What’s on the ballot in Colorado’s primaries
Colorado is 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 also 83 legislative seats up for election this year in Colorado—18 in the Senate and 65 in the House.
Three primary elections will be held for the Colorado State Board of Regents, and four primary elections will be held for the Colorado State Board of Education. We’re also covering municipal elections in Denver, Adams County, Arapahoe County, and El Paso County.
Fifty-three members of Congress have announced retirement so far this year, compared to 55 at this point in 2022
Fifty-three members of Congress—eight senators and 45 representatives—have announced they will not seek re-election this year. Since our May 22 update on congressional incumbents not seeking re-election, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.) announced his retirement from the House.
In 2018, 55 incumbents retired from Congress. In the two election years following 2018, the total number of retirements decreased to 39 in 2020, then increased to 55 in 2022.
Republican state legislative incumbents have lost at a higher rate than Democrats
In the 22 states that have held state legislative primaries so far this year, Republican incumbents have lost at a higher rate than Democrats. Of the 1,509 Republican incumbents who ran for re-election, 77 (5.1%) have lost to primary challengers, less than the 6.2% of Republican incumbents defeated in 2022. For Democrats, 16 of the 927 who ran for re-election (1.7%) have lost. That’s also less than the 3% of Democratic incumbents defeated in 2022.
The top (and bottom) incumbent fundraisers in the U.S. House
On Friday, we looked at the top five and bottom five incumbent fundraisers running for re-election in the U.S. House. These figures are for the 2024 election cycle and are based on Federal Election Commission (FEC) data as of June 5.
Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.), Steve Scalise (R-La.), Mike Johnson (R-La.), and Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) are the top five incumbent fundraisers in the U.S. House. Collectively, these five incumbents have raised a little over $53 million in the 2023-2024 election cycle.
Frederica Wilson (D-Fla.), Josh Brecheen (R-Okla.), Al Green (D-Texas), Andy Ogles (R-Tenn.), and Scott DesJarlais (R-Tenn.) are all ranked at the bottom of incumbent fundraisers in the U.S. House. Collectively, these five incumbents have raised $953,303.03 in the 2023-2024 election cycle.