It’s Wide Open – All Three Republican Congresspersons Quit Their Districts

Twotwofourtysix, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons

The entire Colorado Republican Congressional delegation has abandoned their districts due to retirement and seat swapping. Three open seats with primaries will become Colorado’s dominant political story in 2024.

Out of Colorado’s eight Congressional districts, the Republicans have held three for more than a decade. The last Democrat in any of the three districts was John Salazar in the 3rd and Betsy Markey in the 4th. Both lost in 2010.

All three districts remain likely Republican wins in 2024, but the party in Colorado is polarized between its Trump denial faction and the more moderate/establishment wing. The primaries, besides contributing to the party’s image of chaos, allows for the possibility a vulnerable, far right candidate could win.

In a year that first appeared without much political action, Colorado now has contests from border to border.