Colorado House
Filing Deadline: June 17, 2008 • Primary Date: Aug. 12, 2008 • General Election: Nov. 4, 2008District Profile: This district, which last elected a Republican in 1970, is solidly Democratic. It counts most of metro Denver's blacks and Hispanics, singles and gays. Full Profile
2006 results: Diana DeGette (D) defeated Thomas Kelly (Green) by 80-20%.
Incumbent
Diana DeGette (D)
Elected in 1996; Seeking seventh term; DeGette was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
George Lilly (R)Lilly, a salesman, was nominated with 58% in a two-way primary.
District Profile: The 2nd is centered on Boulder. Politically, this remains one of half a dozen safe Democratic districts in the Rocky Mountain states. Full Profile
2006 results: Mark Udall (D) defeated Rich Mancuso (R) by 68-28%.
Democrat
Jared Polis (D)
Polis, the former state Board of Education chairman, was nominated with 42% in a three-way primary.
Republican
Scott Starin (R)Starin, an electrical engineer, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 3rd is the state's largest -- roughly the size of Arkansas -- and is usually a Republican district, but it can be unpredictable. Full Profile
2006 results: John Salazar (D) defeated Scott Tipton (R) by 62-37%.
Incumbent
John Salazar (D)
Elected in 2004; Seeking third term; Salazar was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Wayne Wolf (R)Wolf, a Delta County Commissioner, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: By heritage and usually by inclination, this is Republican territory: It was evenly split in 1992, but later gave solid margins to Bob Dole and George W. Bush. Full Profile
2006 results: Marilyn Musgrave (R) defeated Angie Paccione (D) by 46-43%.
Incumbent
Marilyn Musgrave (R)Elected in 2002; Seeking fourth term; Musgrave was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
Betsy Markey (D)
Markey, a businesswoman, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: The 5th is the most GOP district in the state and one of the most Republican in the nation. Full Profile
2006 results: Doug Lamborn (R) defeated Jay Fawcett (D) by 60-40%.
Incumbent
Doug Lamborn (R)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Lamborn was nominated with 45% in a three-way primary.
Challengers
Hal Bidlack (D)Bidlack, a retired Air Force officer, was unopposed in the primary.
District Profile: Redistricting in 2002 changed the 6th District more than any previously existing district in Colorado. This is now Colorado's second most Republican district. Full Profile
2006 results: Tom Tancredo (R) defeated Bill Winter (D) by 59-40%.
Republican
Mike Coffman
Coffman, the Colorado secretary of state, was nominated with 40% in a four-way primary.
District Profile: The 7th District, newly created for the 2002 elections, covers parts of three counties and most of the inner Denver suburbs. Full Profile
2006 results: Ed Perlmutter (D) defeated Rick O'Donnell (R) by 55-42%.
Incumbent
Ed Perlmutter (D)
Elected in 2006; Seeking second term; Perlmutter was unopposed in the primary.
Challengers
John Lerew (R)Lerew, a financial planner, was unopposed in the primary.
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Race Rankings
Based on likelihood of seat switching party control
1.
N.Y.-13
(Open-R)2.
N.Y.-25
(Open-R)3.
Ariz.-01
(Open-R)4.
Va.-11
(Open-R)5.
Fla.-16
(Mahoney-D)6.
Ill.-11
(Open-R)7.
Ohio-16
(Open-R)8.
Texas-22
(Lampson-D)9.
Alaska-AL
(Young-R)10.
Fla.-24
(Feeney-R)11.
N.J.-03
(Open-R)12.
Colo.-04
(Musgrave-R)13.
Mich.-09
(Knollenberg-R)14.
N.J.-07
(Open-R)15.
Minn.-06
(Bachmann-R)Previous Coverage
Check out National Journal's coverage of previous Colorado house races.
