Political party strength in Colorado

The following table indicates the party of elected officials in the U.S. state of Colorado:

The table also indicates the historical party composition in the:

For years in which a presidential election was held, the table indicates which party's nominees received the state's electoral votes.

Pre-statehood (1861–1875)

Year Executive offices Territorial Assembly United States Congress
Governor Secretary of State Attorney General Treasurer Territorial Council House Delegate
1861 William Gilpin (R)[a] Lewis Ledyard Weld (NP) James E. Dalliba (R) George T. Clark (R) [?] [?] Hiram Pitt Bennet (CR)
1862 [?] [?]
1863 John Evans (R)[b] Samuel Hitt Elbert (R) Samuel E. Brown (R)
1864 Alexander W. Atkins (NP) [?] [?]
1865 [?] [?] Allen Alexander Bradford (R)
1866 Alexander Cummings (R) Frank Hall (NP) George W. Chamberlain (R) Alexander Cameron Hunt (NP) [?] [?]
1867 John Wanless (NP) [?] [?] George M. Chilcott (R)
1868 Alexander Cameron Hunt (I) Columbus Nuckolls (NP) [?] [?]
1869 Allen Alexander Bradford (R)
1870 Edward M. McCook (R)[c] Henry C. Thatcher (R) George T. Clark (R) [?] [?]
1871 Jerome B. Chaffee (R)
1872 [?] [?]
1873 Samuel Hitt Elbert (I)[d] vacant[e]
1874 Edward M. McCook (R) John W. Jenkins (NP) David H. Moffat (NP) [?] [?]
1875 John Long Routt (R) John Taffe (NP) [?] [?] Thomas M. Patterson (D)
Year Governor Secretary of State Attorney General Treasurer Territorial Council House Delegate
Executive offices Territorial Assembly United States Congress

