The district was represented from 1987 to 1993 by Ben Nighthorse Campbell before he ran for the U.S. Senate and switched parties from Democratic to Republican. The district's former representative Scott Tipton lost renomination in 2020 to Lauren Boebert in what was considered a major upset.[4] Boebert won the general election on November 3, 2020, and narrowly won re-election in the closest House race of 2022.
The district is mainly rural and leans Republican, though not as much as the neighboring 4th district. However, the Democrats have a strong base in counties on the I-70 corridor and Pueblo, as well as ski towns such as Aspen, thus keeping the seat competitive.
Following the 2010 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district underwent very little change, and continued to cover 27 of the previous counties, excluding Las Animas and Otero counties.[5]
The district has two major population centers, in Grand Junction and Pueblo. The two cities and their surrounding rural areas provide a competitive arena for congressional races. Grand Junction, on the Western Slope, is a Republican stronghold, while Pueblo, a town with a large Latino population and (by Colorado norms) a heavily unionized workforce, provides a base of support for Democrats.
The district is red-leaning, and it covers nearly half of Colorado's land mass, including western and southern Colorado, and 29 of the state's 64 counties. It's also diverse, with wealthy ski towns like Aspen, giant swaths of agricultural land and public lands, and middle-class cities like Grand Junction and Pueblo.[6]
Martis, Kenneth C. (1989). The Historical Atlas of Political Parties in the United States Congress. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Martis, Kenneth C. (1982). The Historical Atlas of United States Congressional Districts. New York: Macmillan Publishing Company.
Congressional Biographical Directory of the United States 1774–present
^"Congressional Districts Relationship Files (State-based)". U.S. Census Bureau. Archived from the original on April 2, 2013.
^ a bCenter for New Media & Promotion (CNMP), US Census Bureau. "My Congressional District". www.census.gov.
^"2022 Cook PVI: District Map and List". Cook Political Report. Retrieved January 10, 2023.
^Panetta, Grace. "GOP Congressman Scott Tipton was defeated by right-wing primary challenger Lauren Boebert in Colorado's 3rd congressional district". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 1, 2020. Retrieved July 1, 2020.
^"Colorado Legislative District Information: Congressional District 3" (PDF). Colorado Redistricting.gov. Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission. Retrieved March 17, 2022.
^Burness, Alex (November 3, 2020). "Colorado's 3rd Congressional District: Lauren Boebert defeats Diane Mitsch Bush". The Denver Post. Retrieved January 30, 2023.
^"Our Campaigns - CO District 3 Race - Nov 03, 1914". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^"Our Campaigns - CO District 3 Race - Nov 07, 1916". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^"Our Campaigns - CO District 3 Race - Nov 05, 1918". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^"1920 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1922 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1924 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1926 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1928 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1930 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1932 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1934 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1936 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1938 Election Results" (PDF).
^"Our Campaigns - CO District 3 - Special Election Race - Nov 05, 1940". www.ourcampaigns.com.
^"1940 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1942 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1944 Election Results" (PDF).
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^"1948 Election Results" (PDF).
^"1950 Election Results" (PDF).
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^"1968 Election Results" (PDF).
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^"1972 Election Results" (PDF).
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^"1982 Election Results" (PDF).
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^"1990 Election Results" (PDF).
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^"1998 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2000 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2002 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2004 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2006 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2008 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2010 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2012 Election Results" (PDF).
^"2014 Election Results". Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
^"2016 Election Results". Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 20, 2017.
^"2018 Colorado general election results". Retrieved June 21, 2019.
^Kim, Cailyn. Lauren Boebert Wins In Colorado's 3rd Congressional District, Colorado Public Radio, November 4, 2020. Retrieved November 7, 2020.
^"Representative to the 118th United States Congress - District 3". Colorado Secretary of State. November 26, 2022. Retrieved November 26, 2022.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Colorado's 3rd congressional district.