United States Senate election in Colorado, 2016
 |
Presidential • U.S. Senate • U.S. House • State Senate • State House • State judges • Local judges • State ballot measures • Recalls • Candidate ballot access |
 |
 |
November 8, 2016 |
June 28, 2016 |
Michael Bennet  |
Michael Bennet |
 |
Cook Political Report: Likely D[1] Sabato's Crystal Ball: Safe D[2] Rothenberg & Gonzales: Safe D[3] |
 |
Voters in Colorado elected one member to the U.S. Senate in the election on November 8, 2016.
The U.S. Senate race in Colorado was rated safely Democratic in 2016. Incumbent Michael Bennet (D) won re-election, defeating Darryl Glenn (R), Lily Tang Williams (L), Arn Menconi (G), Bill Hammons (Unity Party), Dan Chapin (I), Paul Noel Fiorino (I), and Don Willoughby (Write-in) in the general election on November 8, 2016. Bennet faced no primary challenger, while Glenn defeated Ryan Frazier, Robert Blaha, Jack Graham, and Jon Keyser to win the Republican nomination. The primary elections took place on June 28, 2016.[4][5][6]
| Candidate Filing Deadline | Primary Election | General Election |
|---|---|---|
Primary: A primary election is an election in which registered voters select a candidate that they believe should be a political party's candidate for elected office to run in the general election. They are also used to choose convention delegates and party leaders. Primaries are state-level and local-level elections that take place prior to a general election.
Colorado utilizes a semi-closed primary system. According to Section 1-7-201 of the Colorado Revised Statutes, " An eligible unaffiliated elector, including a preregistrant who is eligible under section 1-2-101 (2)(c), is entitled to vote in the primary election of a major political party without affiliating with that political party."[7][8][9]
For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.
Incumbent: The election filled the Class 3 Senate seat held by Michael Bennet (D). He was first appointed in 2009.
Election results
General election
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Democratic |  Michael Bennet Incumbent |
50% | 1,370,710 | |
| Republican | Darryl Glenn | 44.3% | 1,215,318 | |
| Libertarian | Lily Tang Williams | 3.6% | 99,277 | |
| Green | Arn Menconi | 1.3% | 36,805 | |
| Unity | Bill Hammons | 0.3% | 9,336 | |
| Independent | Dan Chapin | 0.3% | 8,361 | |
| Unaffiliated | Paul Noel Fiorino | 0.1% | 3,216 | |
| Total Votes | 2,743,023 | |||
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State | ||||
Primary election
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Darryl Glenn |
37.7% | 131,125 | ||
| Jack Graham | 24.6% | 85,400 | ||
| Robert Blaha | 16.5% | 57,196 | ||
| Jon Keyser | 12.5% | 43,509 | ||
| Ryan Frazier | 8.7% | 30,241 | ||
| Total Votes | 347,471 | |||
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State |
||||
Candidates
|
General election candidates: Michael Bennet   Darryl Glenn Lily Tang Williams Arn Menconi Bill Hammons (Unity Party) Dan Chapin Paul Noel Fiorino Don Willoughby (Write-in) |
|
Primary candidates:[10] |
|
Democratic |
Republican Ryan Frazier - Former Aurora councilman[13][14] Robert Blaha - Businessman[15][16][14] Jack Graham - Businessman[17] Jon Keyser - State rep.[18][19] Jerry Eller (Write-in)[12] |
|
Third Party/Other Arn Menconi (Green Party)[21] |
|
Withdrew: Greg Lopez - Former director of the Colorado Small Business Administration[22] Donald Rosier - Jefferson County Commissioner[23][24] |
|
Disqualified: Peg Littleton - El Paso County Commissioner (Defeated in convention)[26][12] Jerry Natividad (Defeated in convention)[27][12] Charlie Ehler (Defeated in convention)[12] |
Race background
Candidate Jon Keyser was removed from the Republican primary ballot after a number of his nominating signatures were deemed invalid. Keyser filed a lawsuit to try and get back on the ballot on April 26, 2016, and was successfully reinstated on the ballot.[28]
After his reinstatement to the ballot, a number of Keyser's signatures were found to be forged. As a result, the Denver district attorney's office began reviewing the signatures.[29]
Keyser responded to the inquiry by saying, "It appears, in fact, that some of those signatures were turned in in an improper manner, and that's a very, very serious thing. It's an extremely serious allegation. I think that speaks to why I was very measured and very disciplined in talking about this."[30]
A judge dismissed a lawsuit attempting to get Keyser thrown off the ballot on May 31, 2016.[31]
On June 8, 2016, Maureen Moss, the signature collector accused of forging the signatures on Keyser's petitions was arrested. Following the inquiry into the alleged forgeries, 34 voters confirmed that they had not signed the petitions.[32]
