Republican Sen. Wayne Allard announced Monday that he would keep his pledge to serve only two terms and step down at the end of this Congress. Allard’s decision sets up the first open-seat battle of the cycle and one in a state in which Democrats have gained ground in recent years.
Over the last two elections, Democrats have won a Senate seat, two House seats, the governorship and control of the state legislature. Colorado, which President Bush carried by nine points in 2000 but by just five points in 2004, is certain to be targeted by both parties in next year’s presidential sweepstakes. Hoping to build on the gains they’ve made in the Mountain West, the Democratic National Committee will hold its convention in Denver next year.
Although he has made no official announcement, Democratic Rep. Mark Udall has been preparing for a bid for nearly a year and had said recently that he intended to run regardless of what Allard decided. Udall was first elected in 1998 to represent the 2nd congressional district, which is centered in
Subscribe Today
Our subscribers have first access to individual race pages for each House, Senate and Governors race, which will include race ratings (each race is rated on a seven-point scale) and a narrative analysis pertaining to that race.