each square is one percent of itemized contributions in the 2026 cycle.

Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)Individuals (itemized): $13.9K (36.6%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)PACs and other committees: $24.0K (63.4%)
  • Individuals (itemized)37 squares$13.9K
  • PACs and other committees63 squares$24.0K
Show the data
Sources of Pelton's money, 2026 cycle, one square per percent
SourceAmountShare
Individuals (itemized)$13.9K36.6%
PACs and other committees$24.0K63.4%
What this means, and what it doesn’t

Totals say how much a campaign took in, not how it was spent, and they rise sharply when a seat is up for election; compare cycles with that in mind.

Receipts by cycle

Itemized contributions, 2022 to 2026. The grey line is the State Senate Republicans’ median for 2026.

2022 cycle: $33.9K$33.9K20222024 cycle: $9,825$9,82520242026 cycle: $37.9K$37.9K2026State Senate Republicans median $46.2K
Show the data
Pelton's receipts by cycle against the 2026 State Senate Republicans median.
ItemValue
2022 cycle$33.9K
2024 cycle$9,825
2026 cycle$37.9K

Top donor states, 2026

Itemized contributions by donor state. 89% came from Colorado.

  1. Colorado$12.4K
  2. Louisiana$450
  3. North Carolina$450
  4. Pennsylvania$450
  5. Utah$150

Small donations

State filings report no total for small gifts.

Not reported in state filings.

Where itemized donors live

Individuals who gave more than $200, by donor state

Alaska: no dataAKMaine: no dataMEVermont: no dataVTNew Hampshire: no dataNHWashington: no dataWAIdaho: no dataIDMontana: no dataMTNorth Dakota: no dataNDMinnesota: no dataMNIllinois: no dataILWisconsin: no dataWIMichigan: no dataMINew York: no dataNYRhode Island: no dataRIMassachusetts: no dataMAOregon: no dataORNevada: no dataNVWyoming: no dataWYSouth Dakota: no dataSDIowa: no dataIAIndiana: no dataINOhio: no dataOHPennsylvania: $450PANew Jersey: no dataNJConnecticut: no dataCTCalifornia: no dataCAUtah: $150UTColorado: $12.4KCONebraska: no dataNEMissouri: no dataMOKentucky: no dataKYWest Virginia: no dataWVVirginia: no dataVAMaryland: no dataMDDelaware: no dataDEArizona: no dataAZNew Mexico: no dataNMKansas: no dataKSArkansas: no dataARTennessee: no dataTNNorth Carolina: $450NCSouth Carolina: no dataSCDistrict of Columbia: no dataDCOklahoma: no dataOKLouisiana: $450LAMississippi: no dataMSAlabama: no dataALGeorgia: no dataGAHawaii: no dataHITexas: no dataTXFlorida: no dataFL
Show the data
Pelton's itemized individual contributions by donor state, 2026 cycle
StateValue
Colorado$12.4K
Pennsylvania$450
North Carolina$450
Louisiana$450
Utah$150
AlaskaNo data
MaineNo data
VermontNo data
New HampshireNo data
WashingtonNo data
IdahoNo data
MontanaNo data
North DakotaNo data
MinnesotaNo data
IllinoisNo data
WisconsinNo data
MichiganNo data
New YorkNo data
Rhode IslandNo data
MassachusettsNo data
OregonNo data
NevadaNo data
WyomingNo data
South DakotaNo data
IowaNo data
IndianaNo data
OhioNo data
New JerseyNo data
ConnecticutNo data
CaliforniaNo data
NebraskaNo data
MissouriNo data
KentuckyNo data
West VirginiaNo data
VirginiaNo data
MarylandNo data
DelawareNo data
ArizonaNo data
New MexicoNo data
KansasNo data
ArkansasNo data
TennesseeNo data
South CarolinaNo data
District of ColumbiaNo data
OklahomaNo data
MississippiNo data
AlabamaNo data
GeorgiaNo data
HawaiiNo data
TexasNo data
FloridaNo data
48

itemized donors

People who gave more than $200

89%

from Colorado

Of itemized individual dollars

How to read the map

Every state the same size. Darker states gave more itemized money; hatched states had no itemized donors; the outlined state is Colorado. Gifts of $200 or less carry no address and are left out.

Top donor occupations

Itemized, 2026 cycle.