Endorsements
Michael Bennet
- Americans for Responsible Solutions - In an op-ed, former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and her husband Captain Mark Kelly, co-founders of the gun violence prevention organization Americans for Responsible Solutions, wrote, "In Colorado, Sen. Michael Bennet, who voted to expand background checks and joined the recent filibuster for gun safety, is running for re-election. He has earned the endorsement as well."[33]
Robert Blaha
- State Sen. Tim Neville[34]
Darryl Glenn
- Sen. Ted Cruz - "I am proud to stand with the grassroots in Colorado supporting Darryl Glenn in his campaign for the U.S. Senate. He is a constitutional conservative with the experience to understand what it takes to bring back economic growth and preserve our individual liberties. I am confident he will go to Washington to fight for those values, and he won’t back down."[35]
Jon Keyser
- Former Sen. Hank Brown, former Gov. Bill Owens, and former Rep. Tom Tancredo[36]
Polls
| Colorado Senate - Michael Bennet vs. Darryl Glenn | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poll | Michael Bennet |
Darryl Glenn | Margin of Error | Sample Size | |||||||||||||||
| Quinnipiac University October 10-16, 2016 | 56% | 38% | +/-3.7 | 685 | |||||||||||||||
| Magellan Strategies October 12-13, 2016 | 47% | 32% | +/-4.4 | 500 | |||||||||||||||
| Gravis Marketing October 3-4, 2016 | 47% | 39% | +/-2.8 | 1,246 | |||||||||||||||
| Monmouth University September 29-October 2, 2016 | 53% | 35% | +/-4.9 | 400 | |||||||||||||||
| CNN/ORC September 20-25, 2016 | 53% | 43% | +/-3.5 | 784 | |||||||||||||||
| Gravis Marketing September 22-23, 2016 | 43% | 45% | +/-3.5 | 799 | |||||||||||||||
| Quinnipiac University September 13-21, 2016 | 52% | 43% | +/-3.9 | 644 | |||||||||||||||
| Rocky Mountain PBS September 14-18, 2016 | 45% | 32% | +/-6.3 | 350 | |||||||||||||||
| Emerson College September 9-13, 2016 | 46% | 39% | +/-3.9 | 600 | |||||||||||||||
| Quinnipiac University August 9-16, 2016 | 54% | 38% | +/-3.4 | 830 | |||||||||||||||
| NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist August 4-10, 2016 | 53% | 38% | +/-3.3 | 899 | |||||||||||||||
| NBC/Wall Street Journal/Marist July 5-11, 2016 | 53% | 38% | +/-3.5 | 794 | |||||||||||||||
| Fox News July 9-12, 2016 | 51% | 36% | +/-4.0 | 600 | |||||||||||||||
| Monmouth University July 9-12, 2016 | 48% | 35% | +/-4.9 | 404 | |||||||||||||||
| Harper Polling July 7-9, 2016 | 46% | 40% | +/-4.4 | 500 | |||||||||||||||
| Note: A "0%" finding means the candidate was not a part of the poll. The polls above may not reflect all polls that have been conducted in this race. Those displayed are a random sampling chosen by Ballotpedia staff. If you would like to nominate another poll for inclusion in the table, send an email to [email protected] | |||||||||||||||||||
Media
Michael Bennet
Support
|
|
|
|
Opposition
A conservative group, Advancing Colorado, released the following ad in September 2015 opposing Michael Bennet for supporting the Iran Deal.[37]
|
|
Americans for Prosperity released the following ad in November 2015 opposing Bennet for supporting Obamacare.[38]
|
Darryl Glenn
|
|
|
Robert Blaha
|
Ryan Frazier
|
Jon Keyser
|
|
Election history
2014
On November 8, 2014, Cory Gardner won election to the United States Senate. He defeated incumbent Mark Udall (D) in the general election.
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Republican | Cory Gardner |
48.2% | 983,891 | |
| Democratic | Mark Udall Incumbent | 46.3% | 944,203 | |
| Libertarian | Gaylon Kent | 2.6% | 52,876 | |
| Independent | Steve Shogan | 1.4% | 29,472 | |
| Independent | Raul Acosta | 1.2% | 24,151 | |
| Unity Party of Colorado | Bill Hammons | 0.3% | 6,427 | |
| Total Votes | 2,041,020 | |||
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State | ||||
2010
On November 2, 2010, Michael Bennet won election to the United States Senate. He defeated Ken Buck (R), Bob Kinsey (G), Maclyn Stringer (L), Jason Napolitano (Independent Reform), Charley Miller (Unaffiliated) and J. Moromisato (Unaffiliated) in the general election.[39]
| U.S. Senate, Colorado General Election, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Michael Bennet incumbent |
48.1% | 851,590 | |
| Republican | Ken Buck | 46.4% | 822,731 | |
| Green | Bob Kinsey | 2.2% | 38,768 | |
| Libertarian | Maclyn Stringer | 1.3% | 22,589 | |
| Independent Reform | Jason Napolitano | 1.1% | 19,415 | |
| Unaffiliated | Charley Miller | 0.6% | 11,330 | |
| Unaffiliated | J. Moromisato | 0.3% | 5,767 | |
| Total Votes | 1,772,190 | |||
Important dates and deadlines
- See also: Colorado elections, 2016
The calendar below lists important dates for political candidates in Colorado in 2016.
