Colorado's 4th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado . Located in the eastern part of the state, the district encompasses most of the rural Eastern Plains , as well as portions of the Colorado Front Range , including Loveland , Highlands Ranch , Castle Rock , and Parker .
Colorado's 4th congressional district Interactive map of district boundaries since January 3, 2023
Representative Distribution 72.9% urban[ 1] 27.1% rural Population (2022) 748,891[ 2] Median household income $108,087[ 3] Ethnicity Cook PVI R+13[ 4]
The district is currently represented by Republican Greg Lopez , who won a special election on June 25, 2024, following the resignation of Republican Ken Buck . With a Cook Partisan Voting Index rating of R+13, it is the most Republican district in Colorado.[ 4] No Democrat has received more than 40% of the vote as a U.S. House candidate in the district since 2010.
Following the 1990 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 4th congressional district consisted of Baca , Bent , Cheyenne , Crowley , Elbert , Kiowa , Kit Carson , Larimer , Las Animas , Lincoln , Logan , Morgan , Otero , Phillips , Prowers , Sedgwick , Washington , Weld and Yuma counties, as well as portions of Adams and Arapahoe counties.
Following the 2000 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 4th congressional district consisted of Baca , Bent , Cheyenne , Crowley , Kiowa , Kit Carson , Larimer , Lincoln , Logan , Morgan , Phillips , Prowers , Sedgwick , Washington , Weld and Yuma counties, as well as portions of Boulder , and Otero counties.
Following the 2010 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 4th congressional district consisted of Baca, Bent, Cheyenne, Crowley, Elbert, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Las Animas, Lincoln, Logan, Morgan, Otero, Phillips, Prowers, Sedgwick, Washington, Weld and Yuma counties. The district also includes portions of Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder and Douglas counties and very little portions of Larimer County .
This district consists mainly of the area of Colorado that is part of the Great Plains region of the United States. It is largely rural . The only large populated places in the district are Loveland , Highlands Ranch , Castle Rock , and Parker . Until the 2010s redistricting, Fort Collins was the largest city in the district and provided a large Democratic base, making the district somewhat competitive: before the 2020 redistricting, Greeley was the largest city in the district but has since been moved to the 8th district .
While the 4th takes in some suburbs of the Democratic-leaning Denver metropolitan area , the 4th takes in Douglas County , the most Republican region in the area. However, it is still far more friendly to the Democrats than the other counties in the district (especially in blue-leaning Highlands Ranch and Lone Tree ) and is the only area in the district with any Democratic support of real significance. On the other hand, the district takes in some of the most Republican counties in Colorado, such as Washington , Kit Carson , and Logan , where Democrats rarely exceed even 20 percent of the vote.
Historically, the district has been Republican-leaning, though Marilyn Musgrave won relatively narrow victories in 2004 and 2006 due to her Democratic opponents' strength in Fort Collins. Musgrave had to rely on strong performances in more conservative Greeley to hold onto her seat. In 2008, Musgrave lost reelection to Betsy Markey , who became the first Democrat to represent the district since the early 1970s. Markey was defeated in 2010 by Republican Cory Gardner , and the district was made more Republican in redistricting due to the removal of Fort Collins; no Democratic nominee has won more than 40% of the vote since she left office.
George W. Bush received 58% of the vote in this district in 2004. John McCain narrowly carried the district in 2008 with 50% of the vote.
#
County
Seat
Population
1
Adams
Brighton
533,365
5
Arapahoe
Littleton
656,061
9
Baca
Springfield
3,344
11
Bent
Las Animas
5,681
17
Cheyenne
Cheyenne Wells
1,727
25
Crowley
Ordway
5,636
35
Douglas
Castle Rock
383,906
39
Elbert
Kiowa
28,806
41
El Paso
Colorado Springs
744,215
61
Kiowa
Eads
1,384
63
Kit Carson
Burlington
6,994
69
Larimer
Fort Collins
370,771
73
Lincoln
Hugo
5,480
75
Logan
Sterling
20,619
87
Morgan
Fort Morgan
29,524
95
Phillips
Holyoke
4,476
99
Prowers
Lamar
11,751
115
Sedgwick
Julesburg
2,299
121
Washington
Akron
4,855
123
Weld
Greeley
359,442
125
Yuma
Wray
9,862
Cities of 10,000 people or more
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2,500 – 10,000 people
edit
Roxborough Park – 9,416
Stonegate – 9,072
Lamar – 7,687
Severance – 7,683
Eaton – 5,802
Brush – 5,339
Meridian – 4,786
Castle Pines Village – 4,327
Sierra Ridge – 3,490
Yuma – 3,456
Ponderosa Park – 3,334
Strasburg – 3,307
Meridian Village – 3,202
Burlington – 3,172
Acres Green – 2,922
Bennett – 2,862
Stepping Stone – 2,780
Election results from presidential races[ 5]
List of members representing the district
edit
Member
Party
Term duration
Cong ress(es)
Electoral history
District location
District created March 4, 1915
Edward T. Taylor (Glenwood Springs )
Democratic
March 4, 1915 – September 3, 1941
64th 65th 66th 67th 68th 69th 70th 71st 72nd 73rd 74th 75th 76th 77th
Redistricted from the at-large district and re-elected in 1914 .Re-elected in 1916 .Re-elected in 1918 .Re-elected in 1920 .Re-elected in 1922 .Re-elected in 1924 .Re-elected in 1926 .Re-elected in 1928 .Re-elected in 1930 .Re-elected in 1932 .Re-elected in 1934 .Re-elected in 1936 .Re-elected in 1938 .Re-elected in 1940 . Died.
