# 2020 Colorado Senate election

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The 2020 Colorado Senate elections took place on November 3, 2020, with the primary elections held on June 30, 2020. Voters in 18 out of 35 districts of the state Senate elected their representative for a four-year term. It coincided with the state House elections and the biennial United States elections. The Democratic Party retained control of the Senate, winning 20 seats, and increased their majority by one, gaining the 27th district from the Republican Party.

## Background

In the previous state Senate election (2018), the Democrats claimed control of the chamber from the Republicans, gaining two Republican seats and one independent (formerly Democratic senator) seat. That resulted in a 19-seat Democratic majority. Therefore, for Democrats to have lost their absolute majority in the Senate in this election, Republicans and other parties would have needed to gain at least two more seats.

## Incumbents not seeking re-election
### Term-limited incumbents

One Democratic and three Republican incumbents are term-limited and prohibited from seeking a consecutive third term.
* Owen Hill (R), District 10
* Vicki Marble (R), District 23
* Nancy Todd (D), District 28
* Larry Crowder (R), District 35

### Retiring incumbents

* Mike Foote (D), District 17
* Jack Tate (R), District 27
* Angela Williams (D), District 33

## Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| The Cook Political Report | Likely D | October 21, 2020 |

## Results

* Districts not shown would not be up for election until 2022.
| District | Incumbent | Party | Elected | Party |
| 4 | Jim Smallwood | Rep | Jim Smallwood | Rep |
| 8 | Bob Rankin | Rep | Bob Rankin | Rep |
| 10 | Owen Hill | Rep | Larry Liston | Rep |
| 12 | Bob Gardner | Rep | Bob Gardner | Rep |
| 14 | Joann Ginal | Dem | Joann Ginal | Dem |
| 17 | Mike Foote | Dem | Sonya Jaquez Lewis | Dem |
| 18 | Steve Fenberg | Dem | Steve Fenberg | Dem |
| 19 | Rachel Zenzinger | Dem | Rachel Zenzinger | Dem |
| 21 | Dominick Moreno | Dem | Dominick Moreno | Dem |
| 23 | Vicki Marble | Rep | Barbara Kirkmeyer | Rep |
| 25 | Kevin Priola | Rep | Kevin Priola | Rep |
| 26 | Jeff Bridges | Dem | Jeff Bridges | Dem |
| 27 | Jack Tate | Rep | Chris Kolker | Dem |
| 28 | Nancy Todd | Dem | Janet Buckner | Dem |
| 29 | Rhonda Fields | Dem | Rhonda Fields | Dem |
| 31 | Chris Hansen | Dem | Chris Hansen | Dem |
| 33 | Angela Williams | Dem | James Coleman | Dem |
| 35 | Larry Crowder | Rep | Cleave Simpson Jr. | Rep |
Bold - Gain Italics - Hold, new member

## Closest races

Seats where the margin of victory was under 10%:
* District 8, 1.16%
* District 25, 1.68%

## Detailed results
### District 4

4th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Elissa Flaumenhaft | 19,997 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,997 | 100.0 |
4th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Smallwood (incumbent) | 26,061 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,061 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 4th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Smallwood (incumbent) | 73,832 | 62.27 |
| | Democratic | Elissa Flaumenhaft | 41,526 | 35.02 |
| | Libertarian | Wayne Harlos | 3,208 | 2.71 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 118,566 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 8

8th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Karl Hanlon | 10,847 | 55.82 |
| | Democratic | Arn Menconi | 8,584 | 44.18 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 19,431 | 100.0 |
8th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Rankin (incumbent) | 11,805 | 63.20 |
| | Republican | Debra Irvine | 6,873 | 36.80 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 18,678 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 8th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Rankin (incumbent) | 42,701 | 50.58 |
| | Democratic | Karl Hanlon | 41,717 | 49.42 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,418 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 10

10th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Randi McCallian | 14,822 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,822 | 100.0 |
10th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Liston | 20,258 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,258 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 10th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Larry Liston | 47,463 | 56.37 |
| | Democratic | Randi McCallian | 32,114 | 38.14 |
| | Libertarian | Heather Johnson | 4,620 | 5.49 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 84,197 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 12

12th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Electra Johnson | 13,355 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,355 | 100.0 |
12th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Gardner (incumbent) | 17,947 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,947 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 12th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Gardner (incumbent) | 45,808 | 58.35 |
| | Democratic | Electra Johnson | 29,656 | 37.77 |
| | Libertarian | Zechariah L. Harris | 3,048 | 3.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,512 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 14

