In Colorado, Closing Arguments in Redistricting Case

DENVER - APRIL 19: Adrian Campos, 16, holds a U.S. flag during a rally with about 3,000 middle and high school students who walked out of school April 19, 2006 in Denver, Colorado. The students gathered on the steps of the Colorado state Capitol to demonstrate in support of immigrant rights and against U.S. Congressional immigration reform proposals. (Photo by Kevin Moloney/Getty Images) (2006 Getty Images)

The players in a battle over Colorado's redistricting map will get a last chance Monday to make their arguments.

Attorneys for the different sides over how the map will be redrawn are scheduled to make their closing arguments in Denver District Court in a case that can impact political races next year.

A judge is considering about a half-dozen maps, including proposals from both major parties and Latino groups who say they want to make sure the growing Hispanic population is fairly represented.

Democrats and Republicans filed lawsuits after the Legislature failed to agree on new districts this spring to reflect population changes during the last 10 years. Republicans say they want minimal changes to the current districts. Democrats say districts should change to make races more competitive.

The state's House delegation has four Republicans and three Democrats.

Colorado's Latino population has mushroomed over the years, helping make the community a force in elections. The Hispanic population, at 1 million, is the eighth-largest in the nation, according to the Pew Hispanic Center.

There are 434,000 eligible Hispanic voters in Colorado, Pew reports, making it the ninth-largest Hispanic eligible-voter population nationally. California ranks first with 5.4 million.

The state's Latino voters are flexing their muscle. They turned out in droves to vote in the 2008 presidential elections, helping President Obama win there.

Republican Party leaders in Colorado are devoting more attention and resources to courting Hispanics, according to The Denver Post.

"I recognize the political realities of the changing demographics of the state," said Ryan Call, Colorado's GOP state chairman, according to The Denver Post."Reaching out to our Hispanic neighbors is absolutely critical if we hope to be successful."

This story contains material from The Associated Press. 

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