Doug Lamborn is facing a primary challenge from two of the candidates he beat for the GOP nomination in 2006.Įarlier this cycle, three Democrats were vying to challenge Musgrave: 2006 nominee and former state Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R) in the Republican-leaning 4th district for the second consecutive election, and Republicans target their own in the safely GOP 5th district. In addition to this cycle’s open seats, the competitive nature of Colorado politics is jeopardizing the career of two incumbents, as Democrats target Rep. “The whole notion of seniority has never been a big argument here.” “Longevity has never been a big factor in Colorado,” said one Colorado-based Republican strategist, in regards to the large amount of Congressional turnover there over the past few cycles.

This turnover isn’t just welcome news for ambitious pols the voters seem to like it, too. The bench of up-and-coming Democrats is getting its shot at Capitol Hill in the Democratic-leaning 2nd district, while the farm team of ambitious Republicans is finding fertile ground in the GOP- leaning 6th district. Tom Tancredo (R) is retiring, have touched off competitive primaries. Open seats in the Boulder-area 2nd district, which was vacated by Udall, and the suburban Denver 6th district, where Rep. Wayne Allard’s (R) decision to honor his term-limits pledge and vacate his seat - although failing to generate a competitive primary on either side - did spawn one of the nation’s most hotly contested Senate races, with Rep. With an open Senate seat, two open House seats and a few potentially vulnerable incumbents, the 2008 cycle is a cornucopia of opportunity for Colorado politicians who aspire to serve in Washington, D.C.

The Roll by Joe Hnida