Colorado's 2018 Elections: Candidates, Races To Watch This Fall

ACROSS COLORADO – Even though the airwaves are already filled with campaign commercials, Labor Day is usually the official kickoff for campaign season in Colorado. Colorado is seen as a "purple state," and political junkies across the country view Colorado's high-profile political battles as a bellwether for the nation.Will the Democrats gain seats in the U.S. House in a "Blue Wave?" Or will the GOP maintain their dominance with majorities in all three branches of government?

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Here are the races to watch this fall:

The open race for Colorado Governor

Due to state-mandated term-limits, Governor John Hickenlooper will step down in the fall. This leaves an open race for Colorado Governor.

U.S. Democratic Congressman and tech millionaire-businessman Jared Polis will face Republican State Treasurer Walker Stapleton. Also in the race are Bill Hammons from the Colorado Unity Party; Libertarian Party candidate Scott Helker and unaffiliated candidate Paul Noel Fiorino.

The Cook Political Report, an independent, non-partisan newsletter that analyzes elections and campaigns, currently lists the race as leaning Democratic.

September 4 is the next candidate campaign filing deadline when the veil will be drawn back to reveal the most recent campaign donations. But as of Aug. 1, Polis had raised $13,101,506.60 and spent $11,833,425.03. Of that, his campaign depended on $12.9 million of his personal funds. Stapleton had raised a total of $2,381,758.16 and spent $2,089,947.10.

Colorado's two U.S. Senators, Michael Bennett (D) and Cory Gardner (R) are not in election races this year.

Colorado's Congressional Races United States House:

Colorado will feature a couple of competitive races for U.S. House this election cycle:

• First District: Democrat incumbent Diana DeGette will face Republican Charles Casper Stockham
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Solid Democratic
• Second District: [Open race] Democrat Joe Neguse will face GOP candidate Peter Yu.
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Solid Democratic
• Third District: Incumbent Republican Scott R. Tipton will face Diane Mitsch Bush
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Likely Republican
• Fourth District: Incumbent Republican Ken Buck will face Democrat Karen McCormick.
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Solid Republican
• Fifth District: Incumbent Republican Doug Lamborn will face Democrat Stephany Rose Spaulding
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Solid Republican
• RACE TO WATCH: Sixth District: Incumbent Republican Mike Coffman will face Democrat Jason Crow
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Toss Up
• Seventh District: Incumbent Democratic Ed Perlmutter will face Republican Mark Barrington
  • Cook Political Report ranking: Solid Democratic

Attorney General

Democrat Phil Weiser, a former Obama administration official and former University of Colorado law school dean will face Republican George Brauchler, district attorney for the 18th Judicial District (Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties).

Image via Shutterstock

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