By the Numbers, Part 2: Federal Elections

Look for an analysis post on September 25 for more details on registered voters and recent district performance for all 8 federal races.

Found here.

There are 8 federal races in Colorado this year—one in each of our 7 Congressional Districts and a statewide U.S. Senate race.  There are 29 total candidates across 5 parties.  Each race has at least a Democratic candidate and a Republican candidate.  3 races (in CDs 2, 5, and 7) are straight-up votes between Republican and Democratic candidates only. (Figure 1)

Figure 1: Federal Candidates

Republican candidates have raised a total of over $11,000,000 for federal races in Colorado (Figure 2) and spent just under $5,000,000 so far (Figure 3).  Numbers are current as of the July 15 reporting period.  The next report will not be until October.

Figure 2: Republican Contributions

Figure 3: Republican Expenditures

Democratic candidates have raised a total of over $17,500,000 for federal races in Colorado (Figure 4) and spent just under $9,000,000 so far (Figure 5).  Numbers are current as of the July 15 reporting period.  The next report will not be until October.

Figure 4: Democratic Contributions

Figure 5: Democratic Expenditures

Historically, Colorado is not the red state, at least federally, that everyone seems to think it once was. Since 1876, Colorado has only had Republican Representation in the districts up for election in 2014 51.56% of the time--barely over half. (Figure 6)

Figure 6: Historic Federal Performance

Please note: there were two at-large districts at various times before 1914, which were represented by Republicans 73.33% of the time they were around.  Please also note that in CD1 (once) and CD2 (five times), Populists Representatives were elected.