1876–present

Year Executive offices General Assembly United States Congress Electoral votes
Governor Lieutenant
Governor
Secretary
of State
Attorney
General
Treasurer State Senate State House U.S. Senator
(Class II)
U.S. Senator
(Class III)
U.S. House
1876 John Long Routt (R) Lafayette Head (R) William Clark (R) vacant Fred Z. Solomon (NP) 19R, 7D 31R, 18D Henry M. Teller (R) Jerome B. Chaffee (R) James B.
Belford
(R)
Hayes/
Wheeler (R) Green tickY
1877 A. J. Sampson (R) George C. Corning (NP) Thomas M.
Patterson
(D)
1878
1879 Frederick Walker Pitkin (R) Horace Tabor (R) Norman H. Meldrum (R) Charles W. Wright (R) Nathan C. Culver (NP) 36R, 12D, 1GB Nathaniel P. Hill (R) James B.
Belford
(R)
1880 Garfield/
Arthur (R) Green tickY
1881 Charles H. Toll (R) W. C. Sanders (NP) 23R, 3D 36R, 13D
1882 George M. Chilcott (R)
1883 James Benton Grant (D) William H. Meyer (R) Melvin Edwards (R) David F. Urmy (R) Fred Walsen (NP) 17R, 9D Horace Tabor (R)
Thomas M. Bowen (R)
1884 Blaine/
Logan (R) Red XN
1885 Benjamin Harrison Eaton (R) Peter W. Breene (R) Theodore H. Thomas (R) George R. Swallow (NP) 19R, 7D 35R, 13D, 1I Henry M. Teller (R) George G.
Symes
(R)
1886
1887 Alva Adams (D) Norman H. Meldrum (R) James Rice (R) Alvin Marsh (R) Peter W. Breene (NP) 18R, 8D 25R, 23D, 1I
1888 Harrison/
Morton (R) Green tickY
1889 Job Adams Cooper (R) William Grover Smith (R) Samuel W. Jones (R) William Brisbane (NP) 20R, 6D 43R, 6D Edward O. Wolcott (R) Hosea
Townsend
(R)
1890
1891 John Long Routt (R) William Story (R) Edward J. Eaton (R) Joseph H. Maupin (D) James N. Carlile (NP) 16R, 10D 32R, 17D
1892 Weaver/
Field (Pop) Red XN
1893 Davis Hanson Waite (Pop) David H. Nichols (Pop) Nelson O. McCless (Pop) Eugene Engley (D) Albert Nance (NP) 15R, 12Pop, 8D[f] 33R, 27Pop, 5D 2P
1894
1895 Albert McIntire (R) Jared L. Brush (R) Albert B. McGaffey (R) Byron L. Carr (R) Harry E. Mulnix (NP) 18Pop, 16R, 1D 41R, 14Pop, 10D 1Pop, 1R
1896 Bryan/
Sewall (D/SvR) Red XN
1897 Alva Adams (D) Charles H.S. Whipple (D) George W. Kephart (NP) 16R, 14Pop, 4D, 1SvR[g] 33Pop, 20D, 11R, 1SvR Henry M. Teller (SvR) 1Pop, 1SvR
1898
1899 Charles S. Thomas (D) Francis Patrick Carney (Pop) Elmer F. Beckwith (D) David M. Campbell (D) John H. Fesler (NP) 15SvR, 9Pop, 9D, 2R[h] 21D, 20Pop, 16SvR, 6R[i]
1900 Bryan/
Stevenson (D) Red XN
1901 James Bradley Orman (D) David C. Coates (D) David A. Mills (D) Charles C. Post (R) James N. Chipley (NP) 19D, 7Pop, 6SvR, 2R, 1ST 37D, 13Pop, 8SvR, 7R Thomas M. Patterson (D)
1902 Warren A. Haggott (R)
1903 James Hamilton Peabody (R) Jesse Fuller McDonald (R) James Cowie (R) Nathan C. Miller (R) Whitney Newton (NP) 24D, 11R 36R, 29D Henry M. Teller (D) 2R, 1D
1904 3R Roosevelt/
Fairbanks (R) Green tickY
1905 Alva Adams (D)[j] Arthur Cornforth (D) John A. Holmbert (NP) 19R, 16D
James Hamilton Peabody (R)[j] Jesse Fuller McDonald (R)
Jesse Fuller McDonald (R)[j] Fred W. Parks (R)
1906
1907 Henry Augustus Buchtel (R) Erastus Harper (R) Timothy O'Connor (R) William H. Dickson (R) Alfred E. Bent (NP) 24R, 11D 46R, 19D Simon Guggenheim (R)
1908 Bryan/
Kern (D) Red XN
1909 John F. Shafroth (D) Stephen R. Fitzgarrald (D) James B. Pearce (D) John T. Barnett (D) W. J. Galligan (NP) 20D, 15R 53D, 12R Charles J. Hughes Jr. (D) 3D
1910
1911 Benjamin Griffith (R) Roady Kenehan (NP) 26D, 9R 40D, 25R vacant
1912 Wilson/
Marshall (D) Green tickY
1913 Elias M. Ammons (D) Fred Farrar (D) M. A. Leddy (NP) 24D, 11R 48D, 17R John F. Shafroth (D) Charles S. Thomas (D) 4D
1914
1915 George Alfred Carlson (R) Moses E. Lewis (R) John E. Ramer (R) Allison Stocker (NP) 18R, 17D 36R, 29D 3D, 1R
1916
