United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2008

The 2008 congressional elections in Colorado will be held on November 4, 2008 to determine who will represent the state of Colorado in the United States House of Representatives. Colorado has seven seats in the House, apportioned according to the 2000 United States Census. Representatives are elected for two-year terms; those elected will serve in the 111th Congress from January 4, 2009 until January 3, 2011. The election coincides with the 2008 U.S. presidential election.

The Primary election was held August 12, 2008. [ [http://www.elections.colorado.gov/WWW/default/Candidates/primary_election_candidate_list.pdf Candidate List for the August 12, 2008 Primary Election] "Colorado Secretary of State"]

The only race not forecasted as safe for the incumbent party is District 4.

District breakdown

District 1

Incumbent Congresswoman Diana DeGette ( [http://www.degette.com/ campaign website] ) ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary election. She faces George Lilly ( [http://www.georgelillyforcongress.com/ campaign website] ), who won against Charles Crain in the Republican primary. "CQ Politics" forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-01 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO01&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 2

This district has been represented by Democrat Mark Udall since 1999. With the retirement of Senator Wayne Allard, Udall is running for the Senate, leaving an open seat in this district. Democrat businessman Jared Polis ( [http://www.votepolis.com/ campaign website] ) will face Republican aerospace engineer Scott Starin ( [http://www.starinforcongress.com/ campaign website] ).

Polis won the Democratic primary against Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald and Colorado Conservation Trust Director Will Shafroth. Starin was unopposed in the Republican primary. Former Eagle County Commissioner Tom Stone was earlier considered a possible Republican candidate, as was Boulder Mayor Mark Ruzzin for the Green Party. Democrats hold a strong edge in this district (John Kerry won 59% here), as it is centered around heavily Democratic Boulder. "CQ Politics" forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-02 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO02&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 3

Democratic Incumbent John Salazar ( [http://www.salazar2008.com/ campaign website] ) is expected to win over his Republican challenger Wayne Wolf ( [http://www.waynewolf.org/ campaign website] ). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-03 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO03&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 4

Republican Marilyn Musgrave ( [http://www.musgraveforcongress.org/ campaign website] ), representing this district since 2003, is being challenged by Democrat Betsy Markey ( [http://www.markeyforcongress.com/ campaign website] ), businesswoman and regional director for Senator Ken Salazar. Both ran unopposed in the party primary elections. "CQ Politics" forecasts the race as 'Leans Republican'. "The Rothenberg Political Report" rates it 'Pure Toss-Up'. "The Cook Political Report" ranks it 'Republican Toss Up'.

Musgrave, a conservative known for her staunch opposition to gay marriage, won in 2006 by winning a plurality (46%) of the vote against Angie Paccione (D) and a strong Reform Party challenge from Eric Eidsness, who managed to garner 11% of the vote. That, along with her 51% showing in 2004 despite George W. Bush winning 58% of the vote in this eastern Colorado district that includes the Fort Collins area, could make her vulnerable in 2008.

Democrats suffered a setback earlier when State Senator Brandon Schaffer suddenly dropped out, citing his party's failure to clear the field. [ [http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070530/UPDATES01/70530013 ] "The Coloradoan"] Eidsness switched parties again (life-long Republican to Reform Party last year) and became a Democrat, which could have fueled a potential rematch with Musgrave in 2008. 2006 nominee Angie Paccione briefly launched a campaign as well, but left the race in September 2007.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-04 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO04&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org
* [http://www.pollster.com/polls/co/08-co-04-ge-mvm.php Musgrave (R-i) vs Markey (D)] graph of collected poll results from "Pollster.com"

District 5

Freshman Republican Doug Lamborn ( [http://www.lambornforcongress.org/ campaign website] ) has only represented this district since 2007. His Democratic challenger is Clinton administration National Security Council official Hal Bidlack ( [http://www.bidlack2008.com/ campaign website] ). Independent Rich Hand ( [http://WhoIsRichHand.com campaign website] ) is running for the seat as a write-in candidate. The district is based in heavily Republican Colorado Springs. "CQ Politics" forecasts the race as 'Safe Republican'.

