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Colorado’s New Congressional Districts
Democrats Aim for Two New Seats
Democrats are targeting the new 7th district which has nearly even voter registration between the parties, a majority of state legislative seats held by Democrats and provided a slight margin (2000 votes) for Al Gore in the 2000 presidential election. The seat straddles the north metro area from Lakewood through Adams County to south Aurora.
The general election race will likely be the most expensive in the state’s history, exceeding the $3 million spent in the 1998 Udall vs. Greenlee contest in the 2nd congressional district. Both parties have hard fought primaries to be settled on August 13.
The Partisanship of the Seven New Districts
Ranked Most Votes for Gore to Most Votes for Bush
Registration / Jan. 2002 |
| Districts |
Dem. |
Rep. |
Unaff. |
Margin for
Gore in 2000
|
| Denver |
43% |
24% |
32% |
62,000 |
| Boulder/mountains |
32% |
29% |
39% |
23,000 |
| Northern suburbs |
33% |
33% |
34% |
2,000 |
| Western Slope |
33% |
34% |
32% |
(38,000) |
| North Front Range and Eastern Plains |
25% |
39% |
35% |
(53,000) |
| Southern suburbs |
22% |
45% |
32% |
(65,000) |
| El Paso county area |
22% |
45% |
33% |
(77,000) |
|
|
Ciruli Associates, 2002 |
Democrats are also making a strong effort in the 4th congressional district, which is an open seat due to the retirement of Congressman Bob Schaffer. But they face an uphill battle in terms of registration and votes cast for Bush. The party hopes Stan Matsunaka, a moderate Democrat from the largest county, Larimer, will have a slight edge, against Marilyn Musgrave, a very conservative Republican from the less populated high plains. (Musgrave is in a party primary with a moderate on August 13.)
Incumbents of both parties are safe in the remaining five seats.
Permission to quote or reprint is granted provided the source, Ciruli Associates, is credited. Ciruli Associates • 1129 1/2 Pennsylvania St. • Denver, CO 80203 • PH (303) 399-3173 • FAX (303) 399-3147.
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