The 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado were held on Tuesday, November 6, 2012, to elect the seven U.S. representatives from the state, one from each of the state's seven congressional districts. The elections coincided with the elections of other federal and state offices, including a quadrennial presidential election. Primary elections were held on June 26, 2012.
Overview Statewide PartyCandidatesVotesSeats %+/– %Republican71,143,79646.68457.14Democratic61,080,15344.08342.95Libertarian785,7723.5000.0Independent377,8853.1800.0Green333,5261.3700.0Constitution329,3561.2000.0Total292,450,488100.07100.0
By district Results of the 2012 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado by district:
DistrictRepublicanDemocraticLibertarianOthersTotalResult Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes % Votes %District 1 93,217 26.77% 237,579 68.23% 12,585 3.61% 4,829 1.39% 348,210 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 2 162,639 38.58% 234,758 55.69% 13,770 3.27% 10,413 2.47% 421,580 100.0% Democratic holdDistrict 3 185,291 53.31% 142,920 41.12% 11,125 3.20% 8,212 2.36% 347,548 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 4 200,006 58.42% 125,800 36.75% 10,682 3.12% 5,848 1.71% 342,336 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 5 199,639 64.98% 0 0.00% 22,778 7.41% 31,496 10.25% 307,231 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 6 163,938 47.81% 156,937 45.77% 8,597 2.51% 13,442 3.92% 342,914 100.0% Republican holdDistrict 7 139,066 40.79% 182,460 53.51% 9,148 2.68% 10,296 3.02% 340,970 100.0% Democratic holdTotal 1,143,796 46.68% 1,080,153 44.08% 85,772 3.50% 140,767 5.75% 2,450,488 100.0%
Redistricting 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. In December 2011, the Colorado Supreme Court affirmed Hyatt's ruling.
District 1
Colorado's 1st congressional district, which had been represented by Democrat Diana DeGette since 1997, was not significantly modified in redistricting and continues to be based in Denver. The new 1st district includes Ken Caryl and Cherry Hills Village.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Diana DeGette, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Danny Stroud, Army major
Eliminated in primary Richard Murphy
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call, November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal BallCrystal Ball , November 5, 2012 NY TimesHouse Race Ratings, The New York Times, November 4, 2012RCP, November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 2
In redistricting, Larimer County, home to Fort Collins, was added to Colorado's 2nd congressional district, which had been represented by Democrat Jared Polis since 2009 and is still based in Boulder.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Jared Polis, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Kevin Lundberg, state senator
Eliminated in primary Eric Weissmann, businessman
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 3
In redistricting, Colorado's 3rd congressional district, which stretches from Pueblo to Grand Junction, was made slightly more favorable to Democrats. Part of Eagle County was added to the district, while Las Animas County was removed from it.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Scott Tipton, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Democrat John Salazar, who represented the 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." In January 2011, Governor John Hickenlooper appointed Salazar to serve as Colorado Agriculture Commissioner.
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. On May 31, Pace declared his intention to challenge Tipton. Hoyer also suggested the name of Perry Haney, a surgeon, as a potential candidate; however, Haney later formed an exploratory committee to run in the 6th district but withdrew from the race in February 2012.
Candidates Nominee Sal Pace, state representative
Declined Perry Haney, surgeon John Salazar, former U.S. representative
Primary results
Libertarian primary Primary results
Tisha Casida, a businesswoman, ran as an independent candidate.
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror ScottTipton (R) SalPace (D)OthersUndecidedGrove Insight (D-DCCC)Grove Insight (D-DCCC) September 25–27, 2012 400 ± 4.9% 42% 39% 5% 13%Public Policy Polling (D-House Majority PAC)Public Policy Polling (D-House Majority PAC) January 18–23, 2012 569 ± 4.1% 46% 39% — 15%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 4
After redistricting, Colorado's 4th congressional district continued to strongly favor Republicans. It lost Fort Collins to the 2nd District; as a result, the largest city in the district is now Greeley. 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.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Cory Gardner, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Brandon Shaffer, president of the Colorado Senate
Declined Betsy Markey, assistant secretary for intergovernmental affairs in the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and former U.S. representative
Primary results
Constitution primary Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror CoryGardner (R) BrandonShaffer (D)UndecidedLauer Johnson Research (D-Schaffer)Lauer Johnson Research (D-Schaffer) July 29–31, 2012 400 ±?% 42% 35% 21%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 5
Colorado's 5th congressional district, which had been represented by Republican Doug Lamborn since 2007, was not significantly modified in redistricting and is still centered in Colorado Springs. It is expected to continue to strongly favor Republicans.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Doug Lamborn, incumbent U.S. representative
Eliminated in primary Doug Bergeron, insurance agent Robert Blaha, businessman
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Withdrawn Bob Evans
Constitution primary Primary results
General election The Republican candidate did not see a Democratic challenger, as Democratic candidate Bob Evans suspended his campaign.
However, Jim Pirtle (Libertarian), Kenneth R. Harvell (American Constitution), and Dave Anderson (no party affiliation) all challenged the Republican Party nominee.
Endorsements
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 6
In redistricting, Colorado's 6th congressional district was made more favorable to Democrats. While the 6th had leaned Republican since its creation in 1983, the new 6th's population was evenly split between Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters. All of Aurora was added to the district. Republican Mike Coffman had represented the 6th district since 2009.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Mike Coffman, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Joe Miklosi, state representative
Withdrawn Perry Haney, chiropractor
Declined Morgan Carroll, state senator John Morse, majority leader of the state senate Andrew Romanoff, former speaker of the Colorado House of Representatives Brandon Shaffer, president of the Colorado Senate (running in the 4th district)
Primary results
General election Endorsements
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror MikeCoffman (R) JoeMiklosi (D)UndecidedDCCC (D)DCCC (D) September 13, 2012 350 ±5.2% 42% 39% 19%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
District 7
Colorado's 7th congressional district, which had been represented by Democrat Ed Perlmutter since 2007, was modified in redistricting to include the more populated suburbs of Adams County.
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Ed Perlmutter, incumbent U.S. representative
Primary results
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Joe Coors Jr, brother of 2004 U.S. Senate candidate Pete Coors
Primary results
Constitution primary Primary results
General election Endorsements
Debates Complete video of debate, October 8, 2012
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Margin oferror EdPerlmutter (D) JoeCoors Jr (R) BuckBailey (L) DougCampbell (C)UndecidedOnMessage (R-Coors)OnMessage (R-Coors) July 16–17, 2012 400 ±4.9% 36% 45% 2% 3% 14%
Predictions SourceRankingAs of The Cook Political Report November 5, 2012 Rothenberg November 2, 2012 Roll Call November 4, 2012 Sabato's Crystal Ball November 5, 2012 NY Times November 4, 2012RCP November 4, 2012The Hill November 4, 2012
Results
References
External links Elections & Voting from the Colorado Secretary of State United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2012 at Ballotpedia Campaign contributions at OpenSecrets Outside spending at the Sunlight Foundation