2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado

Overview

Statewide

By district

Results of the 2006 United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado by district:

District 1

Incumbent Democrat Diana DeGette, who had represented the district since 1997, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 73.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+18.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Diana DeGette, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

No Republicans filed.

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Thomas Kelly, professional engineer

General election

Endorsements

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 2

Incumbent Democrat Mark Udall, who had represented the district since 1999, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 60.1% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+8.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Mark Udall, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rich Mancuso, history teacher

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Norm Olsen, software developer, nominee for state representative in 2000 and for this seat in 2002 and 2004

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• J. A. Calhoun

General election

Endorsements

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 3

Salazar:
Tipton:

Incumbent Democrat John Salazar (brother of Senator Ken Salazar), who had represented the conservative, west Colorado district since 2005, ran for re-election. He was elected with 50.6% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+6.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• John Salazar, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Scott Tipton, businessman

Declined

• Matt Smith, state representative and candidate for this seat in 2004
• Greg Walcher, former Executive Director of the Department of Natural Resources and nominee for this seat in 2004

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bert Sargent, engineer

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Frontline" Program

;Individuals

• Wesley Clark, retired Army General and 2004 democratic presidential candidate

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 4

Musgrave:
Paccione:

Incumbent Republican Marilyn Musgrave, who had represented this conservative east Colorado-based district since 2003, ran for re-election. She was re-elected with 51.0% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+9.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Marilyn Musgrave, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Angie Paccione, state representative

Declined

• Stan Matsunaka, former President of the Colorado Senate and nominee for this seat in 2002 and 2004
• Wes McKinley, state representative
• Peggy Reeves, former state senator

Results

Reform primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Eric Eidsness, former EPA Assistant Administrator for Water

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program

;Individuals

• Wesley Clark, retired Army General and 2004 democratic presidential candidate

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 5

2006 Colorado's 5th congressional district election

Incumbent Republican Joel Hefley, who had represented this conservative district based in Colorado Springs and its suburbs district since 1987, retired rather than run for re-election. He was re-elected with 70.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+16.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Doug Lamborn, state senator

Eliminated in primary

• John Anderson, former El Paso County Sheriff
• Duncan Bremer, former El Paso County Commissioner
• Jeff Crank, Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce vice president and former Hefley aide
• Bentley Rayburn, United States Air Force Major General
• Lionel Rivera, Mayor of Colorado Springs

Declined

• Jack Gloriod, realtor and activist
• Ted Haggard, Presidents of the National Association of Evangelicals
• Joel Hefley, incumbent U.S. Representative
• Keith King, state house Majority Leader
• Jeff Wells, former state senate Majority Leader
• Wayne W. Williams, El Paso County Commissioner

Endorsements

;Individuals

• Dan Corsentino, Pueblo County Sheriff and candidate for the 6th district in 2004

U.S. representatives

• Joel Hefley, U.S. representative from Colorado's 5th congressional district (1987–present)

Organizations

• Greater Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce
• Housing and Building Association of Colorado Springs
• Pikes Peak Association of Realtors

U.S. Senator

• William L. Armstrong, former U.S. Senator (1979–1991)

Organizations

• Club for Growth

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jay Fawcett, retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel

Results

General election

On August 29, 2006, Hefley expressed anger that his successor was not his top aide, Jeff Crank. Commenting on the primary campaign, Hefley said, "I spent eight years trying to get rid of the sleaze factor in Congress. [...] It's not something I can do to help put more sleaze factor in Congress." Hefley was incensed at tactics such as a mailed brochure from the Christian Coalition of Colorado associating Crank with "public support for members and efforts of the homosexual agenda." Hefley said that he "suspected, but couldn't prove, collusion between Lamborn's campaign, which is managed by Jon Hotaling, and the Christian Coalition of Colorado, which is run by Hotaling's brother, Mark." Hefley called it "one of the sleaziest, most dishonest campaigns I've seen in a long time," and refused to endorse Lamborn.

Endorsements

U.S. Senator

• William L. Armstrong, former U.S. Senator (1979–1991)

Organizations

• Club for Growth

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program

;Individuals

• Wesley Clark, retired Army General and 2004 democratic presidential candidate

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 6

Incumbent Republican Tom Tancredo, who had represented this solidly conservative district based in the Denver suburbs since 1999, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 59.5% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of R+10.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Tom Tancredo, incumbent U.S. Representative

Results

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Bill Winter, lawyer and former legislative aide to Senator John McCain

Results

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Jack Woehr, computer programmer, Democratic candidate for this seat in 1994 and nominee in 2004

General election

Endorsements

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

District 7

Incumbent Republican Bob Beauprez, who had represented the district since 2003, decided to run for Governor rather than for re-election. He was re–elected with 55.7% of the vote in 2004 and the district had a PVI of D+2.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Rick O'Donnell, executive director of the Colorado Commission on Higher Education and candidate for this seat in 2002

Declined

• Bob Beauprez, incumbent U.S. Representative (running for Governor)
• Mike Coffman, State Treasurer
• Mark Paschall, Jefferson County Treasurer

Results

Democratic primary

With Beauprez declining to seek a third term this district emerged as a top pick-up opportunity for House Democrats.

