Colorado's 5th congressional district election, 2006

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The Colorado 5th congressional district election, 2006 was an election for the United States House of Representatives. It was an open seat as incumbent Joel Hefley (R) did not run for re-election. A bitterly fought Republican primary on August 8, 2006 was won by Republican State Senator Doug Lamborn. The Democratic nominee, Jay Fawcett, a retired Air Force lieutenant colonel who served in the 1991 Iraq War, had no primary opposition.

Election process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office

An election is a formal group decision-making process by which a population chooses an individual to hold public office. Elections have been the usual mechanism by which modern representative democracy has operated since the 17th century. Elections may fill offices in the legislature, sometimes in the executive and judiciary, and for regional and local government. This process is also used in many other private and business organizations, from clubs to voluntary associations and corporations.

United States House of Representatives lower house of the United States Congress

The United States House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they comprise the legislature of the United States.

Joel Hefley American politician

Joel Maurice Hefley is an American Republican politician who served as a member of the United States House of Representatives representing the 5th Congressional District of Colorado from 1987 to 2007. His wife, Dr. Lynn Hefley, is, like him, a former member of the Colorado State House of Representatives. They have three daughters.

Contents

In the November 7, 2006 general election, this race ordinarily would be considered a safe Republican seat, as the south-central Colorado district (which included Colorado Springs) gave President Bush 66 percent of the vote in 2004. But because of a contentious primary and other reasons, the race has become somewhat competitive. In early October, CQPolitics.com rated it as Republican Favored. [1]

Colorado Springs, Colorado Home rule municipality in Colorado, United States

Colorado Springs is a home rule municipality that is the largest city by area in Colorado as well as the county seat and the most populous municipality of El Paso County, Colorado, United States. Colorado Springs is located in the east central portion of the state. It is situated on Fountain Creek and is located 60 miles (97 km) south of the Colorado State Capitol in Denver.

Hefley retirement

On February 16, 2006, Hefley ended speculation as to whether he would seek re-election in 2006, instead retiring after 10 terms in Congress. He retired as the longest-serving member of Colorado's Congressional Delegation at the time. [2]

Democratic primary results

2006 Democratic Primary Congressional Election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Jay Fawcett 10,238100

Republican primary results

2006 Republican Primary Congressional Election [3]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Doug Lamborn 15,12626.97
Republican Jeff Crank 14,23425.38
Republican Bentley Rayburn 9,73517.36
Republican Lionel Rivera 7,21312.86
Republican John Wesley Anderson6,47411.54
Republican Duncan Bremer3,3105.90

General election

On the Republican side, there were six candidates in the primary, including Hefley's former aide, Jeff Crank. The eventual winner, Doug Lamborn, was backed by the conservative Club for Growth. [4] Jay Fawcett was unopposed in his Democratic primary. He received 10,238 votes in the primary.

Jeff Crank American politician

Jeffrey George Crank is an American politician. He is a former candidate for United States Representative for Colorado's 5th congressional district.

Club for Growth American political advocacy group

The Club for Growth is a 501(c)(4) conservative organization active in the United States, with an agenda focused on cutting taxes and other economic issues. The Club has two political arms: an affiliated traditional political action committee, called the Club for Growth PAC, and Club for Growth Action, an independent-expenditure only committee or Super-PAC.

On August 29, 2006, Hefley expressed anger that his successor was not his top aide, Jeff Crank. Commenting on the primary campaign, Hefley said, "I spent eight years trying to get rid of the sleaze factor in Congress. ... It's not something I can do to help put more sleaze factor in Congress." [5] Hefley was incensed at tactics such as a mailed brochure from the Christian Coalition of Colorado associating Crank with "public support for members and efforts of the homosexual agenda." Hefley said that he "suspected, but couldn't prove, collusion between Lamborn's campaign, which is managed by Jon Hotaling, and the Christian Coalition of Colorado, which is run by Hotaling's brother, Mark." [6] Hefley called it "one of the sleaziest, most dishonest campaigns I've seen in a long time," [6] and refused to endorse Lamborn.

General election candidates

Doug Lamborn American politician

Douglas L. Lamborn is the U.S. Representative for Colorado's 5th congressional district, in office since 2007. He is a member of the Republican Party. His district is based in Colorado Springs.

Polls and ratings

In early October, CQPolitics.com changed their rating of this race from Safe Republican to Leans Republican [1]

A Mason-Dixon poll showed this race to be a tossup, with Fawcett and Lamborn both receiving 37% support. [8]

Polling

SourceDateFawcett (D)Lamborn (R)UndecidedMargin of error
Mason-Dixon [ permanent dead link ]November 1, 200640%47%5%
9NEWS/SurveyUSA October 19, 200638%51%12%
Mason-Dixon [ permanent dead link ]October 3, 200637%37%

Results

United States House of Representatives elections, 2006 [9]
PartyCandidateVotes%
Republican Doug Lamborn 123,26459.62
Democratic Jay Fawcett83,43140.35
Republican Richard D. Hand (as a write-in)410.02
Democratic Brian X. Scott (as a write-in)120.01
Republican Gregory S. Hollister (as a write-in)80.00
Total votes206,756100.0
Republican hold

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References

  1. 1 2 Greg Giroux (October 2, 2006). "Colorado Roundup: 5th District No Longer Safe for GOP". Archived from the original on October 27, 2006.
  2. ↑ Sprengelmeyer, M.E. (2006-02-17). "Hefley calls it a career". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  3. ↑ 2006 Primary Results
  4. ↑ "Primary Elections (August 2006)". Colorado Cumulative Report: Official Results: Primary Election. Archived from the original on 2006-08-30.
  5. ↑ Anne C. Mulkern and Erin Emery (2006-09-06). "Hefley slams 5th District GOP hopeful". Denver Post.
  6. 1 2 Foster, Dick (2006-09-08). "Hefley denies damage: Refusal to support Lamborn won't hurt GOP, he says". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on 2006-10-12. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
  7. ↑ Official Candidate list for Nov 7 2006 General Election, Colorado
  8. ↑ "Image Viewer". Denver Post.[ permanent dead link ]
  9. ↑ 2006 Election Results
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