# Colorado's 6th congressional district

Colorado's 6th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. Located in central Colorado, the district encompasses much of the eastern part of the Denver metropolitan area, including all of Aurora, as well as portions of the southern Denver metro area (Centennial and Littleton).
The district is currently represented by Democrat Jason Crow.
The district was created in 1983 as a result of the redistricting cycle after the 1980 census, and was originally a classic suburban Republican bastion; this was once the safest seat for Colorado Republicans outside of Colorado Springs. However, changing demographics in the Front Range, especially in Arapahoe County which went from a traditional conservative suburban/exurban stronghold to a densely populated, ethnically and culturally diverse Democratic-leaning inner suburban county, has made these suburban areas much friendlier to Democrats. The 2010 redistricting shifted the more rural, GOP-dominated sections of the district to the nearby 4th and added heavily populated and Democratic parts of Aurora, turning the 6th district into a Democratic-leaning swing district. However, Republicans are still competitive downballot, and the Democratic strength was limited to western Arapahoe County for much of its history, as the components of Douglas County and Adams County in the 6th were still Republican leaning: this changed in 2020, as Joe Biden and Representative Jason Crow won all county areas in the district.
After 2020 redistricting, the 6th became a purely inner suburban district anchored in western Arapahoe County, although small parts of Jefferson, Douglas, and Adams Counties were included as well to completely take in the cities of Littleton and Aurora. A small portion of the City and County of Denver near Four Square Mile is also located in the district.

## History
### 1990s

Following the 1990 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 6th congressional district consisted of portions of Arapahoe and Jefferson counties.

### 2000s

Following the 2000 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 6th congressional district consisted of Douglas and Elbert counties as well as portions of Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Park counties.

### 2010s

During the 2010 Colorado Redistricting, the 6th congressional district lost most of its previous area; the district now consisted of the western portions of Arapahoe and Adams counties plus the community of Highlands Ranch in Douglas County and a very little part of Jefferson County.

### 2020s

During the 2020 Colorado Redistricting, the 6th congressional district became a pure inner-suburban district consisting of western Arapahoe County, the portions of the City of Aurora located in Adams and Douglas counties, as well as parts of Jefferson County bordering Littleton near Highway 470.

## Characteristics

Suburban in character, this ethnically and economically diverse district takes in Denver's southern and eastern suburbs and is now fairly Democratic, despite historically being a Republican district.
Aurora, a diverse city with 21% foreign-born residents makes up the base of the population: while the city generally votes to the left and is a suburban stronghold for Colorado Democrats, it also provided enough support for Republican Mike Coffman to hold the district for a decade.
The suburbs to Denver's south side in the district are a mixed bag - Greenwood Village and Cherry Hills Village have a large amount of registered Republicans, however the Republicans here are mainly economically conservative and much more moderate socially compared to the rest of the state. Centennial and Littleton have historically tended to vote Republican but have voted Democratic since 2016: Englewood and Sheridan, being closer socially and economically to nearby Denver are safe for the Democrats, however they do not make up a large part of the district's population.

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of the following counties and communities:
Adams County (1)
    Aurora (shared with Arapahoe and Douglas counties)
Arapahoe County (17)
    Aetna Estates, Aurora (shared with Adams and Douglas counties), Bennett (part; also 8th; shared with Adams County), Bow Mar (shared with Jefferson County), Centennial, Cherry Creek, Cherry Hills Village, Columbine (shared with Jefferson County), Columbine Valley, Dove Valley, Englewood, Four Square Mile, Foxfield, Greenwood Village, Inverness, Littleton (shared with Douglas and Jefferson counties), Sheridan
Denver County (1)
    Denver (part; also 1st)
Douglas County (2)
    Aurora (shared with Adams and Arapahoe counties), Littleton (shared with Douglas and Jefferson counties)
Jefferson County (5)
    Aurora (shared with Adams and Arapahoe counties), Bow Mar (shared with Arapahoe County), Columbine (shared with Arapahoe County), Ken Caryl, Littleton (shared with Arapahoe and Jefferson counties)

