2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado

Overview

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2010 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado by district:

District 1

DeGette:
Fallon: Incumbent Democrat Diana DeGette, who had represented this liberal Denver based district since 1997, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 71.9% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of D+21.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Diana DeGette, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mike Fallon, emergency room physician

Withdrawn

• Steven Barton

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Clint Jones, human resources manager

Eliminated in primary

• Jeffrey Schitter, business owner

Results

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gary Swing, perennial candidate

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Chris Styskal, former corporate manager

General election

Campaign

Fallon's campaign was characterized by informal "town hall meetings," often held at local pubs, and by "door-to-door" interaction with voters. On September 20,, Fallon made national news when the NRCC upgraded him to "On the Radar" status - the first of three levels in their Young Guns Program. This prompted DeGette to sent an email to supporters, informing them of Fallon's "On the Radar" status, and requesting donations, stating that, "We can't take anything for granted this year." The fundraising request received significant local media attention.{{Cite news | title = Spotted This Morning: DeGette stokes fear of Fallon in fundraising appeal | publisher = Denver Post

The Denver Post strongly endorsed DeGette for re-election, praising her for having "served [her] district well" and for being "a steady voice who has served the interests of her district and the nation."

Endorsements

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Organizations

• Eagle Forum
• National Republican Congressional Committee "On the Radar" Program
• Tea Party Express

Polling

Predictions

Results

Congresswoman DeGette was heavily favored to win re-election, and on election day, she overwhelmingly won an eighth term in Congress.

| reg. electors = 301,491

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 2

Polis:
Bailey:
Incumbent Democrat Jared Polis, who had represented the district, centred around heavily Democratic Boulder and the northwestern suburbs of Denver, since 2009, ran for re-election. He was elected with 62.6% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of D+11.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jared Polis, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Stephen Bailey, software marketing director

Eliminated in primary

• Bob Brancato, private investigator

Campaign

Brancato briefly suspended his campaign in July following a local newspaper reporting on 2009 domestic incident that the police attended. Brancato's wife vehemently denied there had been domestic abuse and stated that she called police because her husband was suffering from an episode of post-traumatic stress disorder.

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Curtis Harris, retired businessman and investor

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jenna Goss, event promotions contractor

Unity primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• Bill Hammons, founder and National Chairman of the Unity Party of America

General election

Endorsements

Newspapers

• Boulder Weekly
• The Denver Post

Organizations

• Tea Party Express

Polling

Predictions

Results

As expected, Polis won by a wide margin, albeit a smaller one than this district is used to giving its Democratic representatives.

| reg. electors = 368,143

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 3

Tipton:
Salazar:
Incumbent Democrat John Salazar, who had represented the conservative, west Colorado district since 2005, ran for re-election. He was re–elected with % of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of R+5.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Salazar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Scott Tipton, state representative and nominee for this seat in 2006

Eliminated in primary

• Bob McConnell, retired lawyer and Army officer

Withdrawn

• Martin Beeson, district attorney for the 9th Judicial District (endorsed Tipton)

Endorsements

Statewide officials

• Sarah Palin, former Governor of Alaska and nominee for Vice President of the United States in 2008

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Gregory Gilman, electrical engineer

Other Candidates

• Jake Segrest, small business owner (Independent)

General election

Campaign

A contentious race ensued. Tipton attacked Salazar for voting for the 2009 Stimulus while Salazar retaliated that Tipton wanted to "[cut] Social Security and Medicare spending in half."

While the Denver Post praised Scott Tipton as a state lawmaker who "is knowledgeable about the issues, and touts his private sector experience," the Post endorsed Salazar for re-election, citing his "ability to work with people from differing political views to seek solutions that work for the district."

Endorsements

Organizations

• Blue Dog Coalition

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Organizations

• Eagle Forum
• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
• Tea Party Express

Polling

Predictions

Results

| reg. electors = 355,428

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 4

Gardner:
Markey:

Incumbent Democrat Betsy Markey, who had represented this conservative east Colorado-based district since 2009, ran for re-election. She was elected with % of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of R+6.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Betsy Markey, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Cory Gardner, state representative

Withdrawn

• Diggs Brown, financial adviser, military veteran and Fort Collins City Council member
• Tom Lucero, businessman and former member of University of Colorado Board of Regents
• Dean Madere, conservative activist

Declined

• Greg Brophy, state senator
• Ken Buck, Weld County District Attorney
• Mark Hillman, former acting State Treasurer and Majority Leader of the state senate
• Bill Jerke, former Weld County Commissioner
• Marilyn Musgrave, former U.S. Representative

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• Jassen Bowman

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Doug Aden, small business owner

Unity primary

Candidates

Withdrawn

• Mike Nelson, oilfield worker

General election

Campaign

Markey, seen as a vulnerable member of Congress faced a tough challenge from Gardner. Challenger Gardner attacked Markey for supporting the 2009 Stimulus, asking rhetorically, "You want a shovel ready project we don't need? It's digging more debt," to which Markey responded, "I don't need to be lectured by someone who actually wants to tax the wind," a reference to a bill supported by Gardner in the state legislature that some claimed would allow for taxation of wind energy. Gardner further attacked Markey for a variety of votes that she supposedly cast in a television advertisement, but controversy ensued and a local Fox News affiliate yanked the ad off the air when it came to surface that the votes that Congresswoman Markey "cast" were actually cast by Massachusetts Congressman Ed Markey.

The Denver Post, citing Gardner's reputation as a "go-to guy in the legislature" and praising his motivation to bring "fiscal discipline to government," endorsed the Republican, expressing their discontent with Markey for "[straying] to the left" during her time in Congress.

Endorsements

Organizations

• Blue Dog Coalition
• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program

Newspapers

• Boulder Weekly

Organizations

• Tea Party Express

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Polling

Predictions

Results

Though polls indicated that Gardner held a narrow lead at best, Markey ultimately was defeated in her bid for a second term by a fairly comfortable eleven point margin of victory.

| reg. electors = 359,391

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 5

Lamborn:
Bradley: Incumbent Republican Doug Lamborn, who had represented this conservative district based in Colorado Springs and its suburbs district since 2005, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60.0% of the vote in 2006 and the district had a PVI of R+14.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Doug Lamborn, incumbent U.S. Representative

Declined

• Jeff Crank, Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce vice president and candidate for this seat in 2006 & 2006
• Bentley Rayburn, United States Air Force Major General and candidate for this seat in 2006 & 2008

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Kevin Bradley, businessman

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jerell Klaver, businessman

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Tea Party Express

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Predictions

Results

| reg. electors = 343,288

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 6

Coffman:
Incumbent Republican Mike Coffman, who had represented this solidly conservative district based in the southern Denver suburbs and some parts of Aurora, since 2009, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60.7% of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of R+8.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mike Coffman, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Flerlage, retired U.S. Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel and airline pilot

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rob McNealy, small business owner and community activist

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Tea Party Express

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Predictions

Results

| reg. electors = 455,805

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 7

Perlmutter:
Incumbent Democratic Ed Perlmutter, who had represented this suburban Denver district since 2007, ran for re-election. He was elected with % of the vote in 2008 and the district had a PVI of D+4.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ed Perlmutter, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Ryan Frazier, Aurora City Council member

Eliminated in primary

• Lang Sias, military pilot and lawyer

Endorsements

U.S. Senators

• John McCain, U.S. Senator from Arizona (1987–present) and nominee for President in 2008

Organizations

• Eagle Forum

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Buck Bailey, small business owner

General election

Campaign

Both candidates levied heavy attacks against each other as election day drew nearer. Frazier attacked Perlmutter for supporting the 2009 Stimulus, decrying it as a waste of taxpayer money; Perlmutter provided evidence that a charter school that Frazier represented, as well as the city of Aurora, received stimulus money. In a bizarre moment during the campaign, the two candidates were discussing health care reform at a debate when Frazier pointed his hand at Perlmutter, who slapped it away, apologizing immediately thereafter.

The Denver Post, calling for "new blood in Congress," endorsed Frazier over Perlmutter, declaring that despite Frazier's young age of 33, "his grasp on the key issues facing the country has grown considerably since he first surfaced on the political scene." The Post, meanwhile, criticized Congressman Perlmutter for being "a solid vote for the Democratic majority" and for supporting "the Obama Administration’s over-reaching agenda."

Endorsements

Organizations

• National Republican Congressional Committee "Young Guns" Program
• Tea Party Express

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Polling

Predictions

Results

Despite the nationwide swing against the Democrats, Perlmutter comfortably won re election to a third term by 11 points, with Frazier only improving 2.3% on John McCain vote share from 2008.

| reg. electors = 294,412

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

Aftermath

In their post election round up, the website Colorado Pols described the Frazier campaign as "amateurish at best" and that he had proved to be "immature, vacuous and just plain silly in unscripted moments".

