What’s on the ballot in Colorado’s primaries

Welcome to the Tuesday, June 18, 2024, Brew.

Here’s what’s in store for you as you start your day:

1. What’s on the ballot in Colorado’s primaries
2. A closer look at the June 25 Democratic primary for New York’s 22nd Congressional District
3. Upcoming voter participation deadlines

What’s on the ballot in Colorado’s primaries

Today, voters in Georgia, Oklahoma, and Virginia are heading to the polls for primaries. For now, let’s take a look ahead next week to Colorado, one of three states holding primaries on June 25. Voters will decide primaries for eight U.S. House districts. Currently, Democrats hold five of the eight U.S. House districts in Colorado, with Republicans holding two and one seat vacant. There are 83 legislative seats up for election this year in Colorado’s legislature—18 in the Senate and 65 in the House. New York and Utah will also hold statewide primaries on June 25.

U.S. House

• Thirty-two candidates are running for Colorado’s eight U.S. House districts, including 12 Democrats and 20 Republicans. That’s four candidates per district, more than in the previous three election cycles. There were 3.75 candidates per district in 2022, 2.28 candidates per district in 2020, and 3.43 in 2018.
• The number of candidates running for the U.S. House in Colorado in 2024 is also higher than any other year in the past 10 years.

• The 3rd and 5th Congressional Districts were open, meaning no incumbents ran in those districts.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-3rd) is running in the Republican primary for the 4th Congressional District, which Ken Buck (R) held before he resigned from Congress on March 22, 2024. Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-5th) did not run for re-election because he retired from public office.
• Nine candidates—three Democrats and six Republicans—ran for the 4th Congressional District, the most candidates who ran for a seat in Colorado in 2024.
• A special election will be held for the 4th Congressional District to fill the vacancy left by Buck.
• Seven primaries—three Democratic and four Republican—were contested in 2024. That’s less than the eight contested primaries in 2022 but more than the two contested primaries in 2020.
• Two incumbents—Reps. Diana DeGette (D-1st) and Boebert—are in contested primaries in 2024. That’s less than the four incumbents in contested primaries in 2022 but more than the one incumbent in a contested primary in 2020.

State Executive

• Three primary elections will be held for the Colorado State Board of Regents. According to the board’s official website, it “is charged constitutionally with the general supervision of the university and the exclusive control and direction of all funds of and appropriations to the university, unless otherwise provided by law.”
• Four primary elections will be held for the Colorado State Board of Education. The District 3 seat is up for a two-year term, and seats in districts 2, 4, and 8 are up for six-year terms.

State Legislature

• Colorado has a Democratic trifecta. Democrats have a 23-12 majority in the Senate and a 46-19 majority in the House.
• There are 83 legislative seats up for election this year in Colorado’s legislature—18 in the Senate and 65 in the House. Out of a possible 166, there are 25 contested primaries in 2024 (11 Democratic and 14 Republican). This rate of 15.1% is the highest since Ballotpedia began tracking this figure in 2010.

• The 26 Colorado legislators not running for re-election in 2024 aligned with the average for elections from 2010-2022 (25.6). The retirements in 2024 are the third-most this decade behind 2022 (33) and 2018 (27).
• Colorado legislators are limited to serving eight years in the Senate and eight years in the House. Four members of the House are term-limited in 2024.

Municipal elections

• The city of Denver, Colorado, is holding primary elections for district attorney, Regional Transportation District board member, district court judges, and county court judge.
• Adams County, Colorado, is holding primary elections for district attorney, county commission, and county court judges.
• Arapahoe County, Colorado, is holding primary elections for district attorney, county commission, Regional Transportation District, county court judges, and district court judges.
• El Paso County, Colorado, is holding general elections for district attorney, county commission, county court judges, and district court judges.
• Ballotpedia is covering municipal elections in 80 counties and 80 cities, including 41 mayoral elections, in 2024. As of 2024, Ballotpedia’s coverage scope for local elections includes elections on the ballot in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population, as well as elections for mayors, city council members, and district attorneys in each state capital. Click here for more coverage of municipal elections.

