Colorado Major/Minor Party

In Colorado, a 10% showing in the gubernatorial election gives that party "major" party status. The Colorado GOP narrowly maintained major party status with Dan Maes achieving 11% of the vote.

At 9:30 a.m., Hickenlooper was leading with 50.5 percent of votes cast, or 836,083 votes. Tancredo, a former House Republican, had 36.8 percent, or 610,689 votes; and Maes had 11.2 percent, or 185,700 votes.

Major parties are in the top two slots of all ballots, and have easier ballot access including higher fundraising limits.

The American Constitution Party's candidate will become a major party. Without the GOP becoming a "minor" party, there is little chance Coloradoans will push for changes to the state ballot access laws.