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | Obama 55% - 43% |
| 2008 | Senate | Udall 54% - 42% |
| 2010 | Senate | Bennet 49% - 46% |
| 2010 | Governor | Hickenlooper 52% - 8% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Suthers 57% - 43% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Gessler 50% - 44% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Kennedy 50.1% - 49.9% |
| 2012 | President | Obama 55% - 45% |
| 2014 | Senate | Udall 48% - 47% |
| 2016 | President | Clinton 52% - 39% |
| 2016 | Senate | Bennet 54% - 41% |
| 2018 | Governor | Polis 57% - 40% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Weiser 54% - 43% |
| 2020 | President | Biden 61% - 37% |
| 2020 | Senate | Hickenlooper 58% - 40% |
| 2022 | Senate | Bennet 60% - 38% |
| 2022 | Governor | Polis 63% - 35% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Weiser 58% - 39% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Griswold 59% - 39% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Young 58% - 39% |
| 2024 | President | Harris 58% - 39% |

## List of members representing the district

| Representative (Residency) | Party | Years | Cong ress(es) | Electoral history | District location |
| District created January 3, 1983 ||||||
| Vacant | Vacant | January 3, 1983 – March 29, 1983 | 98th | Representative-elect Jack Swigert died December 27, 1982. | 1983–1993 Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Jefferson |
| Daniel Schaefer (Lakewood) | Republican | March 29, 1983 – January 3, 1999 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th | Elected to finish Swigert's term. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Retired. | 1983–1993 Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Denver, and Jefferson |
| Daniel Schaefer (Lakewood) | Republican | March 29, 1983 – January 3, 1999 | 98th 99th 100th 101st 102nd 103rd 104th 105th | Elected to finish Swigert's term. Re-elected in 1984. Re-elected in 1986. Re-elected in 1988. Re-elected in 1990. Re-elected in 1992. Re-elected in 1994. Re-elected in 1996. Retired. | 1993–2003 Parts of Arapahoe and Jefferson |
| Tom Tancredo (Littleton) | Republican | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2009 | 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired. | 1993–2003 Parts of Arapahoe and Jefferson |
| Tom Tancredo (Littleton) | Republican | January 3, 1999 – January 3, 2009 | 106th 107th 108th 109th 110th | Elected in 1998. Re-elected in 2000. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Re-elected in 2006. Retired. | 2003–2013 Douglas and Elbert; parts of Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Park |
| Mike Coffman (Aurora) | Republican | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2003–2013 Douglas and Elbert; parts of Arapahoe, Jefferson, and Park |
| Mike Coffman (Aurora) | Republican | January 3, 2009 – January 3, 2019 | 111th 112th 113th 114th 115th | Elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Lost re-election. | 2013–2023 Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas |
| Jason Crow (Aurora) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – present | 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2013–2023 Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, and Douglas |
| Jason Crow (Aurora) | Democratic | January 3, 2019 – present | 116th 117th 118th 119th | Elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Re-elected in 2024. | 2023–present Parts of Adams, Arapahoe, Douglas, and Jefferson |

## Election results
### 1982

1982 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jack Swigert | 98,909 | 62.16% |
| | Democratic | Steve Hogan | 56,598 | 35.57% |
| | Libertarian | J. Craig Green | 3,605 | 2.27% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 159,112 | 100% |
| | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) | Republican win (new seat) |

### 1983 (Special)

1983 Colorado's 6th congressional district special election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer | 49,816 | 63.29% |
| | Democratic | Steve Hogan | 27,779 | 35.29% |
| | Concerns of People Party | John Heckman | 1,112 | 1.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 78,707 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1984

1984 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 171,427 | 89.40% |
| | Concerns of People Party | John Heckman | 20,333 | 10.60% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 191,760 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1986

1986 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 104,359 | 63.04% |
| | Democratic | Chuck Norris | 58,834 | 35.54% |
| | Concerns of People Party | John Heckman | 2,338 | 1.41% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 165,531 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1988

1988 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 136,487 | 63.03% |
| | Democratic | Martha Ezzard | 77,158 | 35.63% |
| | Concerns of People Party | John Heckman | 2,911 | 1.34% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 216,556 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1990

1990 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 105,312 | 64.50% |
| | Democratic | Don Jarrett | 57,961 | 35.50% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 163,273 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1992

1992 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 142,021 | 60.93% |
| | Democratic | Tom Kolbe | 91,073 | 39.07% |
| | Prohibition | Earl Higgerson (write-in) | 3 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 233,097 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1994

1994 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 124,079 | 69.82% |
| | Democratic | John Hallen | 49,701 | 27.97% |
| | Concerns of People Party | John Heckman | 2,536 | 1.43% |
| | Natural Law | Stephen D. Dawson | 1,393 | 0.78% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 177,709 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1996