Notes

References

References

1. "2010 State of Colorado Abstract of Votes Cast". Office of Secretary of State State of Colorado.
2. (November 2, 2010). "Statistics of the Congressional Election".
3. Haas, Karen L.. (June 3, 2011). "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010". [[Clerk of the United States House of Representatives.
4. "Archived copy".
5. (10 August 2010). "Libertarian Clint Jones wins 1st Congressional District primary". The Denver Post.
6. Easley, Jonathan. (September 22, 2010). "Mike Fallon, Republican candidate in District 1, takes on Diana DeGette, seeks cure for Congress". Westword.
7. Pols, Colorado. (September 21, 2010). "CD-1 in play? - Fallon named "Young Gun" candidate.". The Washington Post.
8. (21 October 2010). "Endorsements". The Denver Post.
9. (25 October 2010). "2010 Candidates Endorsed By Eagle Forum PAC". Eagle Forum.
10. Axelrod, Ethan. (September 21, 2010). "Mike Fallon, GOP Candidate In Colorado CD-1, Granted 'On The Radar' Status By NRCC". Huffington Post.
11. "Endorsed Candidates". Tea Party Express.
12. "FiveThirtyEight House Elections Forecast and Polls - Election 2010 - The New York Times". The New York Times.
13. (November 1, 2010). "The Cook Political Report – Charts – 2010 House Competitive Races". [[The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter.
14. Rothenberg Political Report. (November 1, 2010). "House Ratings". Rothenbergpoliticalreport.com.
15. [http://www.centerforpolitics.org/crystalball/articles/category/2010-house Crystal Ball], {{As of. 2010. 11. 01
16. [http://www.realclearpolitics.com/epolls/2010/house/2010_elections_house_map.html RealClearPolitics], {{As of. 2010. 11. 01
17. "2010 House Ratings Chart". CQ Politics.
18. "House Race Ratings". [[The New York Times]].
19. (6 August 2010). "Bailey’s out-of-state assistance opens wedge with GOP primary rival Brancato". The Denver Post.
20. (21 October 2010). "Vote 2010". Boulder Weekly.
21. (29 September 2010). "Colorado 2nd Congressional District Survey Release". Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies.
22. (9 November 2009). "Tipton Joins Race Against Salazar". Roll Call.
23. (9 October 2009). "Colorado: Second Republican Seeks Salazar’s Seat". Roll Call.
24. (19 May 2009). "DA Martin Beeson to run for Congress". The Aspen Times.
25. (1 January 2010). "District attorney drops out of the race for Congress". The Aspen Times.
26. (19 July 2010). "Palin picks McConnell in Colorado’s District 3". The Denver Post.
27. "Fact Check: Scott Tipton vs. John Salazar".
28. (27 September 2010). "Second fight over 3rd Congressional District a big one". The Denver Post.
29. "Retain Salazar in 3rd District - The Denver Post".
30. (16 September 2010). "NRCC inducts 18 new Young Guns". Politico.
31. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101210220149/http://thehill.com/house-polls/thehill-poll-week-4/125995-district-by-district-colorado The Hill/ANGA]
32. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100911001031/http://americanactionforum.org/files/CO%2003%20Toplines.pdf American Action Forum]
33. {{usurped
34. {{usurped
35. (May 15, 2009). "Cory Gardner joins Tom Lucero in GOP bid against Betsy Markey". Colorado Statesman.
36. (21 May 2010). "Gardner wins nomination". Politico.
37. (23 March 2009). "GOP Marks Markey Near Top of Territory to Regain". Roll Call.
38. (19 November 2009). "Field Against Colorado’s Markey Continues To Grow". Roll Call.
39. (25 February 2008). "Colorado Has Seen Heavy Turnover in House Districts". Roll Call.
40. (9 May 2010). "Democrats See Hopes for West Dim in Colorado". The New York Times.
41. "Betsy Markey Comes Out Swinging Against Cory Gardner At CD-4 Debate".
42. Roberts, Michael. (20 October 2010). "Cory Gardner: See attack ad on Betsy Markey (or was that Ed Markey?) Fox 31 decided to yank". westword.com.
43. "Gardner right for the 4th CD - The Denver Post".
44. (6 October 2010). "District by district - Colorado (Colorado-4)". The Hill.
45. [https://web.archive.org/web/20101105011026/https://elections.nytimes.com/2010/forecasts/house/colorado/4 Bennett, Petts & Normington (D)]
46. [https://web.archive.org/web/20110811103925/http://americanactionforum.org/files/CO%2004%20Toplines.pdf American Action Forum]
47. (10 June 2010). "Democrat hopes to loosen Lamborn’s hold on House seat". The Denver Gazette.
48. (9 February 2010). "Democrat seeks to unseat Coffman". Colorado Community Media.
49. Drehle, David Von. (21 September 2010). "2010: Races to Watch".
50. (9 December 2009). "McCain Backs Ex-Aide’s Bid For Colorado Rep. Perlmutter’s Seat". Roll Call.
51. (9 December 2009). "John McCain Endorses Lang Sias In CD-7". Colorado Pols.
52. Independent, Scot Kersgaard The Colorado. (28 December 2010). "Ryan Frazier's Charter School Actively Sought Stimulus Funds". huffingtonpost.com.
53. (18 October 2010). "WATCH: Ed Perlmutter Slaps Ryan Frazier's Hand During Debate, Apologizes". huffingtonpost.com.
54. "A fresh voice in the 7th District - The Denver Post".
55. (27 August 2010). "Ryan Frazier and Ed Perlmutter Race A Statistical Dead Heat". Magellan Data and Mapping Strategies.
56. (8 November 2010). "Winners and Losers, Part Two (Or, Just the Losers)". Colorado Pols.