  1. LOBBYIST$6,818 23 donors
  2. CONSULTANT$2,250 7 donors
  3. HEALTHCARE/MEDICAL$1,600 6 donors
  4. OFFICE AND ADMINISTRATIVE OCCUPATIONS$1,325 4 donors
  5. GENERAL BUSINESS$1,000 3 donors

Top committees

PAC and committee contributions, 2026 cycle.

  1. APARTMENT ASSOCIATION OF METRO DENVER SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE$3,100
  2. REALTOR SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE (RSDC)$3,100
  3. COPIC SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE$2,000
  4. COLORADO STATE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE (FOP)$1,500
  5. COLORADO MEDICAL SOCIETY SMALL DONOR COMMITTEE$1,000

Top employers

Itemized, 2026 cycle.

  1. HB STRATEGIES$700 3 donors
  2. CAPSTONE$425 3 donors

Aggregates only. Individual donors are never named.

Back to topNext: Votes

Votes

Pelton voted with the majority of Colorado Senate Republicans on 95.6% of party-line votes and missed 0.8% of 1,666 roll calls. Colorado Senate on average: 94.2% party unity, 97.2% attendance. Across all roll calls, Pelton voted against the majority of Colorado Senate Republicans 62 times.

1,666 roll calls Pelton could vote on in the CO 2025–26 session, compared with Colorado Senate. Attendance is the share with a vote recorded. Party unity counts only party-line roll calls, where most Democrats and most Republicans voted on opposite sides, and is the share of those where Pelton voted with the majority of Colorado Senate Republicans. The count of votes against that majority covers every roll call where the majority took a side.

62

votes against the majority of Colorado Senate Republicans

Party unity 95.6%, Colorado Senate average 94.2%, ranks 19th of 35. 1,666 roll calls in the CO 2025–26 session.

Attendance and party unity

The thick bar is Pelton, the thin grey bar the Colorado Senate average. The scale runs from 80% to 100% to show the gap.

80%100%
Pelton
Peers
Rank
Attendance
99.1%
97.2%
13th of 35
Party unity
95.6%
94.2%
19th of 35
Show the data
Pelton's attendance and party unity against Colorado Senate.
RowPeltonPeers
Attendance99.1%97.2%
Party unity95.6%94.2%
What this means, and what it doesn’t

A missed roll call has many causes, from illness to campaigning, so attendance says how often, not why. A vote against the majority can be on procedure as well as substance, and many fall on roll calls where both parties split; the key votes below show the ones that decided something.

Key votes

25 roll calls the lab flagged as key in the CO 2025–26 session

Key votes
Party split (yea–nay)Why it’s key
May 13, 2026
SB 187
Establishing Commission on Medicaid
CONCUR
YeaWith majoritypassD 23–0 · R 12–0Democrats 23 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 12 yea, 0 naybecame law
May 13, 2026
HB 1425
Applied Behavior Analysis Services
BILL
YeaWith majoritypassD 23–0 · R 9–3Democrats 23 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 9 yea, 3 naybecame law · party crossover
May 13, 2026
SB 42
Revenue Classification Taxpayers Bill of Rights
REPASS
NayWith majoritypassD 23–0 · R 0–12Democrats 23 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 0 yea, 12 naybecame law
May 13, 2026
HB 1141
Discriminatory Practices in Public Schools
BILL
NayWith majoritypassD 23–0 · R 0–12Democrats 23 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 0 yea, 12 naybecame law
May 13, 2026
SB 78
Changes to Institutions of Higher Education Statutes
CONCUR
YeaWith majoritypassD 23–0 · R 12–0Democrats 23 yea, 0 nay; Republicans 12 yea, 0 naybecame law
How key votes are chosen

Automatically: a final-passage or override vote where the measure became law, the margin was under 10%, at least 10% of either party voted against its majority, or the bill was among the 25 most mentioned in officials’ own statements. Up to 25 per window, most recent first; five are shown. Bars show yea on the left, nay on the right, per party.

Votes most often with

The colleagues who voted the same way as Pelton most often

  1. Rod PeltonR1,614 shared votes94%
  2. Scott BrightR1,651 shared votes94%
  3. Lisa FrizellR1,512 shared votes93%
  4. Barbara KirkmeyerR1,633 shared votes93%
  5. Paul LundeenR903 shared votes92%

Votes least often with

The colleagues who voted the same way as Pelton least often

  1. Faith WinterD888 shared votes64%
  2. Tom SullivanD1,611 shared votes66%
  3. Dafna Michaelson JenetD963 shared votes67%
  4. Jessie DanielsonD1,402 shared votes68%
  5. Lisa CutterD1,636 shared votes68%
How to read the agreement lists

The share of roll calls both members voted on where they voted the same way, among colleagues sharing at least 50 such votes. High agreement with members of the other party is common on routine votes.