1917 Julius Caldeen Gunter (D) James Pulliam (D) James R. Noland (D) Leslie E. Hubbard (D) Robert H. Higgins (NP) 18D, 17R 45D, 20R
1918
1919 Oliver Henry Shoup (R) George Stephan (R) Victor E. Keyes (R) Harry E. Mulnix (NP) 21D, 14R 41R, 24D Lawrence C. Phipps (R) 3R, 1D
1920 Harding/
Coolidge (R) Green tickY
1921 Earl Cooley (R) Carl Miliken (R) Arthur Strong (NP) 24R, 11D 58R, 7D Samuel D. Nicholson (R)
1922
1923 William Ellery Sweet (D) Robert F. Rockwell (R) Russel W. Fleming (D) Harry E. Mulnix (NP) 33R, 32D Alva B. Adams (D)
1924 Wayne C. Williams (D) Rice W. Means (R) Coolidge/
Dawes (R) Green tickY
1925 Clarence Morley (R) Sterling Byrd Lacy (D) William Boatright (R) W. D. MacGinnis (NP) 21R, 14D 53R, 12D
1926
1927 Billy Adams (D) George Milton Corlett (R) Charles Armstrong (R) Harry E. Mulnix (NP) 20R, 15D 43R, 22D Charles W. Waterman (R) 2R, 2D
1928 Herbert Fairall (NP) Hoover/
Curtis (R) Green tickY
1929 Robert E. Winbourn (R) W. D. MacGinnis (NP) 24R, 11D 46R, 19D 3R, 1D
1930 John S. Underwood (R)
1931 Edwin C. Johnson (D) Clarence L. Ireland (R) John M. Jackson (NP) 22R, 13D 34D, 31R Edward P. Costigan (D)
1932 Walter Walker (D) Roosevelt/
Garner (D) Green tickY
1933 Edwin C. Johnson (D)[k] Ray Herbert Talbot (D) Paul P. Prosser (D) Homer Bedford (D) 26D, 9R 54D, 11R Karl C. Schuyler (R) 4D
1934 Alva B. Adams (D)
1935 James Carr (D) Charles Armstrong (R) 29D, 6R 50D, 15R
1936 George Saunders (D) Byron G. Rogers (D)
1937 Ray Herbert Talbot (D)[l] vacant Homer Bedford (D) Edwin C. Johnson (D)
Teller Ammons (D) Frank J. Hayes (D)
1938
1939 Ralph Lawrence Carr (R) John Charles Vivian (R) Charles Armstrong (R) 23D, 12R 37R, 28D
1940 Willkie/
McNary (R) Red XN
1941 Walter Morrison (R) Gail L. Ireland (R) Homer Bedford (D) 18D, 17R Eugene Millikin (R) 3R, 1D
1942
1943 John Charles Vivian (R) William Eugene Higby (R) Leon Lavington (R) 23R, 12D 55R, 10D 4R
1944 Dewey/
Bricker (R) Red XN
1945 H. Lawrence Hinkley (R) Homer Bedford (D) 27R, 8D 46R, 19D
1946
1947 William Lee Knous (D)[m] Homer L. Pearson (D) Rodney Anderson (R) 3R, 1D
1948 Truman/
Barkley (D)
1949 Walter Walford Johnson (D) George Baker (D) John W. Metzger (D) Homer Bedford (D) 19R, 16D 39D, 26R 3D, 1R
1950
Walter Walford Johnson (D)[l] Charles P. Murphy (R)
1951 Daniel I. J. Thornton (R) Gordon Allott (R) Duke W. Dunbar (R) Earl E. Ewing (R) 20R, 15D 47R, 18D 2D, 2R
1952 Eisenhower/
Nixon (R) Green tickY
1953 Homer Bruce (R) Homer Bedford (D) 23R, 12D 45R, 20D
1954
1955 Edwin C. Johnson (D) Stephen McNichols (D) George Baker (D) Earl E. Ewing (R) 20R, 15D 38R, 27D Gordon Allott (R)
1956
1957 Stephen McNichols (D)[n] Frank L. Hays (R) Homer Bedford (D) 21D, 14R 38D, 27R John A. Carroll (D)
1958
1959 Robert Lee Knous (D) Tim Armstrong (D) 22D, 13R 44D, 21R 3D, 1R
1960 Nixon/
Lodge (R) Red XN
1961 19D, 16R 33D, 32R 2D, 2R
1962
1963 John Arthur Love (R)[o] Bryon A. Anderson (R) Homer Bedford (D) 20R, 15D 41R, 24D Peter H. Dominick (R)
1964 Johnson/
Humphrey (D) Green tickY
1965 42D, 23R 4D
1966
1967 Mark Anthony Hogan (D) Virginia Neal Blue (R) 37R, 28D 3D, 1R
1968 Nixon/
Agnew (R) Green tickY
1969 24R, 11D 38R, 27D
1970
Julia Swearingen (R)
1971 John D. Vanderhoof (R) Palmer Burch (R) 21R, 14D 2D, 2R
1972
1973 22R, 13D 37R, 28D Floyd Haskell (D) 3R, 2D
John D. Vanderhoof (R)[l] Ted L. Strickland (R) John P. Moore (R)
1974 Mary Estill Buchanan (R)
1975 Richard Lamm (D) George L. Brown (politician) (D) J.D. MacFarlane (D) Sam Brown (D) 19R, 16D 39D, 26R Gary Hart (D) 3D, 2R
1976 Ford/
Dole (R) Red XN
1977 Roy Romer (D) 18R, 17D 35R, 30D
1978
1979 Nancy E. Dick (D) 22R, 13D 38R, 27D William L. Armstrong (R)
