Colorado's 35th Senate district

Colorado's 35th State Senate district
From 2022 onward From 2012 to 2022
Senator	Rod Pelton R – Cheyenne Wells
Registration	35.1%  Republican 31.7%  Democratic 31.8%  No party preference
Demographics	59%  White 1%  Black 37%  Hispanic 1%  Asian 1%  Native American 1% Other
Population (2018)	138,041 [1]
Registered voters	95,853 [2]

Colorado's 35th Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Colorado Senate. It has been represented by Republican Rod Pelton since 2023. Prior to redistricting the district was represented by Republicans Cleave Simpson and Larry Crowder. ^{[3] [4]}

Geography

District 35 covers a swath of Southeastern Colorado's plains towns, including all of Baca, Bent, Crowley, Custer, Huerfano, Kiowa, Las Animas, Otero, Prowers, and parts of southern Pueblo County. Communities in the district include Walsenburg, Silver Cliff, Colorado City, Trinidad, La Junta, Rocky Ford, Fowler, Ordway, Eads, Las Animas, Lamar, and Springfield. ^[5]

The district is split between Colorado's 3rd and 4th congressional districts, and overlaps with the 46th, 47th, 60th, 62nd, and 64th districts of the Colorado House of Representatives. ^[6] At over 26,000 square miles, it is the largest state legislative district in Colorado.

Recent election results

Colorado state senators are elected to staggered four-year terms. The old 35th district held elections in presidential years, but the new district drawn following the 2020 Census will hold elections in midterm years.

2022

The 2022 election will be the first one held under the state's new district lines. Incumbent Senator Cleave Simpson was redistricted to the 6th district, which won't be up until 2024; State Rep. Rod Pelton is running in the 35th district instead. ^[7]

2022 Colorado State Senate election, District 35 ^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rod Pelton	58,478	74.3
	Democratic	Travis Nelson	20,230	25.7
Total votes			78,708	100

Historical election results

2020

2020 Colorado State Senate election, District 35 ^[9]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Cleave Simpson	43,970	60.1
	Democratic	Carlos Lopez	29,163	39.9
Total votes			73,133	100
	Republican hold

2016

2016 Colorado State Senate election, District 35 ^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Larry Crowder (incumbent)	38,880	59.9
	Democratic	Jim Casias	23,358	36.0
	Libertarian	William Bartley	2,668	4.1
Total votes			64,906	100
	Republican hold

2012

2012 Colorado State Senate election, District 35 ^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Larry Crowder	31,117	49.2
	Democratic	Crestina Martinez	29,617	46.9
	Libertarian	William Bartley	2,461	3.9
Total votes			63,195	100
	Republican gain from new constituency

Federal and statewide results

Year	Office	Results [12]
2020	President	Trump 59.0 – 38.8%
2018	Governor	Stapleton 54.8 – 40.5%
2016	President	Trump 56.9 – 35.6%
2014	Senate	Gardner 55.4 – 37.7%
	Governor	Beauprez 53.9 – 40.5%
2012	President	Romney 52.0 – 45.5%

References

1. "State Senate District 35, CO". Census Reporter. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
2. "Total Registered Voters by State Senate District, Party, and Status" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
3. "Senator Cleave Simpson". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved March 21, 2021.
4. "Colorado State Senate District 35". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 5, 2020.
5. "Final Plans Approved by the Court". Colorado Redistricting - General Assembly. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
6. David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved May 8, 2020.
7. Evan Wyloge and Marianne Goodland (November 24, 2021). "With new state House and Senate maps, let the games begin". Colorado Politics. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
8. "2022 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
9. "2020 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 30, 2022.
10. "2016 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
11. "2012 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
12. "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved May 8, 2020.