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Colorado House of Representatives District 4

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Colorado House of Representatives District 4
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 8, 2025

Colorado House of Representatives District 4 is represented by Cecelia Espenoza (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Colorado state representatives represented an average of 88,956 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 77,614 residents.

About the office

Members of the Colorado House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits.[1] Colorado legislators assume office on the first day of the legislative session after their election. The legislative session must begin no later than 10:00 AM on the second Wednesday of January.[2] The state constitution requires the newly elected governor, lieutenant governor, attorney general, treasurer, and secretary of state to take office on the second Tuesday of January.[3] In the year after those offices are elected, the legislative session must begin before the second Tuesday of January to declare the winners of those races.[4][5]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 5, Section 4 of the Colorado Constitution states:[6]

No person shall be a representative or senator who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years, who shall not be a citizen of the United States, and who shall not for at least twelve months next preceding his election, have resided within the territory included in the limits of the district in which he shall be chosen.[7]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[8]
SalaryPer diem
$43,977/year for legislators whose terms began in 2023. $41,449/year for legislators whose terms began in 2021.For legislators residing within 50 miles of the capitol: $45/day. For legislators living more than 50 miles from the capitol: $237/day.

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Colorado General Assembly is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Colorado Term Limits Act in 1990. That initiative said that Colorado representatives are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms.[9]


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Colorado General Assembly , a vacancy committee selects a replacement. The committee consists of members of the same political party that previously held the seat, including any county commissioners from that party who live in the district.

Depending on when the vacancy occurs, the replacement must stand for election either in the next general election or in a special election. These vacancy elections are limited to voters registered with the same political party as the previous officeholder and to unaffiliated voters.

  • If the vacancy occurs in an even-numbered year, before July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and runs in the regularly scheduled general election that year.
  • If the vacancy occurs in an even-numbered year, after July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and must run in a special vacancy election held in November of the following odd-numbered year.
  • If the vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year, before July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and runs in a special vacancy election that same November.
  • If the vacancy occurs in an odd-numbered year, after July 31: The appointee is selected by the committee and runs in the next general election, which occurs in the following even-numbered year.

If the previous member was unaffiliated with a political party, then the vacancy is filled by the vacancy committee designated on their original nomination petition. If the member has no vacancy committee, the governor appoints a replacement.

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: HB25-1315 Vacancies in the General Assembly


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Colorado after the 2020 census

On November 15, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court approved the state legislative redistricting plans approved by the state's Independent Legislative Redistricting Commission on October 11 and 12, 2021.[10] These maps took effect for Colorado’s 2022 state legislative elections.

The Colorado Sun's Thy Vo wrote that the House and Senate maps "appear to favor Democrats' maintaining their majority in the General Assembly."[10] Colorado Politics' Evan Wyloge wrote that the new maps created nine House districts where previous election results fell within a five percentage point margin and eight such Senate districts. At the time of approval, Democrats held a 42-23 majority in the House and a 20-15 majority in the Senate.[11]

How does redistricting in Colorado work? On November 6, 2018, Colorado voters approved two constitutional amendments, Amendment Y and Amendment Z, establishing separate non-politician commissions for congressional and state legislative redistricting. Each commission consists of four members belonging to the state's largest political party, four members belonging to the state's second-largest party, and four members belonging to no party. Commission members are appointed by a panel of three judges selected by the Chief Justice of the Colorado Supreme Court. The amendment requires at least eight of the commission's 12 members, including at least two members not belonging to any political party, to approve a map.[12]

The Colorado Constitution requires that state legislative district boundaries "be contiguous, and that they be as compact as possible based on their total perimeter." In addition, "to the extent possible, districts must also preserve the integrity of counties, cities, towns and–where doing so does not conflict with other goals–communities of interest." There are no similar requirements for congressional districts.[13][14]

Colorado House of Representatives District 4
until January 8, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Colorado House of Representatives District 4
starting January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Cecelia Espenoza defeated Jack Daus in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cecelia Espenoza
Cecelia Espenoza (D) Candidate Connection
 
78.9
 
32,315
Image of Jack Daus
Jack Daus (R)
 
21.1
 
8,623

Total votes: 40,938
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Cecelia Espenoza defeated incumbent Tim Hernández in the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 25, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Cecelia Espenoza
Cecelia Espenoza Candidate Connection
 
53.2
 
5,589
Tim Hernández
 
46.8
 
4,920

Total votes: 10,509
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Jack Daus advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 25, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jack Daus
Jack Daus
 
100.0
 
1,047

Total votes: 1,047
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2022

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Incumbent Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez defeated Jack Daus in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (D)
 
82.7
 
27,116
Image of Jack Daus
Jack Daus (R)
 
17.3
 
5,687

Total votes: 32,803
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Incumbent Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
 
