Voters in Colorado‘s 4th Congressional District face an unusual set of choices in this election.
The early retirement of veteran Republican Congressman Ken Buck triggered two separate but related races.
Voters will decide in this election who to send to Congress to complete the final months of the current term: Republican Greg Lopez, Democrat Trisha Calvarese, Libertarian Hannah Goodman or Approval Voting Party candidate Frank Atwood.
On the same ballot, voters registered with one of the major parties, or as unaffiliated, will choose from a broad field of Democrats or Republicans to face off in this fall’s general election. The winner of the November race will take the seat beginning with the new Congress in January.
What was already expected to be a hotly contested primary gained greater prominence in December, when Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert, who currently represents the 3rd Congressional District, said she would abandon her re-election effort there and instead jump into the race for the 4th District.
But Boebert’s entry did not clear the field. Instead, five other Republicans have also secured spots on the ballot. They include current and former state legislators, a fathers’ rights activist and a business professional. On the Democratic side are a former speechwriter, a former Marine and a manufacturing engineer.
The Fourth District encompasses most of the Eastern Plains, but its population centers are along the Front Range, including the suburban cities of Highlands Ranch, Parker, and Castle Rock to the south and Loveland and Wellington to the north. It is the state’s most Republican seat, leaning +26 points as of 2020, according to the state’s Congressional Redistricting Committee.
Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that primary and vacancy elections are conducted on separate ballots. Both races will appear on the same ballot, with the vacant election appearing at the bottom.
For our voter guide, CPR reporters spoke with candidates, reviewed their websites and observed forums and debates. Top themes were determined by Voter Voices survey results to understand what matters to Coloradans in this election. Republican candidates responded to the main concerns of self-identified conservative and moderate voters. Democrats responded to the top issues for self-identified liberal and moderate voters.
A map showing Colorado’s eight congressional districts.
Candidates for vacant special elections
Republican primary candidates
Democratic primary candidates
Ike McCorkle (coming soon)
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