Candidates

Nominee

• Ed Perlmutter, former state senator

Eliminated in primary

• Peggy Lamm, former state representative
• Herb Rubenstein, attorney and business leadership consultant

Withdrawn

• Joanna Conti, businesswoman and nominee for the 6th district in 2004

Polling

Results

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Dave Chandler

Constitution primary

Candidates

Nominee

• Roger McCarville

General election

Endorsements

Organizations

• Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee "Red to Blue" Program

;Individuals

• Wesley Clark, retired Army General and 2004 democratic presidential candidate

Newspapers

• The Denver Post

Polling

Predictions

Results

Finances

Campaigns

Outside Spending

References

References

1. "Office of the Clerk, U.S. House of Representatives".
2. "Cook Political Report, PVI for the 110th Congress". Cook Political Report.
3. (16 October 2006). "Endorsements". The Denver Post.
4. (6 November 2006). "2006 Competitive House Race Chart". Cook Political Report.
5. (6 November 2006). "2006 House Ratings". The Rothenberg Political Report.
6. (6 November 2006). "2006 House". Sabato's Crystal Ball.
7. (7 November 2006). "Battle for the House of Representatives". Real Clear Politics.
8. "Balance of Power Scorecard: House". Congressional Quarterly Inc.
9. (27 April 2005). "Western Slope Off the Map". Roll Call.
10. "Frontline Candidates". Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
11. "John Salazar (CO-03) | WesPAC".
12. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=48e39b60-c7f6-4780-94e9-ac47a94ad2d0 SurveyUSA 3rd October]
13. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=48e39b60-c7f6-4780-94e9-ac47a94ad2d0 SurveyUSA 3rd September]
14. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=e97d354a-be6d-4738-b713-2be80bd7bf3a SurveyUSA 3rd August]
15. (29 June 2005). "Democrats Take Aim at Musgrave". Roll Call.
16. (16 September 2005). "Paccione to Challenge Musgrave". 5280 Magazine.
17. "Our Red to Blue Candidates". DCCC.
18. "Angie Paccione (CO-4) | WesPAC".
19. (25 October 2005). "Colorado Cogitation". Roll Call.
20. (31 July 2006). "Hefley seat hotly contested by six on GOP side". Pueblo Chieftain.
21. (9 April 2003). "Lining Up for Hefley Vacancy". Roll Call.
22. (16 February 2006). "Hefley leaving House". The Denver Post.
23. Anne C. Mulkern and Erin Emery. (2006-09-06). "Hefley slams 5th District GOP hopeful". The Denver Post.
24. Foster, Dick. (2006-09-08). "Hefley denies damage: Refusal to support Lamborn won't hurt GOP, he says". Rocky Mountain News.
25. Anne C. Mulkern and Erin Emery. (2006-09-06). "Hefley slams 5th District GOP hopeful". The Denver Post.
26. "Jay Fawcett (CO 5) | WesPAC".
27. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=8053fbf8-2db8-411e-88fa-27ac745d5ef6 SurveyUSA]
28. (20 April 2005). "Beauprez Says He’ll Most Likely Run for Governor". Roll Call.
29. (4 April 2005). "Perlmutter Bid in Swing District Elates Democrats". Roll Call.
30. (13 April 2005). "Lamm Joins Increasingly Crowded House Race". Roll Call.
31. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=ba25a3d6-5a3b-4037-bf32-2db60da93f5f SurveyUSA 7th Prim August]
32. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=89e9c84d-6c23-4e8b-9970-c4cf8636fb4c SurveyUSA 7th Prim July]
33. "Ed Perlmutter (CO-07) | WesPAC".
34. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=08ce9384-5887-4128-9d3a-2df455c1fd2e SurveyUSA 7th October]
35. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=a5142241-447f-46f2-8546-8648e024d9d9 SurveyUSA 7th September]
36. [https://www.surveyusa.com/client/PollReport.aspx?g=0948bfb6-6099-4bbb-8992-8be7376a3055 SurveyUSA 7th August]