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Colorado House of Representatives District 5

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Colorado House of Representatives District 5
Incumbent
Assumed office: January 4, 2019

Colorado House of Representatives District 5 is represented by Alex Valdez (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 5
until January 8, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Colorado House of Representatives District 5
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 5

Incumbent Alex Valdez defeated Johnnie Johnson in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez (D)
 
79.6
 
32,077
Image of Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson (R)
 
20.4
 
8,224

Total votes: 40,301
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Incumbent Alex Valdez advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 25, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez
 
100.0
 
6,455

Total votes: 6,455
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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Johnnie Johnson advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 25, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson
 
100.0
 
729

Total votes: 729
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2022

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Incumbent Alex Valdez defeated Johnnie Johnson and Troy Brekke in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez (D)
 
82.8
 
24,306
Image of Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson (R) Candidate Connection
 
15.3
 
4,502
Image of Troy Brekke
Troy Brekke (Unity Party) Candidate Connection
 
1.8
 
539

Total votes: 29,347
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 5

Incumbent Alex Valdez advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez
 
100.0
 
8,040

Total votes: 8,040
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 5

Johnnie Johnson advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 28, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Johnnie Johnson
Johnnie Johnson Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
1,289

Total votes: 1,289
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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2020

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Incumbent Alex Valdez defeated Jonathan Woodley and Joe Richardson in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez (D)
 
79.1
 
37,132
Jonathan Woodley (R)
 
19.6
 
9,203
Joe Richardson (Unity Party)
 
1.3
 
633

Total votes: 46,968
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 5

Incumbent Alex Valdez advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 30, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez
 
100.0
 
18,082

Total votes: 18,082
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Withdrawn or disqualified candidates

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Jonathan Woodley advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 30, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Jonathan Woodley
 
100.0
 
1,781

Total votes: 1,781
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Unity Party convention

Unity Party convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Joe Richardson advanced from the Unity Party convention for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on April 4, 2020.

Candidate
Joe Richardson (Unity Party)

Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2018

See also: Colorado House of Representatives elections, 2018

General election

General election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Alex Valdez defeated Katherine Whitney and Rory Lamberton in the general election for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez (D)
 
79.0
 
27,131
Katherine Whitney (R)
 
17.9
 
6,136
Rory Lamberton (L)
 
3.1
 
1,061

Total votes: 34,328
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Alex Valdez defeated Meghan Nutting, Joel Judd, and Nicky Yollick in the Democratic primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Alex Valdez
Alex Valdez
 
42.0
 
4,666
Image of Meghan Nutting
Meghan Nutting
 
29.2
 
3,245
Image of Joel Judd
Joel Judd
 
16.6
 
1,844
Image of Nicky Yollick
Nicky Yollick
 
12.1
 
1,347

Total votes: 11,102
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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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5

Katherine Whitney advanced from the Republican primary for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 on June 26, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Katherine Whitney
 
100.0
 
1,419

Total votes: 1,419
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 Crisanta Duran defeated Ronnie Nelson in the Colorado House of Representatives District 5 general election.[15][16]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 5 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Crisanta Duran Incumbent 77.31% 26,130
     Republican Ronnie Nelson 22.69% 7,668
Total Votes 33,798
Source: Colorado Secretary of State


Incumbent Crisanta Duran ran unopposed in the Colorado House of Representatives District 5 Democratic primary.[17][18]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 5 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Crisanta Duran Incumbent (unopposed)


Ronnie Nelson ran unopposed in the Colorado House of Representatives District 5 Republican primary.[17][18]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 5 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Ronnie Nelson  (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 Crisanta Duran was unopposed in the Democratic primary, while Ronnie Nelson was unopposed in the Republican primary. Duran defeated Nelson in the general election.[19][20][21][22]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 5, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngCrisanta Duran Incumbent 76.1% 15,203
     Republican Ronnie Nelson 23.9% 4,769
Total Votes 19,972

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 Crisanta Duran defeated Ronnie Nelson (R) and Victor Forsythe Villacres (G) in the general election. The candidates ran unopposed in the June 26 primary elections.[23][24]

Colorado House of Representatives, District 5, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Democratic Green check mark transparent.pngCrisanta Duran Incumbent 74.3% 20,483
     Republican Ronnie Nelson 21.9% 6,027
     Green Victor Forsythe Villacres 3.8% 1,058
Total Votes 27,568

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Colorado House of Representatives District 5 raised a total of $1,119,211. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $33,915 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Colorado House of Representatives District 5
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $28,065 2 $14,033
2022 $12,025 3 $4,008
2020 $33,513 2 $16,757
2018 $456,722 6 $76,120
2016 $100,888 2 $50,444
2014 $40,228 2 $20,114
2012 $32,858 3 $10,953
2010 $153,884 3 $51,295
2008 $35,439 2 $17,720
2006 $12,140 1 $12,140
2004 $21,943 1 $21,943
2002 $185,676 5 $37,135
2000 $5,830 1 $5,830
Total $1,119,211 33 $33,915


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