| Dates and requirements for candidates in 2016 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Deadline | Event type | Event description | |
| April 4, 2016 | Ballot access | Last day for major/minor party candidates to file candidate petitions for the primary election | |
| April 20, 2016 | Ballot access | Last day for write-in candidates to file affidavits of intent for the primary election | |
| June 28, 2016 | Election date | Primary election | |
| July 14, 2016 | Ballot access | Last day for unaffiliated candidates to file nomination petitions for the general election | |
| July 21, 2016 | Ballot access | Last day for write-in candidates to file affidavits of intent for the general election | |
| November 8, 2016 | Election date | General election | |
| Source: Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 Election Calendar," accessed October 28, 2015 | |||
See also
- United States House of Representatives elections in Colorado, 2016
- United States Senate elections, 2016
- Michael Bennet
Footnotes
- ↑ Cook Political Report, "2016 Senate Race Ratings for July 11, 2016," accessed July 19, 2016
- ↑ Sabato's Crystal Ball, "2016 Senate," accessed July 18, 2016
- ↑ Rothenberg & Gonzales Political Report, "Senate Ratings," accessed August 24, 2016
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed May 2, 2016
- ↑ Politico, "Colorado Senate Primaries Results," June 28, 2016
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 General Election Candidate List," accessed September 5, 2016
- ↑ Colorado Revised Statutes, "1-7-201. Voting at primary election," accessed July 17, 2024
- ↑ National Conference of State Legislatures, "State Primary Election Types," accessed July 17, 2024
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Primary Elections FAQs," accessed July 17, 2024
- ↑ Candidates are listed by party and alphabetically within each party.
- ↑ The Denver Post, "El Paso County commissioner wants to take on U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in 2016," January 15, 2015
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 12.3 12.4 12.5 The Denver Channel, "Darryl Glenn, GOP candidate for US Senate, crushes party favorite Tim Neville in Colorado convention," April 9, 2016
- ↑ Aurora Sentinel, "Former Aurora councilman Ryan Frazier joins GOP Senate race in Colorado," November 12, 2015
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Robert Blaha, Ryan Frazier fail to make primary ballot." April 28, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Robert Blaha says he will enter U.S. Senate race in October," September 8, 2015
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Robert Blaha announces U.S. Senate bid, makes campaign pledge," January 14, 2016
- ↑ Coloradoan, "Former CSU AD Jack Graham enters U.S. Senate race," January 30, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Jon Keyser announces 2016 Senate bid amid crowded Colorado field," January 11, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Jon Keyser files legal challenge to appear on GOP U.S. Senate ballot," April 28, 2016
- ↑ Independent Political Report, "Lily Tang Williams announces candidacy for Colorado U.S. Senate seat as a Libertarian," January 12, 2016
- ↑ Arn Menconi for U.S. Senate, "Home," accessed January 15, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Republican Greg Lopez, former SBA director, to run for U.S. Senate," July 6, 2015
- ↑ Facebook, "Donald Rosier Timeline Photos," December 7, 2015
- ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 Primary Election Candidate List," accessed May 2, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Tim Neville to announce U.S. Senate bid as GOP race heats up," September 28, 2015
- ↑ The Denver Post, "El Paso County's Peg Littleton joins U.S. Senate race," January 20, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Lucky No. 13: Republican Jerry Natividad launches U.S. Senate bid," March 1, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Jon Keyser files legal challenge to appear on GOP U.S. Senate ballot," April 28, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Denver district attorney's office to review Jon Keyser signatures," May 13, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Jon Keyser breaks silence, distances campaign from forged signatures," May 16, 2016
- ↑ 9 News, "Judge strikes down lawsuit challenging Keyser's Senate bid," May 31, 2016
- ↑ Denver 7, "Maureen Moss arrested, accused of turning in forged signatures for Jon Keyser," June 8, 2016
- ↑ CNN, "America finds its voice on gun safety," accessed September 27, 2016
- ↑ Twitter, "Ernest Lee Luning," accessed May 30, 2016
- ↑ The Hill, "Ted Cruz choses sides in Colorado Senate primary," June 17, 2016
- ↑ The Denver Post, "Tom Tancredo, Bill Owens and Hank Brown endorse Jon Keyser," March 14, 2016
- ↑ YouTube, "Shocking New Ad Targets Sen. Michael Bennet for Iran Deal support," September 21, 2015
- ↑ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yb526QHHhqk&feature=youtu.be YouTube, " "Turned Away" | Senator Bennet," November 11, 2015]
- ↑ U.S. Congress House Clerk, "Statistics of the Congressional Election of November 2, 2010," accessed March 28, 2013
| |||||||||||
For information about public policy issues in the 2016 elections, see: Public policy in the 2016 elections!
