With all the focus on John Hickenlooper’s multiple missteps one might think the Democrat’s U.S. Senate primary is the only race folks care about.
But Democrats will also be watching to see who their sacrificial lamb will be, once again, to take on U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton in the 3rd Congressional District.
Will it be Diane Mitsch Bush, again, who lost to Tipton in 2018 by eight percent? Or will it be newcomer James Iacino from the Front Range, who allegedly bought a house in the 3rd District and might actually live there, sometimes?
Tipton faces his own party primary challenge from Lauren Boebert, but he is expected to win that race.
There are 18 seats up for election in the state Senate where Democrats hold the majority 19 to 16.
The only open seat is District 23 currently held by term-limited Republican Vicki Marble, which stretches across Broomfield and into sections of Weld and Larimer counties.
Republicans hope to hold this seat and are choosing between former Weld County Commissioner Barbara Kirkmeyer and small business owner Rupert Parchment.
Democrats will also choose between Sally Boccella and Galina Nicoll to take on the Republican winner in November.
In state Senate District 31, incumbent Democrat state Sen. Chris Hansen faces challenger Maria E. Orms. Both are lefty Dems, but Orms claims she’s to the left of Hansen. The district covers central and southeastern Denver and parts of Arapahoe County, and is considered a safe seat for Democrats to hold.
State Senate District 8 is considered a safe Republican seat covering the northwest corner that includes Garfield, Grand, Jackson, Moffatt, Rio Blanco, Routt and Summit counties.
Republican incumbent Bob Rankin is being challenged by Debra Irvine of Breckenridge.
The winner will face one of the Democrat’s perennial candidate in the fall. Either Karl Hanlon, who lost the Democratic primary in 2018 to run against Tipton, or Eagle County Commissioner Arn Menconi, who also likes to run for Congress and lose.
Republican state House primary races to watch:
House District 22 between incumbent Rep. Colin Larson and challenger Justin Everett.
House District 30 between Kerrie Gutierrez and Cynthia M. Sarmiento.
House District 34 between Audrey Herman and Mark Bromley.
Democrat state House primaries to watch:
House District 6 between incumbent Steven Woodrow, Steven Paletz, or Dan Himelspach.
House District 38 between David Ortiz and Candice Ferguson.
House District 40 between John Ronquillo or Naquetta Ricks.
Also, there is a Republican primary for the University of Colorado Regents, Congressional District 6 seat between Richard Murray and Priscilla Rahn.