Full voting record

CO 2025–26 session, loads in batches

Back to topNext: Legislation

Legislation

Pelton sponsored 78 bills in the CO 2025–26 session; 41 became law. Cosponsored 185 others. 85% of sponsored bills got out of committee (Colorado Senate average 94%; 34th of 35).

The bills Pelton sponsored and cosponsored in the CO 2025–26 session, from the official bill records, and how far each got: introduced, referred to or acted on in committee, passed one chamber, passed both, became law. A bill counts at every stage it has reached, so the blocks only shrink to the right.

Bills by stage

Counts for the CO 2025–26 session

Sponsored78 billsSponsored, Introduced: 7878Sponsored, In committee: 7070Sponsored, Passed one chamber: 5252Sponsored, Passed both chambers: 4949Sponsored, Became law: 4141Cosponsored185 billsCosponsored, Introduced: 185185Cosponsored, In committee: 180180Cosponsored, Passed one chamber: 180180Cosponsored, Passed both chambers: 159159Cosponsored, Became law: 8181IntroducedIncommitteePassed onechamberPassed bothchambersBecamelaw
Show the data
Bills Pelton sponsored and cosponsored, by furthest stage reached
RoleIntroducedIn committeePassed one chamberPassed both chambersBecame law
Sponsored7870524941
Cosponsored18518018015981
How to read the blocks

Ink blocks are bills Pelton sponsored, ochre blocks bills Pelton cosponsored; the figure above each block is the count. Most bills in any legislature never leave committee, so a short staircase is the norm.

85%

of sponsored bills got out of committee

Colorado Senate average 94%. Ranks 34th of 35.

Cosponsorship partners

Colleagues who most often cosponsor with Pelton, by number of shared bills in the CO 2025–26 session; the square shows their party.

  1. Barbara Kirkmeyer34
  2. Monica Duran26
  3. Lisa Frizell22
  4. Judy Amabile21
  5. Cleave Simpson20
What this means, and what it doesn’t

The score is the share of sponsored bills that a committee reported out or a chamber passed, with at least 5 sponsored bills, ranked within the peer group. Members of the majority party and committee chairs move more bills, so the rank reflects position in the chamber as well as effort. Cosponsorship partners are the five colleagues who share the most of Pelton’s bills; the toggle shows more.

Bill list

Sponsored and cosponsored, with status and policy area; five are shown, the toggle shows the rest

Bills sponsored and cosponsored
SJR 26Adjourn Sine DieCosponsorMay 12, 2026Passed one chamberUnassignedIntroduced In House - Assigned to May 20, 2026
SR 9Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Awareness MonthCosponsorMay 1, 2026Passed one chamberUnassignedSenate Third Reading Passed - No Amendments May 7, 2026
SB 189Automated Decision-Making TechnologyCosponsorMay 1, 2026Became lawScience, Technology, Communications(model)Governor Signed May 14, 2026
SJR 25Colorado Mining Association's 150th AnniversaryCosponsorApr 30, 2026Passed both chambersUnassignedSigned by the President of the Senate May 13, 2026
HJR 1030Mono & Matt Road DesignationCosponsorApr 30, 2026Passed both chambersUnassignedSigned by the Speaker of the House Jun 3, 2026

Back to topNext: Online

Online

A site that changed 1 time in 90 days. Pelton’s official site had 1 page when last crawled on Sep 1, 2026.

The lab crawls Pelton’s official and campaign websites (weekly for Congress, monthly for the states) and keeps every page’s text, so changes can be read later; it also records social accounts and describes the images Pelton posts with a vision model.

Websites

How to read the counts

“Pages crawled” is the size of the site at the last crawl; “changes in 90 days” counts pages whose text differed from the previous crawl. Sites change for many routine reasons, such as new press releases, so a high count is not by itself notable.

Images Pelton posted

No images from Pelton’s posts have been described.

About the descriptions

Written by a vision model and may be wrong. Open the post to see the original. Five are shown; the toggle shows the rest.

State floor speeches

No transcribed state floor speeches are matched to this legislator yet.

Floor speeches

Transcribed from chamber video or captions by the lab. They are not classified for kinds of statement.

Back to topNext: Methods and sources

Methods and sources

How this page was made. Profile built Oct 28, 2026; site last built Oct 28, 2026. Every number on the page is computed from the sources listed here, by the same rules for every official; nothing is written by hand.