To see more upcoming election dates, see our elections calendar.

A closer look at the June 25 Democratic primary for New York’s 22nd Congressional District

Throughout the year, we’ll bring you coverage of the most compelling elections — the battlegrounds we expect to have a meaningful effect on the balance of power in governments or to be particularly competitive. You can catch our previous coverage of other battleground races here.

Today, we’re looking at the Democratic primary for New York’s 22nd Congressional District. Two candidates are running in the primary: Sarah Klee Hood (D) and John Mannion (D). The Democratic primary winner will face incumbent U.S. Rep. Brandon Williams (R) in the November general election. In 2022, Williams defeated Francis Conole (D) 50.5%-49.5%.

Klee Hood and Mannion addressed voters at a May candidate forum. Both candidates said democracy is one of their priorities. Klee Hood said she believed she would be the best candidate to oppose Williams in the general election, while Mannion highlighted justice and equity as themes of his candidacy.

U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D) and U.S. Reps. Chrissy Houlahan (D) and Pat Ryan (D) endorsed Klee Hood. Mannion received endorsements from 26 New York state legislators and labor unions such as the New York State AFL-CIO and the American Federation of Teachers. Both candidates received endorsements from a number of local officials.

Klee Hood ran in the 2022 Democratic primary for New York’s 22nd Congressional District. Klee Hood finished second out of four candidates behind Conole.

Klee Hood is a Dewitt Town board member. Klee Hood’s professional experience includes serving in the Air Force as a captain and director of operations and working as a software program manager and economic development consultant. Klee Hood said issues affecting women, increasing abortion access, paid family leave, and expanding healthcare would be her priorities in Congress.

Mannion is a New York state senator. Mannion’s professional experience includes working as a biology and chemistry teacher and president of the West Genesee Teachers’ Association. Mannion said he supports policies that he believes benefit teachers and students, increase jobs, and improve government transparency.

As of March 31, 2024, Klee Hood had raised $1.1 million in campaign finance, and Mannion had raised $681,736.

The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales, and Larry J. Sabato’s Crystal Ball rated the district as lean or tilt Democratic.

New York conducted redistricting between the 2022 and 2024 elections. As a result, district lines in this state changed. To review how redistricting took place in New York and to see maps of the new districts, click here. For a list of all states that drew new district lines between 2022 and 2024, click here.

Upcoming voter participation deadlines

With the 2024 election season well on its way, we are taking a look at the important deadlines voters need to be aware of over the next two weeks to participate in their state’s primary election.

Ten states have important voter participation deadlines in the next two weeks. These include voter registration deadlines, early voting opening and closing dates, deadlines to request absentee/mail-in ballots, and deadlines to return those ballots.

The map below shows the states with voter participation deadlines in the next two weeks. The bulleted list below includes every state with deadlines between June 18 and July 1, 2024.

1. Arizona: July 1 (voter registration deadline).
2. Colorado: June 25 (in-person voter registration deadline), June 17 to June 25 (early voting), June 25 (absentee/mail-in return deadline).
3. Georgia (primary runoff): June 18 (absentee/mail-in return deadline).
4. New York: June 15 to June 23 (early voting), June 24 (in-person absentee/mail-in request deadline), June 25 (absentee/mail-in return deadline).
5. Oklahoma: June 18 (absentee/mail-in return deadline).
6. South Carolina (primary runoff): June 19 to July 21 (early voting), June 25 (absentee/mail-in return deadline).
7. South Dakota (primary runoff): June 14 to July 29 (early voting)
8. Utah: June 11 to June 21 (early voting), June 25 (in-person voter registration deadline), June 24 (absentee/mail-in return deadline by mail), June 25 (absentee/mail-in return deadline in person).
9. Vermont: June 29 to Aug. 12 (early voting).
10. Virginia: June 18 (in-person voter registration deadline), June 18 (absentee/mail-in return deadline).

Looking ahead

We’ll bring you all the voter participation information you need for the 2024 election cycle, so stay tuned!