Colorado's 8th Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Colorado Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Dylan Roberts since 2023. Prior to redistricting the district was represented by Republicans Bob Rankin and Randy Baumgardner.[3][4]
| Colorado's 8th State Senate district | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
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| Senator |
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| Registration | 30.9% Republican 24.2% Democratic 43.2% No party preference | ||
| Demographics | 79% White 1% Black 18% Hispanic 1% Asian 1% Other | ||
| Population (2018) | 149,728[1] | ||
| Registered voters | 111,732[2] | ||
Geography
editDistrict 8 is based in the mountain and plains towns of the upper Western Slope, covering all of Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffatt, Rio Blanco, Routt, and Summit Counties. Communities in the district include Glenwood Springs, Rifle, Carbondale, New Castle, Silt, Parachute, Battlement Mesa, No Name, Meeker, Rangely, Craig, Steamboat Springs, Hayden, Walden, Fraser, Granby, Kremmling, Breckenridge, Frisco, Silverthorne, and Keystone.[5]
The district overlaps with Colorado's 2nd and 3rd congressional districts, and with the 13th, 26th, 57th, and 61st districts of the Colorado House of Representatives.[6]
Recent election results
editColorado state senators are elected to staggered four-year terms. The old 8th district held elections in presidential years, but the new district drawn following the 2020 Census will hold elections in midterm years.
2022
editThe 2022 election will be the first one held under the state's new district lines. Incumbent Republican Senator Bob Rankin was redistricted to the 5th district, and State Rep. Dylan Roberts is running to succeed him in the 8th district, which was redrawn to be more friendly to Democrats.[7]
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic | Dylan Roberts | 40,765 | 55.7 | |
| Republican | Matt Solomon | 32,427 | 44.3 | |
| Total votes | 73,192 | 100 | ||
Historical election results
edit2020
editIn 2017 and 2018, a sexual harassment claim was made against Senator Randy Baumgardner, which he denied. Baumgardner survived an expulsion vote in April 2018, but ultimately resigned in January 2019 after further allegations came to light.[9] Then-State Rep. Bob Rankin was chosen by a Republican vacancy committee to replace him, beating out former State Rep. Gregg Rippy and several other candidates.[10] Rankin won his first full term in 2020.
| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Bob Rankin (incumbent) | 11,805 | 63.2 | |
| Republican | Debra Irvine | 6,873 | 36.8 | |
| Total votes | 18,678 | 100 | ||
| Democratic | Karl Hanlon | 10,847 | 55.8 | |
| Democratic | Arn Menconi | 8,584 | 44.2 | |
| Total votes | 19,431 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Bob Rankin (incumbent) | 42,701 | 50.6 | |
| Democratic | Karl Hanlon | 41,717 | 49.4 | |
| Total votes | 84,418 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2016
edit| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Randy Baumgardner (incumbent) | 39,526 | 54.9 | |
| Democratic | Emily Tracy | 32,530 | 45.1 | |
| Total votes | 72,056 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
2012
edit| Primary election | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | |
| Republican | Randy Baumgardner | 6,809 | 58.2 | |
| Republican | Jean White (incumbent) | 4,887 | 41.8 | |
| Total votes | 11,696 | 100 | ||
| General election | ||||
| Republican | Randy Baumgardner | 34,187 | 51.1 | |
| Democratic | Emily Tracy | 29,688 | 44.3 | |
| Libertarian | Sacha Weis | 3,079 | 4.6 | |
| Total votes | 66,954 | 100 | ||
| Republican hold | ||||
Federal and statewide results
edit| Year | Office | Results[14] |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | President | Biden 51.6 - 45.8% |
| 2018 | Governor | Polis 50.5 – 46.0% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 48.2 – 43.7% |
| 2014 | Senate | Gardner 50.2 – 44.5% |
| Governor | Beauprez 48.4 – 47.2% | |
| 2012 | President | Romney 50.1 – 47.5% |
References
edit- ^ "State Senate District 8, CO". Census Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Total Registered Voters by State Senate District, Party, and Status" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Senator Bob Rankin". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ "Colorado State Senate District 8". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ "Final Plans Approved by the Court". Colorado Redistricting - General Assembly. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
- ^ Evan Wyloge and Marianne Goodland (November 24, 2021). "With new state House and Senate maps, let the games begin". Colorado Politics. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
- ^ "2022 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
- ^ Nic Garcia (December 17, 2018). "Colorado Sen. Randy Baumgardner stepping down after beating expulsion vote". Denver Post. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ Thomas Phippen (January 2, 2019). "GOP panel sends Carbondale's Rankin to state Senate, replacing Baumgardner". Glenwood Springs Post Independent. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
- ^ "2020 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ "2016 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ "2012 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
- ^ "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 15, 2020.