The headline

The headline is the measure on which Pelton is most unusual among State Senate Republicans, chosen by one rule for every official of every party. The candidates are the rate of each kind of statement and of extreme labels, party unity, attendance, the small-donor share, the in-state share and total receipts of the latest cycle, the share of sponsored bills that got out of committee, talk-to-bills agreement, and the CSIP score’s place within the party group.

The builder ranks every measure within the same peer group the page compares it with, and writes each official’s percentile: the share of the group below the value, ties counting half, so 0.5 is the median and a value shared by many never ranks first. A measure’s score is how far that percentile sits from the median (0 in the middle, 0.5 at either end), and the highest score leads if it is above 0.25, outside the middle half of the group. Scores within 0.03 of each other are a tie, broken in this order: votes against the party majority, kinds of statement, ideology, roll calls missed, small donations, in-state money, legislation, agreement, extreme labels, receipts.

A measure counts only with at least 200 statements, 100 roll calls or 5 sponsored bills behind it and a peer group of at least 10. Two things never lead: high party unity or attendance, where most members sit, and a high rate of a kind of statement backed by fewer than 10 statements. When nothing qualifies, the headline is a neutral fact instead: statements classified, or years in office. The wording always names the direction (“in the bottom 5% of …”, “votes against the majority of …”).

Identifiers

Profile id
2d0d060c-6d5f-45da-a069-fe2be14547eb
Open States
ocd-person/2d0d060c-6d5f-45da-a069-fe2be14547eb

Bulk files with the same data for every official:

Freshness of this profile’s data

  • What politicians sayOct 27, 20261 days agoMembers of Congress: tweets since 2017; press releases, newsletters and floor speeches since 2022. State legislators: tweets since May 2024. Governors: tweets since January 2025. Labels from an LLM classifier.
  • Roll calls (state)Oct 21, 20267 days agoOpen States floor roll calls, 2019 on (none for AK and MO).
  • Bills (state)Oct 28, 2026todayOpen States bills and sponsors, 2019 on; stages from roll calls.
  • Campaign money (state)no dateState campaign-finance agencies, 2019 on; aggregates only.
  • Ideology (CSIP)Oct 25, 20263 days agoCommon-Space Ideal Points (CSIP), current validated run.
  • WebsitesOct 25, 20263 days agoWeekly crawls of federal sites since April 2026; monthly state crawls since June 2026.
  • State floor speechesOct 21, 20267 days agoState floor speech turns (published transcripts and captions), 2020 on; not LLM-classified.

How the measures work

What politicians say
Every post, press release, newsletter and congressional floor speech is read by a language model and marked for personal attacks, policy criticism, policy discussion, bipartisanship and credit claiming. A statement can be in several. Rates are shares of statements in the window. The methods paper.
Extreme labels
A statement has an extreme label when it calls a politician, party or policy “far left”, “far right”, “MAGA”, “extreme”, “radical”, “woke”, “fascist” or “communist”. The target is who the label is aimed at.
Policy areas and agreement
Statements and bills share 25 Congressional Research Service policy areas (state bills are assigned by a language model). Agreement is 1 − Jensen–Shannon distance between the two distributions, shown with at least 20 policy statements and 5 bills.
Ideology (CSIP)
Common-Space Ideal Points place federal and state officials on one left–right scale, estimated jointly from roll calls, campaign contributions and the text of statements, with standard errors. Only a validated run is shown. The methods paper.
Campaign money
Campaigns report by name only donors who give more than $200 in a cycle; smaller gifts are reported as one total. Federal totals and the small-donor share come from the FEC’s financial summaries of each campaign committee. Donor counts, donor states, employers and occupations cover itemized donors only. State filings report no small-gift totals, so state figures are itemized only. The lab never publishes donor names.
Votes and key votes
Attendance, party unity and the count of votes against the majority of an official’s own party come from roll calls (Voteview for Congress, chamber records for the states). Key votes are final-passage or override votes that became law, were decided by under 10%, saw at least 10% of a party vote against its majority, or concerned one of the 25 bills most mentioned in officials’ statements.
Peers and ranks
Comparisons are with the same party, chamber and level (for example House Democrats); state legislators are compared within their state and chamber for votes. Every comparison names its group. Rank 1 is the highest value in the group; tied values share the average of their ranks, and the percentile is the share of the group below the value, ties counting half.

America’s Political Pulse · Polarization Research Lab

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