100.0
 
10,207

Total votes: 10,207
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Jack Daus advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Jack Daus
Jack Daus
 
100.0
 
1,765

Total votes: 1,765
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2020

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Incumbent Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez defeated Grant Price in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (D)
 
81.8
 
34,501
Grant Price (R)
 
18.2
 
7,651

Total votes: 42,152
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Incumbent Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 30, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
 
100.0
 
18,856

Total votes: 18,856
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Grant Price advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 30, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Grant Price
 
100.0
 
1,790

Total votes: 1,790
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2018

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez defeated Robert John in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez (D)
 
82.7
 
27,564
Robert John (R)
 
17.3
 
5,756

Total votes: 33,320
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez defeated Amy Beatie and Ed Britt in the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
Serena Gonzales-Gutierrez
 
58.2
 
7,706
Amy Beatie
 
32.8
 
4,346
Ed Britt
 
8.9
 
1,182

Total votes: 13,234
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4

Robert John advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Robert John
 
100.0
 
1,529

Total votes: 1,529
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

2016

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on June 28, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was April 4, 2016.

Incumbent Dan Pabon defeated Gavin Marie Halligan in the Colorado House of Representatives District 4 general election.[15][16]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 4 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Dan Pabon Incumbent 76.90% 25,224
     Republican Gavin Marie Halligan 23.10% 7,577
Total Votes 32,801
Source: Colorado Secretary of State


Incumbent Dan Pabon ran unopposed in the Colorado House of Representatives District 4 Democratic primary.[17][18]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 4 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Dan Pabon Incumbent (unopposed)


Willie Pinkston ran unopposed in the Colorado House of Representatives District 4 Republican primary.[17][18]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 4 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Willie Pinkston  (unopposed)

2014

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on June 24, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was March 31, 2014. Incumbent Dan Pabon was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while David W. Dobson was unopposed in the Republican primary. Pabon defeated Dobson in the general election.[19][20][21][22]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 4, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDan Pabon Incumbent 78.1% 18,593
     Republican David W. Dobson 21.9% 5,226
Total Votes 23,819

2012

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the Colorado House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on June 26, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was February 19, 2012. Incumbent Dan Pabon defeated David William Dobson (R) in the general election. Neither candidate faced opposition in the June 26 primary elections.[23][24]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 4, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngDan Pabon Incumbent 81% 24,860
     Republican David W. Dobson 19% 5,823
Total Votes 30,683

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Colorado House of Representatives District 4 raised a total of $966,976. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $29,302 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Colorado House of Representatives District 4
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $298,258 3 $99,419
2022 $25,591 2 $12,796
2020 $30,560 2 $15,280
2018 $195,424 4 $48,856
2016 $32,292 3 $10,764
2014 $30,382 2 $15,191
2012 $31,045 3 $10,348
2010 $149,460 4 $37,365
2008 $15,452 1 $15,452
2006 $22,710 2 $11,355
2004 $22,321 1 $22,321
2002 $65,179 3 $21,726
2000 $48,303 3 $16,101
Total $966,976 33 $29,302


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Colorado State Legislature, "Term limits," accessed October 22, 2018
  2. Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 5, Section 7," accessed February 9, 2021
  3. Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 1," accessed February 9, 2021
  4. Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Constitution - Article 4, Section 3," accessed February 9, 2021
  5. Colorado LegiSource, "Surprise! The 2019 Legislative Session Convening a Week Earlier," September 20, 2018
  6. Colorado Legal Resources, "Article V - Legislative Department - Section 4," accessed May 21, 2025
  7. Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
  8. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  9. LexisNexis, "Colorado Legal Resources," accessed February 10, 2021
  10. 10.0 10.1 The Colorado Sun, "Colorado legislative maps get final approval from state Supreme Court," Nov. 15, 2021
  11. Colorado Politics, "Supreme Court approves Colorado legislative redistricting maps," Nov. 15, 2021
  12. Colorado General Assembly, "SCR18-004: Congressional Redistricting," accessed May 14, 2018
  13. All About Redistricting, "Colorado," accessed April 22, 2015
  14. Redistricting in Colorado, "Constitutional Provisions," accessed April 22, 2015
  15. Colorado Secretary of State, "General election candidates," accessed August 16, 2016
  16. Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 General Election results," accessed December 14, 2016
  17. 17.0 17.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed May 3, 2016
  18. 18.0 18.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "June 28, 2016 Primary Election," accessed August 22, 2016
  19. Colorado Secretary of State, "Official primary candidate list," accessed May 1, 2014
  20. Colorado Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed June 25, 2014
  21. Colorado Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed July 23, 2014
  22. Colorado Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed December 5, 2014
  23. Colorado Secretary of State, “2012 General Election,” October 24, 2013
  24. Colorado Secretary of State, “2012 General Primary,” October 24, 2013