1980 Reagan/
Bush (R) Green tickY
1981 39R, 26D
1982
1983 Natalie Meyer (R) Duane Woodard (R) 40R, 25D 3D, 3R
1984
1985 24R, 11D 48R, 17D 4R, 2D
1986
1987 Roy Romer (D) Mike Callihan (D) Duane Woodard (D)[p] Gail Schoettler (D) 25R, 10D 41R, 24D Tim Wirth (D) 3R, 3D
1988 Bush/
Quayle (R) Green tickY
1989 24R, 11D 40R, 25D
1990
1991 Gale Norton (R) 23R, 12D 38R, 27D Hank Brown (R)
1992 Clinton/
Gore (D) Green tickY
1993 19R, 16D 34R, 31D Ben Nighthorse
Campbell
(D)
4R, 2D
1994 Samuel H. Cassidy (D)
1995 Gail Schoettler (D) Victoria Buckley (R)[q] Bill Owens (R) 41R, 24D Ben Nighthorse
Campbell
(R)
1996 Dole/
Kemp (R) Red XN
1997 20R, 15D Wayne Allard (R)
1998
1999 Bill Owens (R) Joe Rogers (R) Ken Salazar (D) Mike Coffman (R) 21R, 14D 39R, 26D
Donetta Davidson (R)[r]
2000 Bush/
Cheney (R) Green tickY
2001 18D, 17R 38R, 27D
2002
2003 Jane E. Norton (R) 18R, 17D 37R, 28D 5R, 2D
2004
2005 John Suthers (R) 18D, 17R 35D, 30R Ken Salazar (D)[s] 4R, 3D
Gigi Dennis (R)[t] Mark Hillman (R)[t]
2006
Mike Coffman (R)[u]
2007 Bill Ritter (D) Barbara O'Brien (D) Mike Coffman (R)[v] Cary Kennedy (D) 20D, 15R 39D, 26R 4D, 3R
2008 Obama/
Biden (D) Green tickY
2009 Bernie Buescher (D)[t] 21D, 14R 38D, 27R Mark Udall (D) Michael Bennet (D)[r] 5D, 2R
2010
2011 John Hickenlooper (D) Joseph Garcia (D) Scott Gessler (R) Walker Stapleton (R) 20D, 15R 33R, 32D 4R, 3D
2012
2013 37D, 28R
2014 18D, 17R[w]
2015 Wayne W. Williams (R) Cynthia Coffman (R) 18R, 17D 34D, 31R Cory Gardner (R)
2016 Clinton/
Kaine (D) Red XN
Donna Lynne (D)
2017 37D, 28R
2018
2019 Jared Polis (D) Dianne Primavera (D) Jena Griswold (D) Phil Weiser (D) Dave Young (D) 19D, 16R 41D, 24R 4D, 3R
2020 Biden/
Harris (D) Green tickY
2021 20D, 15R John Hickenlooper (D)
2022 21D, 14R[x]
2023 23D, 12R 46D, 19R 5D, 3R
2024 [to be determined]
Year Governor Lieutenant
Governor
Secretary
of State
Attorney
General
Treasurer State Senate State House U.S. Senator
(Class II)
U.S. Senator
(Class III)
U.S. House Electoral votes
Executive offices General Assembly United States Congress
Key to party colors and abbreviations for members of the U.S. Congress and other politicians or officials
Alaskan Independence (AKIP)
American (Know Nothing) (KN)
American Labor (AL)
Anti-Jacksonian (Anti-J)
National Republican (NR)
Anti-Administration (AA)
Anti-Masonic (Anti-M)
Conservative (Con)
Democratic (D)
Democratic–Farmer–Labor (DFL)
Dixiecrat (Dix),
States' Rights (SR)
Democratic-Republican (DR)
Farmer–Labor (FL)
Federalist (F)
Pro-Administration (PA)
Free Soil (FS)
Fusion (Fus)
Greenback (GB)
Independence (IPM)
Independent Democrat (ID)
Independent Republican (IR)
Jacksonian (J)
Liberal (Lib)
Libertarian (L)
National Union (NU)
Nonpartisan League (NPL)
Democratic–Nonpartisan
League (D-NPL)
Nullifier (N)
Opposition Northern (O)
Opposition Southern (O)
Populist (Pop)
Progressive (Prog)
Prohibition (Proh)
Readjuster (Rea)
Republican (R)
Silver (Sv)
Silver Republican (SvR)
Socialist (Soc)
Unionist (U)
Unconditional Unionist (UU)
Vermont Progressive (VP)
Whig (W)
Independent (I)
Nonpartisan (NP)
  1. ^ The territory was formed on February 28, 1861, but no governor was appointed until March 25, 1861. Gilpin himself did not arrive in the territory until May 27, 1861. Removed from office for improper financial drafts from the federal treasury.
  2. ^ Resigned at the request, made July 18, 1865, of President Andrew Johnson following the Sand Creek massacre.
  3. ^ Removed from office by petition.
  4. ^ Records show Elbert served "less than a year", but his successor was appointed on June 19, 1874, which was 14 months after Elbert took office.
