Bente Birkeland
Bente Birkeland has covered Colorado politics and government since spring of 2006. She loves the variety and challenge of the state capitol beat and talking to people from all walks of life. Bente's work has aired on NPR's Morning Edition and All Things Considered, American PublicMedia'sMarketplace, and she was a contributor for WNYC's The Next Big Thing. She has won numerous local and national awards, including best beat reporting from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors. Bente grew up in Minnesota and England, and loves skiing, hiking, and is an aspiring cello player. She lives in Lakewood with her husband.
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NPR visits one politically divided married couple in Pueblo, Colo., as they debate politics ahead of the 2020 election.
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The Supreme Court vacancy is not at the top of the minds of the Colorado voters we spoke to this week, while health care and the pandemic are.
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While former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper is still seen as having an edge in his state's Senate primary, recent and past comments about race have dampened enthusiasm for him among some voters.
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Next week, Colorado voters will pick the Democrat to challenge GOP Sen. Cory Gardner. Former Gov. John Hickenlooper was the party's first choice for the nomination, but his campaign has hit snags.
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The coronavirus is forcing governors to ask how to balance public safety with the financial welfare of their states. We spent the day with Colorado Gov. Jared Polis as the pandemic tested his mettle.
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Governors are questioning how to balance public safety with states' financial welfare during the coronavirus outbreak. We spent the day with Gov. Jared Polis, Democrat from Colorado.
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Several state legislatures have called off their 2020 sessions due to the coronavirus outbreak, leaving necessary lawmaking in question.
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The city of Pueblo, Colo. went for Donald Trump in 2016, but a diverse population and an activated base of working-class voters could flip it in 2020.
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How are voters in Colorado, where a major Senate race is underway, reacting to President Trump's impeachment trial?
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As the House's public impeachment hearings start Wednesday, voters' reactions are all over the map. Some say the hearings are vital, others see a social media-driven partisan quest.