14th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joann Ginal (incumbent) | 29,452 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,452 | 100.0 |
14th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Hans D. Hochheimer | 10,555 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,555 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 14th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Joann Ginal (incumbent) | 63,409 | 66.65 |
| | Republican | Hans D. Hochheimer | 31,724 | 33.35 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 95,133 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 17

17th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sonya Jaquez Lewis | 36,163 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 36,163 | 100.0 |
17th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Matthew D. Menza | 10,009 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 10,009 | 100.0 |
17th District general election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sonya Jaquez Lewis | 65,226 | 67.89 |
| | Republican | Matthew D. Menza | 30,848 | 32.11 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,074 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 18

18th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Fenberg (incumbent) | 40,036 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,036 | 100.0 |
18th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Peg Cage | 4,673 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 4,673 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 18th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Steve Fenberg (incumbent) | 75,261 | 82.90 |
| | Republican | Peg Cage | 15,524 | 17.10 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 90,785 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 19

19th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rachel Zenzinger (incumbent) | 27,598 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,598 | 100.0 |
19th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Lynn Gerber | 13,926 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 13,926 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 19th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rachel Zenzinger (incumbent) | 54,694 | 59.17 |
| | Republican | Lynn Gerber | 37,740 | 40.83 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 92,434 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 21

21st District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dominick Moreno (incumbent) | 16,154 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 16,154 | 100.0 |
21st District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Martín Mendez | 6,320 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,320 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 21st District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Dominick Moreno (incumbent) | 41,438 | 63.55 |
| | Republican | Martín Mendez | 23,769 | 36.45 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 65,207 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 23

23rd District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Sally Boccella | 16,649 | 55.60 |
| | Democratic | Galina Nicoll | 13,295 | 44.40 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 29,944 | 100.0 |
23rd District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Kirkmeyer | 15,209 | 55.24 |
| | Republican | Rupert Parchment | 12,326 | 44.76 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,535 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 23rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Barbara Kirkmeyer | 71,570 | 55.14 |
| | Democratic | Sally Boccella | 58,227 | 44.86 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 129,797 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 25

25th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Paula Dickerson | 15,477 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,477 | 100.0 |
25th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 11,135 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,135 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 25th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Kevin Priola (incumbent) | 37,195 | 50.84 |
| | Democratic | Paula Dickerson | 35,968 | 49.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 73,163 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### District 26

26th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeff Bridges (incumbent) | 27,578 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 27,578 | 100.0 |
26th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Bob Roth | 12,142 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 12,142 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 26th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jeff Bridges (incumbent) | 54,275 | 60.56 |
| | Republican | Bob Roth | 32,984 | 36.80 |
| | Libertarian | Marc Solomon | 2,366 | 2.64 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 89,625 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 27

27th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chris Kolker | 26,173 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 26,173 | 100.0 |
27th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Suzanne Staiert | 14,638 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 14,638 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 27th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chris Kolker | 51,005 | 55.30 |
| | Republican | Suzanne Staiert | 41,222 | 44.70 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 92,227 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### District 28

28th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Buckner | 24,483 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 24,483 | 100.0 |
28th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Karl Stecher | 11,157 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 11,157 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 28th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Janet Buckner | 51,028 | 61.92 |
| | Republican | Karl Stecher | 31,387 | 38.08 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 82,415 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 29

29th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rhonda Fields (incumbent) | 20,226 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 20,226 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 29th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Rhonda Fields (incumbent) | 45,828 | 68.66 |
| | Libertarian | Michele Poague | 20,914 | 31.34 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 66,742 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 31

31st District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chris Hansen (incumbent) | 24,439 | 52.72 |
| | Democratic | Maria E. Orms | 21,916 | 47.28 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 46,355 | 100.0 |
31st District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Doug Townsend | 6,762 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 6,762 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 31st District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Chris Hansen (incumbent) | 74,288 | 76.70 |
| | Republican | Doug Townsend | 22,562 | 23.30 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 96,850 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 33

33rd District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Coleman | 40,537 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 40,537 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 33rd District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | James Coleman | 75,702 | 91.01 |
| | Unity | Jerry Burton | 7,482 | 8.99 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 83,184 | 100.0 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### District 35

35th District Democratic primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Carlos R. Lopez | 15,609 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 15,609 | 100.0 |
35th District Republican primary :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cleave Simpson | 17,504 | 100.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 17,504 | 100.0 |
2020 Colorado Senate election, 35th District :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Cleave Simpson | 43,970 | 60.12 |
| | Democratic | Carlos R. Lopez | 29,163 | 39.88 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 73,133 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |