Governor Jared Polis (D) issues one executive order from Feb. 20-26


Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) issued one executive order from Feb. 20-26. As of Feb. 26, Polis has issued six executive orders in 2023—six fewer than he did at this point a year ago.

Governors use executive orders to manage executive branch operations. During the week of Feb. 20-26, the nation’s governors issued 19 executive orders. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) issued the most with 12. Governors in 44 states issued the fewest with zero. Democratic governors issued seven of the 19 orders, while Republican governors issued 12.

Polis has served as governor since Jan. 8, 2019. He issued 70 executive orders in 2022 and 162 in 2021. Nationally, governors issued at least 1,559 executive orders in 2022. Governors have issued 272 executive orders in 2023. Republican governors issued 184, while Democratic governors issued 88. Colorado is a Democratic trifecta, meaning Democrats control the governorship and both chambers of the state legislature.

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