Colorado Republican Greg Lopez Heads to U.S. House for Remainder of 2024
The special election was called following the resignation of U.S. Representative Ken Buck (R).
The special election occurred today in Colorado to fill a vacancy in the U.S. House of Representatives. This was the fifth special election in 2024 for the lower legislative chamber in the U.S. Congress. The Democratic and Republican candidates were selected by local party leaders.
The special election for Colorado’s 4th Congressional District was called following the resignation of U.S. Representative Ken Buck, a Republican. He represented this district from January 2015 to March 2024.
Republican Greg Lopez has been declared the winner of the special election. The race was called in his favor as he’s currently leading with 58.3% against Democrat Trisha Calvarese with 34.5%, Libertarian Hannah Goodman with 5.3%, and Independent Frank Atwood with 1.9%. 168,656 votes have been counted.
Lopez previously served as the Mayor of Parker, Colorado. He sought the Republican nomination for Governor of Colorado in 2018 and 2022 - losing in the primary both times.
Calvarese previously served as Director of Speechwriting and Publications at AFL-CIO from August 2021 to February 2022. From February 2022 to January 2024, she worked as a writer at the National Science Foundation. In 2018, she was the campaign manager for Democrat Bibiana Boerio’s unsuccessful run for Pennsylvania’s 14th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
Today’s special election covers the remaining months of Buck’s current unexpired term to the U.S. House - which concludes in early January 2025. The primary for the regular term up this year also occurred today. Notably, Lopez didn’t seek a full-term in the House. He pledged only to be a filler to provide the district’s constituents with a voice for the remaining months of 2024. Calvarese ran in the special election and the Democratic primary.
Colorado’s 4th Congressional District covers the state’s Eastern Plains - taking in the Denver exurbs of Highlands Ranch, Loveland and Castle Rock. It has the strongest Republican advantage amongst any seat in the state’s congressional delegation.
Once Lopez is sworn in, the U.S. House of Representatives will feature 220 Republicans and 213 Democrats. The chamber has two additional vacancies, which will be filled by special elections later this year. Moreover, all 435 seats will be up for regular two-year terms in November 2024.