  5. ^ Position was filled by the U.S. Attorney due to lack of funding by the territorial government.
  6. ^ A coalition of Democrats and Populists elected a Democrat, Casimiro Barela, as President Pro Tempore and organized the chamber.[1]
  7. ^ A coalition of Democrats, Populists, Silver Republicans elected a Populist, Francis Patrick Carney, as President Pro Tempore and organized the chamber.[2]
  8. ^ A coalition of Democrats, Populists, Silver Republicans elected a Silver Republican, John R. Schermerhorn, as President Pro Tempore and organized the chamber.[3]
  9. ^ A coalition of Democrats, Populists, Silver Republicans elected a Silver Republican, William Grover Smith, as Speaker and organized the chamber.[4]
  10. ^ a b c The 1904 election was rife with fraud and controversy. Adams took office, but soon afterwards the Republican-majority state legislature declared James Peabody to be the actual winner, on the condition that Peabody immediately resign. Since Peabody had been governor for a few moments before resigning, it was his lieutenant governor, Jesse McDonald, that succeeded to the governorship. In all, Colorado had three governors on March 17, 1905.
  11. ^ Resigned to take elected seat in the United States Senate.
  12. ^ a b c As lieutenant governor, filled unexpired term.
  13. ^ Resigned to take a seat on the United States District Court for the District of Colorado.
  14. ^ Gubernatorial terms changed from two to four years during McNichols' term; his first term was two years, his second term was four years.
  15. ^ Resigned to become director of the Office of Energy Policy.
  16. ^ Entered office as a Republican but by 1990 had switched parties and become a Democrat.
  17. ^ Died in office on July 17, 1999.
  18. ^ a b Initially appointed to fill vacancy; later elected in their own right.
  19. ^ Resigned following appointment as United States Secretary of the Interior.
  20. ^ a b c Appointed to fill a vacancy.
  21. ^ Resigned in 2005 in order to re-join the United States Marine Corps, with whom he then served tour-of-duty in Iraq. Upon Coffman's resignation as treasurer, Governor Bill Owens appointed State Senator Mark Hillman to the office. Hillman served as treasurer until 2006, when Coffman returned from Iraq and was able to fulfill the duties of the office.
  22. ^ Elected in November 2008 to U.S. House representing Colorado's 6th congressional district.
  23. ^ Democrats Angela Giron (District 3) and John P. Morse (District 11) were recalled.[5]
  24. ^ State Sen. Kevin Priola (D-Henderson District 25) left the Republican Party to register as a Democrat on August 22, 2022.[6]

See also

References

  1. ^ Senate journal of the General Assembly of the State of Colorado. 1894. p. 16-17. Retrieved 2021-06-20 – via HathiTrust.
  2. ^ Senate journal of the General Assembly of the State of Colorado. 1897 AND EXTRA. p. 8. Retrieved 2021-06-20 – via HathiTrust.
  3. ^ Senate, Colorado General Assembly (1899). Senate Journal of the General Assembly of the State of Colorado. p. 8.
  4. ^ "House journal. 1899". HathiTrust. p. 6. Retrieved 2021-06-20.
  5. ^ Polls open for Colorado's first ever recall elections at 7 am Archived 2013-09-13 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ Frank, John (2022-08-22). "Colorado lawmaker exits GOP, switches to Democratic Party, citing Jan. 6 attack and Trump". Axios. Retrieved 2022-08-22.

Further reading

  • Martin, Curtis. “The 1962 Election in Colorado.” The Western Political Quarterly, vol. 16, no. 2, 1963, pp. 421–425.
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