Primary elections were held on Tuesday in Colorado. Results below are for statewide and federal contests. Full context about women in the 2026 elections, including candidate lists, summaries, and historical comparisons, is available via the Center for American Women and Politics’ (CAWP) Election Watch.
LAST UPDATE: 7/1/2026 at 9:45AM ET
Toplines
Colorado
U.S. House
- Women are 7 of 16 (43.8%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Colorado, including 4 of 8 (50%) Democrats and 3 of 8 (37.5%) Republicans.
- Attorney Melat Kiros (D) defeated incumbent Congresswoman Diana DeGette (D) for the Democratic nomination in Colorado’s First Congressional District. If elected, she will be the first Black woman to represent Colorado in Congress. She will face Christy Peterson (R) in an all-women race that is currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report. Find more information about all-women general election contests, in 2026 and historically, here.
- With DeGette’s loss, at least 17 (12D, 5R) women incumbents will leave the U.S. House at the end of this term, including 7 (6D, 1R) women who are retiring, 8 (4D, 4R) women who are running/ran for other offices, and 2 (2D) women who have lost their primary elections.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
- Women are 2 of 7 (28.6%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Colorado, both of whom are Democrats. Women are 2 of 4 (50%) Democrats and 0 of 3 (0%) Republicans. State Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) is in a race that is too close to call for the Republican nomination for governor. The race is currently rated as “Solid Democrat” by Cook Political Report.
- Current Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) won the Democratic nomination for attorney general.
- Jefferson County Clerk Amanda Gonzales (D) won the Democratic nomination for secretary of state. If elected, she would be the first Latina to serve in statewide elective executive office in Colorado.
Colorado
0
7 (4D, 3R)
2 (2D)
U.S. Senate
Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 7 of 16 (43.8%) major-party nominees for U.S. House in Colorado, including 4 of 8 (50%) Democrats and 3 of 8 (37.5%) Republicans.
The number of women major-party nominees for the U.S. House exceeds the previous high (6), first set in 2022. Four (3D, 1R) women House candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 7 (4D, 3R) women nominees for U.S. House in Colorado: 2 (1D, 1R) are incumbents, 3 (2D, 1R) are challengers, and 2 (1D, 1R) are running for open seats.
|
District |
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
Current Cook Political Report Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1 |
Melat Kiros |
D |
Open |
Black |
Solid Democrat |
|
1 |
Christy Peterson |
R |
Open |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
2 |
Kelley Dennison |
R |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Democrat |
|
4 |
Eileen Laubacher |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
4 |
Lauren Boebert |
R |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Republican |
|
5 |
Jessica Killin |
D |
Challenger |
White |
Likely Republican |
|
7 |
Brittany Pettersen |
D |
Incumbent |
White |
Solid Democrat |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 3 of 8 (37.5%) seats in the Colorado delegation to the U.S. House. Seven (5D, 2R) women have served in the U.S. House from Colorado.
Women Candidates in 2026: Eleven (7D, 4R) women filed as candidates for U.S. House seats in Colorado in 2026. This matches the record high. They were 11 of 24 (45.8%) total major-party candidates for U.S. House in 2026.
Milestones to Watch in 2026:
- No Black woman has served in Congress from Colorado.
Statewide Elective Executive Office
Women Nominees in 2026: Based on primary election results, women are 2 of 7 (28.6%) major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office in Colorado, including 2 of 4 (50%) Democrats and 0 of 3 (0%) Republicans. State Senator Barbara Kirkmeyer (R) is in a race that is too close to call for the Republican nomination for governor.
The number of women major-party nominees for statewide elective executive office falls short of the previous high (4). Two (2D) women statewide executive candidates were unsuccessful. Of the 2 (2D) women nominees for statewide elective executive office in Colorado, both are running for open seats.
|
Office |
Woman Nominee |
Party |
Seat Status |
Race/Ethnicity |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Secretary of State |
Amanda Gonzales |
D |
Open Seat |
Latina |
|
Attorney General |
Jena Griswold |
D |
Open Seat |
White |
Current/Historic Women’s Representation: Women currently hold 2 of 5 (40%) statewide elective executive offices in Colorado. Twenty-six (9D, 13R, 4NP) women have served in statewide elective executive offices in Colorado. This includes 1 (1D) woman who served in more than one statewide elective executive office.
- Incumbent Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera (D) is not running for re-election due to term limits.
- Incumbent Secretary of State Jena Griswold (D) is not running for re-election due to term limits. Instead, she is a candidate for attorney general.
Women Candidates in 2026: Five (4D, 1R) women filed as candidates for statewide elective executive office in Colorado in 2026. This matches the record high. They were 5 of 16 (31.3%) total major-party candidates for statewide elective executive office in 2026.
Milestones to Watch in 2026:
- No woman has served as governor in Colorado.
- No Democratic woman has served as attorney general in Colorado.
- No Latina has served in statewide elective executive office in Colorado.
