Democratic state legislators in Colorado have introduced a bill that would legalize prostitution, making the state what one Republican candidate calls "the leader in the entire country on legalized prostitution."
The legislation, introduced last month by Democratic state Sens. Nick Hinrichsen and Lisa Cutter and Reps. Lorena García and Rebekah Stewart, would decriminalize adult commercial sexual activity, according to its sponsors.
Michael Allen, a Republican candidate for Colorado attorney general and current district attorney, said he was "shocked" by the proposal. The bill appears to have stalled in the state legislature for now.
What the Left Is Saying
The Democratic sponsors of the bill have not publicly commented on the legislation. According to the text of the proposal, supporters argue it would decriminalize adult commercial sexual activity, framing it as a matter of public health and safety for sex workers.
The bill was introduced amid ongoing debates about criminal justice reform in Colorado. Democrats have controlled the state legislature for over a decade, and supporters of the measure have argued that criminalizing prostitution harms those involved in the sex trade.
Proponents of similar measures in other states have argued that legalization or decriminalization can improve safety for sex workers and allow them to access health services and law enforcement protection without fear of arrest.
What the Right Is Saying
Allen, one of two Republicans running for Colorado attorney general, called the bill "radical" and warned it would "open the floodgates" to human trafficking in Colorado.
"It's hard for me to even decipher why they've decided this is the time and place to introduce a radical bill like this," Allen said in an interview. "It doesn't make any sense to me. It would not solve any issue that is happening on the ground in Colorado, it would not help with our huge budget deficit, it will not help our crime deficit."
Allen argued that "prostitution is a natural outgrowth of human trafficking" and called the sponsors' reasoning "appalling." He said Colorado voters are ready for a Republican attorney general after 10 years of what he called "devastatingly bad criminal justice reform."
If elected, Allen has vowed to use the attorney general's office to investigate and prosecute human trafficking crimes. He argued the position needs "a better, stronger, and more effective posture to combat criminal activity that is, frankly, affecting the entire state of Colorado."
What the Numbers Show
Colorado is currently experiencing record highs in human trafficking victims, according to data gathered by the Common Sense Institute. The state is ranked among those with the highest numbers of trafficking reports in the country.
According to the study, 79 percent of Colorado human trafficking crimes were committed for the purposes of commercial sex. The data also shows that trafficking activity is concentrated in the Denver metro area, which Allen noted as a "huge hub" for the crime.
Allen pointed to Colorado's geography as a factor, noting the state is traversed by two major corridors of travel that serve as "major arteries for human trafficking."
The bill would go beyond Nevada's existing law allowing prostitution in licensed brothels, potentially making Colorado the most permissive state in the nation on legalized prostitution.
The Bottom Line
The proposal to legalize prostitution in Colorado remains stalled in the state legislature, and it is unclear whether it will advance this session. The bill's sponsors did not respond to requests for comment.
The debate highlights the broader clash over criminal justice policy in a state where Democrats have held unified control for over a decade. Allen and other Republicans are framing the upcoming midterm elections as a pivotal moment to shift direction on public safety issues.
If Allen were elected, he would become the first Republican attorney general in Colorado in over a decade. The race is expected to be competitive, with the candidate positioning himself as a contrast to Democratic policies on crime and human trafficking.