Boulder Council's Top Two Members Vie For Colorado House Seat After Hooton Withdraws

By Sara Wilson, Colorado Newsline

August 1, 2022

Colorado state Rep. Edie Hooton will not seek reelection this fall for House District 10, the Boulder Democrat announced over the weekend.

She was running for her fourth and final term and did not face a primary opponent in June.

“I have represented Boulder at the State Capitol for six years and feel deeply gratified with what my colleagues and I have accomplished, in collaboration with many associations and individuals, on behalf of vulnerable Coloradans and the climate,” Hooton wrote in a statement. “I cannot express enough my gratitude to my constituents and supporters for their role in making the passage of these transformative laws possible and for providing me the opportunity to be a part of it.”

She said she wants to spend more time with her husband and adult children and pursue personal interests after she completes her term in early 2023.

The Boulder County Democratic Party has 30 days to convene a vacancy committee and select a new candidate to face Republican William DeOreo in the general election. Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett announced on Twitter Sunday night that he would seek the vacancy. Boulder Mayor Pro Tem Junie Joseph filed paperwork with the secretary of state’s office on Sunday to also run.

The district leans strongly Democratic.

“We can all agree that Boulder has tremendous talent and be confident that our county party will make the best choice among exceptional candidates to select a replacement we can all get behind,” Hooton wrote.

Hooton had already decided to withdraw once primary ballots with her name were sent out and chose to wait to make the announcement until after hosting a fundraising event on July 28.

Hooton serves as the vice chair of the House Energy and Environment Committee and the joint Capital Development Committee. She also sits on the House Transportation and Local Government Committee.

She was first elected to represent the district in 2016. In her statement announcing her decision to withdraw, she said she is most proud of legislation to expand the rights of mobile homeowners, establish a regulatory framework for the towing industry and add more qualifying conditions for a medical marijuana recommendation.

Hooton had raised over $106,000 during this election cycle and had a little under $2,000 in campaign funds at the end of June.

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