Lamborn got bad press when two constituents accused him of making a threatening phone call in response to a critical letter they wrote. [ [http://kjct8.com/Global/story.asp?S=7017523 Colo Springs couple says got threatening call from congressman] "KJCT 8 News", September 2, 2007] He won against Jeff Crank ( [http://www.jeffcrank.com/ campaign website] ), a more moderate Republican who had also run in 2006, and Bentley Rayburn ( [http://www.rayburnforcongress.org/ campaign website] ) in the Republican primary.

In 2006, Lamborn narrowly won a nasty multi-candidate primary despite previous representative Joel Hefley's endorsement of Crank, citing Lamborn's "sleazy" campaign. Amid worries of vulnerability, Lamborn then won the general election by a 59%-41% margin, becoming the highest vote getter for a GOP Congressional candidate in the state in the 2006 cycle.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-05 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO05&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 6

This district has been represented by Republican Tom Tancredo since 1999. Former presidential candidate Tancredo is retiring, leaving it an open seat. Hank Eng ( [http://www.hankeng.com/ campaign website] ) ran unopposed in the Democratic Primary and will be facing Mike Coffman ( [http://www.coffmanforcongress.com/ campaign website] ). Coffman won the Republican primary election, defeating a crowded field of candidates including Ted Harvey, Steve Ward, and Will Armstrong (who was endorsed by the State GOP). "CQ Politics", "The Cook Political Report" and "The Rothenberg Political Report" all forecast the race as 'Safe Republican'.

However, others view this as fertile territory for a switch from the Republican Party to the Democratic Party due to the series of controversies surrounding Mike Coffman and Colorado Ethics Watch.Fact|date=September 2008

Tancredo's seat is considered to be the most Republican-dominated district of the Denver-area seats and is also one of the wealthiest in the nation. Tancredo was the second highest vote getter for a Republican congressional candidate statewide (59%-40%) in 2006, just behind Doug Lamborn in the 5th district. The district includes Columbine High School, which was devastated in a tragic 1999 school massacre, although Democratic attempts to target him on his outspoken views on gun rights in the 2000 election came up short (he prevailed 53% to 44%).

* [http://www.coloradoforethics.org/node/24035 Ethics Watch Requests Criminal Investigation of Coffman] "Colorado Ethics Watch", June 15, 2007
* [http://www.thecherrycreeknews.com/content/view/3295/2/ Cherry Creek News: Where's Hank] from "Cherry Creek News"
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-06 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO06&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

District 7

Democrat incumbent Ed Perlmutter ( [http://www.perlmutterforcolorado.com/ campaign website] ) has represented this district since 2007, and is being challenged by Republican John W. Lerew. Perlmutter won 55% of the vote in this suburban Denver district that narrowly went to John Kerry with 52% in 2004. The district's voter registration is split, with independents constituting a slim plurality of 35% compared to Democrats (34%) and Republicans (31%). CQ Politics forecasts the race as 'Safe Democrat'.
* [http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docID=district-CO-07 Race ranking and details] from CQ Politics
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/summary.php?id=CO07&cycle=2008 Campaign contributions] from OpenSecrets.org

References

* [http://www.cookpolitical.com/charts/house/competitive.php 2008 Competitive House Race Chart] "The Cook Political Report", August 30, 2008.
* [http://rothenbergpoliticalreport.blogspot.com/2008/07/2008-house-ratings_29.html 2008 House Ratings] "The Rothenberg Political Report", July 19, 2008

External links

* [http://www.elections.colorado.gov/ Elections Center] from the "Colorado Secretary of State"
* [http://www.votesmart.org/election_congress_state.php?state_id=CO&go33.x=7&go33.y=8 U.S. Congress candidates for Colorado] at Project Vote Smart
* [http://www.2008racetracker.com/page/Colorado Colorado U.S. House Races] from "2008 Race Tracker"
* [http://www.opensecrets.org/races/election.php?state=CO Campaign contributions for Colorado congressional races] from OpenSecrets.org

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list= United States House elections in Colorado 2008
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