Colorado's 8th Senate district

Colorado's 8th
State Senate district
Senator
  Dylan Roberts
D–Eagle
Registration30.9% Republican
24.2% Democratic
43.2% No party preference
Demographics79% White
1% Black
18% Hispanic
1% Asian
1% Other
Population (2018)149,728[1]
Registered voters111,732[2]

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]

Geography

District 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

Colorado 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

The 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]

2022 Colorado State Senate election, District 8[8]
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

2020

In 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.

2020 Colorado State Senate election, District 8[11]
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

2016 Colorado State Senate election, District 8[12]
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

2012 Colorado State Senate election, District 8[13]
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

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

  1. ^ "State Senate District 8, CO". Census Reporter. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  2. ^ "Total Registered Voters by State Senate District, Party, and Status" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  3. ^ "Senator Bob Rankin". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Colorado State Senate District 8". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  5. ^ "Final Plans Approved by the Court". Colorado Redistricting - General Assembly. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  6. ^ David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 15, 2020.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "2022 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
  9. ^ Nic Garcia (December 17, 2018). "Colorado Sen. Randy Baumgardner stepping down after beating expulsion vote". Denver Post. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  10. ^ Thomas Phippen (January 2, 2019). "GOP panel sends Carbondale's Rankin to state Senate, replacing Baumgardner". Glenwood Springs Post Independent. Retrieved July 22, 2022.
  11. ^ "2020 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  12. ^ "2016 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  13. ^ "2012 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
  14. ^ "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 15, 2020.