Elections in Colorado | |||||||||
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The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado will be held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012 to elect the four U.S. Representatives from the state, one from each of the state's four congressional districts. The elections will coincide with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections will be held on June 26, 2012.[1]
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During the redistricting process, Republicans argued for minimal changes to the existing map while Democrats pushed for more competitive districts. After a committee of ten members of the Colorado General Assembly failed to draw a map, in November 2011 Judge Robert Hyatt ruled in favor of Democrats' proposals.[2] In December 2011, the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed Hyatt's ruling.[3]
Colorado's 1st congressional district, which has been represented by Democrat Diana DeGette since 1997, was not significantly modified in redistricting. The new 1st district will include Ken Caryl and Cherry Hills Village.[4]
In redistricting, Larimer County was added to Colorado's 2nd congressional district, which has been represented by Democrat Jared Polis since 2009.[4]
State senator Kevin Lundberg may seek the Republican nomination to challenge Polis.[5]
In redistricting, Colorado's 3rd congressional district was made slightly more favorable to Democrats. Part of Eagle County was added to the district, while Las Animas County was removed from it.[4]
Democrat John Salazar, who represented Colorado's 3rd congressional district from 2005 until 2011, said in December 2010 that he was considering seeking a rematch against Republican Scott Tipton, to whom he lost his seat in 2010. He commented "We're thinking that we might run again in two years, but who knows? I'm keeping all options open. We've been offered a possibility of serving at many other places, or there's a great possibility of going back to the ranch and raising cattle."[6] In January 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Salazar to serve as Colorado Agriculture Commissioner.[7]
On May 19, 2011, Democratic state representative Sal Pace said he was "likely to put a campaign together", having met with U.S. House minority whip Steny Hoyer.[4] On May 31, Pace declared his intention to challenge Tipton.[8] Hoyer also suggested the name of Perry Haney, a surgeon, as a potential candidate;[4] however Haney has since formed an exploratory committee to run in the 6th district.[9] Democratic State senator Gail Schwartz said in June 2011 that she was not considering a run. Former state representative Liane McFadyen, also a Democrat, will not run.[10]
Tisha Casida, a businesswoman, will run as an independent candidate.[11]
After redistricting, Colorado's 4th congressional district continues to strongly favor Republicans.[2] Republican incumbent Cory Gardner, who was first elected to represent Colorado's 4th congressional district in 2010, raised over $300,000 in the first quarter of 2011.[12]
Brandon Shaffer, a Democrat and the president of the Colorado Senate, will challenge Gardner.[13] In November 2011 Shaffer reiterated that, despite the effect of redistricting, he would continue to run in the 4th district.[14] Betsy Markey, the Democrat who represented the 4th district from 2009 until 2011, is now the assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and said in February 2011 she would not run for Congress again in 2012.[15]
Colorado's 5th congressional district, which has been represented by Republican Doug Lamborn since was not significantly modified in redistricting. It is expected to continue to strongly favor Republicans.[4]
In redistricting, Colorado's 6th congressional district was made more favorable to Democrats: its population will be evenly split between Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.[2] Aurora was added to the district.[4] Republican Mike Coffman has represented the 6th district since 2009.
Democrat Joe Miklosi, a state representative, will challenge Coffman.[16] Perry Haney, a chiropractor, has also formed an exploratory committee to seek the Democratic nomination.[9] State senator Morgan Carroll[4] and Andrew Romanoff, a former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives,[17] will not run.
Colorado's 7th congressional district, which has been represented by Democrat Ed Perlmutter since 2007, was not significantly modified in redistricting. It was expanded to include suburbs in Jefferson County.[4]
Joe Coors Jr., the brother of unsuccessful 2004 U.S. Senate candidate Pete Coors, may seek the Republican nomination to challenge Perlmutter.[5]