Vacant
September 3, 1941 – December 9, 1941
77th
Robert F. Rockwell (Paonia )
Republican
December 9, 1941 – January 3, 1949
77th 78th 79th 80th
Elected to finish Taylor's term .Re-elected in 1942 .Re-elected in 1944 .Re-elected in 1946 . Lost re-election.
Wayne N. Aspinall (Palisade )
Democratic
January 3, 1949 – January 3, 1973
81st 82nd 83rd 84th 85th 86th 87th 88th 89th 90th 91st 92nd
Elected in 1948 .Re-elected in 1950 .Re-elected in 1952 .Re-elected in 1954 .Re-elected in 1956 .Re-elected in 1958 .Re-elected in 1960 .Re-elected in 1962 .Re-elected in 1964 .Re-elected in 1966 .Re-elected in 1968 .Re-elected in 1970 . Lost renomination.
James Paul Johnson (Fort Collins )
Republican
January 3, 1973 – January 3, 1981
93rd 94th 95th 96th
Elected in 1972 .Re-elected in 1974 .Re-elected in 1976 .Re-elected in 1978 . Retired.
Hank Brown (Greeley )
Republican
January 3, 1981 – January 3, 1991
97th 98th 99th 100th 101st
Elected in 1980 .Re-elected in 1982 .Re-elected in 1984 .Re-elected in 1986 .Re-elected in 1988 . Retired to run for U.S. Senator .
Wayne Allard (Loveland )
Republican
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1997
102nd 103rd 104th
Elected in 1990 .Re-elected in 1992 .Re-elected in 1994 . Retired to run for U.S. Senator .
Bob Schaffer (Fort Collins )
Republican
January 3, 1997 – January 3, 2003
105th 106th 107th
Elected in 1996 .Re-elected in 1998 .Re-elected in 2000 . Retired.
Marilyn Musgrave (Fort Morgan )
Republican
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009
108th 109th 110th
Elected in 2002 .Re-elected in 2004 .Re-elected in 2006 . Lost re-election.
2003–2013
Betsy Markey (Fort Collins )
Democratic
January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2011
111th
Elected in 2008 . Lost re-election.
Cory Gardner (Yuma )
Republican
January 3, 2011 – January 3, 2015
112th 113th
Elected in 2010 .Re-elected in 2012 . Retired to run for U.S. Senator .
2013–2023
Ken Buck (Windsor )
Republican
January 3, 2015 – March 22, 2024
114th 115th 116th 117th 118th
Elected in 2014 .Re-elected in 2016 .Re-elected in 2018 .Re-elected in 2020 .Re-elected in 2022 . Resigned.
2023–present
Vacant
March 22, 2024 – July 8, 2024
118th
Greg Lopez (Elizabeth )
Republican
July 8, 2024 – present
Elected to finish Buck's term . Retiring at end of term.
Historical district boundaries
edit
2003–2013
2013–2023
2023–2033
^ "Congressional Districts Relationship Files (state-based)" . www.census.gov . US Census Bureau Geography.
^ "My Congressional District" . www.census.gov . Center for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau.
^ "My Congressional District" .
^ a b "2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List" . Cook Political Report . Retrieved January 10, 2023 .
^ Presidential Election Results, by district , swingstateproject.com
^ "Our Campaigns - CO District 4 Race - Nov 03, 1914" . www.ourcampaigns.com .
^ "Our Campaigns - CO District 4 Race - Nov 07, 1916" . www.ourcampaigns.com .
^ "Our Campaigns - CO District 4 Race - Nov 05, 1918" . www.ourcampaigns.com .
^ "1920 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1922 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1924 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1926 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1928 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1930 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1932 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1934 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1936 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1938 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1940 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "Our Campaigns - CO District 4 - Special Election Race - Dec 09, 1941" . www.ourcampaigns.com .
^ "1942 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1944 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1946 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1948 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1950 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1952 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1954 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1956 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1958 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1960 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1962 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1964 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1966 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1968 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1970 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1972 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1974 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1976 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1978 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1980 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1982 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1984 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1986 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1988 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1990 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1992 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1994 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1996 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "1998 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "2000 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "2002 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "2004 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "2006 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ "2008 Election Results" (PDF) . house.gov .
^ a b c d "2010 Election Results" . state.co.us . Archived from the original on November 29, 2010. Retrieved July 24, 2011 .
^ "2018 Colorado general election results" . Retrieved June 21, 2019 .
^ "2020 General Election - Official Compiled Results" . Colorado Secretary of State . Retrieved December 6, 2020 .
^ "Certificate & Results - General Election Statewide Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF) . Colorado Secretary of State .
^ "Representative to the 118th United States Congress - District 4 (Congressional Vacancy Election)" . Colorado Secretary of State . 2024. Retrieved July 7, 2024 .