1996 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Daniel Schaefer (incumbent) | 146,018 | 62.24% |
| | Democratic | Joan Fitz-Gerald | 88,600 | 37.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 234,618 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 1998

1998 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Tancredo | 111,374 | 55.91% |
| | Democratic | Henry L. Strauss | 82,622 | 41.48% |
| | Natural Law | George E. Newman | 5,152 | 2.59% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 199,188 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2000

2000 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Tancredo (incumbent) | 141,410 | 53.88% |
| | Democratic | Kenneth A. Toltz | 110,568 | 42.12% |
| | Libertarian | Adam David Katz | 6,882 | 2.62% |
| | Concerns of People Party | John Heckman | 3,614 | 1.38% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 262,477 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2002

2002 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Tancredo (incumbent) | 158,851 | 66.88% |
| | Democratic | Lance Wright | 71,327 | 30.03% |
| | Libertarian | Adam David Katz | 7,323 | 3.08% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 237,501 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2004

2004 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Tancredo (incumbent) | 212,778 | 59.48% |
| | Democratic | Joanna Conti | 139,870 | 39.10% |
| | Libertarian | Jack J. Woehr | 3,857 | 1.08% |
| | Constitution | Peter Shevchuck | 1,235 | 0.35% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 357,741 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

2006 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Tom Tancredo (incumbent) | 158,806 | 58.61% |
| | Democratic | Bill Winter | 108,007 | 39.87% |
| | Libertarian | Jack J. Woehr | 4,093 | 1.51% |
| | Republican | Juan B. Botero (write-in) | 25 | 0.01% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 270,931 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2008
#### Republican primary

2008 Republican primary in Colorado's 6th congressional district :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman | 28,509 | 40.12% |
| | Republican | Wil Armstrong | 23,213 | 32.67% |
| | Republican | Ted Harvey | 10,886 | 15.32% |
| | Republican | Steve Ward | 8,452 | 11.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 71,060 | 100% |

#### General election

2008 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman | 250,877 | 60.67% |
| | Democratic | Hank Eng | 162,641 | 39.33% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 413,516 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2010

2010 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman (incumbent) | 217,400 | 65.67% |
| | Democratic | John Flerlage | 104,159 | 31.46% |
| | Libertarian | Rob McNealy | 9,471 | 2.86% |
| | Write-in | Michael Shawn Kearns | 7 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 331,037 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2012

2012 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman (incumbent) | 163,938 | 47.81% |
| | Democratic | Joe Miklosi | 156,937 | 45.77% |
| | Libertarian | Patrick E. Provost | 8,597 | 2.51% |
| | UNA | Kathy Polhemus | 13,442 | 3.92% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 342,914 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

2014 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman (incumbent) | 143,467 | 51.90% |
| | Democratic | Andrew Romanoff | 118,847 | 42.99% |
| | Libertarian | Norm Olsen | 8,623 | 3.12% |
| | Green | Gary Swing | 5,503 | 1.99% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 276,440 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

2016 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman (incumbent) | 191,626 | 50.91% |
| | Democratic | Morgan Carroll | 160,372 | 42.60% |
| | Libertarian | Norm Olsen | 18,778 | 4.99% |
| | Green | Robert Lee Worthey | 5,641 | 1.50% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 376,417 | 100% |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018

2018 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jason Crow | 184,399 | 54.08% |
| | Republican | Mike Coffman (incumbent) | 146,339 | 42.92% |
| | Libertarian | Kat Martin | 5,733 | 1.68% |
| | Independent | Dan Chapin | 4,512 | 1.32% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 340,983 | 100% |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2020

2020 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jason Crow (incumbent) | 250,314 | 57.09% |
| | Republican | Steve House | 175,192 | 39.96% |
| | Libertarian | Norm Olsen | 9,083 | 2.07% |
| | Unity | Jaimie Kulikowski | 3,884 | 0.89% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 438,473 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2022

2022 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jason Crow (incumbent) | 170,140 | 60.06% |
| | Republican | Steve Monahan | 105,084 | 37.04% |
| | Libertarian | Eric Mulder | 5,531 | 2.0% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 280,755 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2024

2024 United States House of Representatives elections :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Jason Crow (incumbent) | 202,686 | 58.97% |
| | Republican | John Fabbricatore | 132,174 | 38.45% |
| | Libertarian | John Kittleson | 4,832 | 1.41% |
| | Approval Voting | Travis Nicks | 4,004 | 1.16% |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 25 | 0.00% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 343,721 | 100% |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |