Vacancy Elections
What is a vacancy?
A vacancy in an elected office occurs when an office holder resigns or dies during their elected term. A vacancy may also occur when an elected official moves outside of the district they represent.
Vacancies in federal, state, and local elected offices in Colorado are filled in a variety of ways, including appointments, vacancy elections, and political party vacancy committees.
The vacancy committee to fill the Senate seat being vacated by Sonya Jaquez Lewis will convene virtually by Zoom on March 18, 2025, at 6pm.
Details, including a candidate forum, balloting process, live-streaming, and opportunities for public input will be provided on this website in the coming days.
Prospective candidates may file for this office by emailing SD17 Chair Kathryn Skulley (kskulley@gmail.com) and Colorado Democratic Party Executive Director Karin Asensio (karin@coloradodems.org) with a letter of intent. Candidates should provide a hyperlink to a website or contact information that can be shared on the CDP website.
According to Colorado Democratic Party Rule 4.9: A person shall be eligible for election to fill a vacancy in office if that person has been a registered Democrat, and a resident of the district, for a period of at least 12 months immediately preceding the date of the vacancy committee meeting and shall meet the requirements for running for the office in the next general election. If there is no other declared Democratic Party candidate in that vacancy election, a county central committee or a vacancy committee may vote to waive the affiliation deadline and/or the residency requirements as allowed by law.
Public Input: Please share your thoughts with members of the SD17 Vacancy Committee + the candidates by filling out this form.*
CANDIDATES (as of 2/25/2025):
Andrew Barton
Peter Salas
Katie Wallace
Martha Wilson
*By filling out this form, you are agreeing to receiving further communication from the Colorado Democratic Party.
Senate District 17
How does a vacancy election work?
Who can vote in a State House and Senate District vacancy election?
The members of the District’s Vacancy Committee, as established during the political party’s District reorganization meeting, are the voting members.
Who runs State House and Senate district vacancy elections?
Vacancies are run by the political party of the resigning member. The State and County Parties send out an Official Call (notice) to all vacancy committee members and invite them to participate and vote. These meetings can happen online or in person. For districts drawn in a single-county, the county party manages the election, and the Colorado Democratic Party manages vacancy elections for districts comprised of multiple counties.
What about other voters in the district?
Registered Democrats in the District and members of the press are welcome to attend any candidate forum and the vacancy election. Public comments are encouraged and will be shared with voting members, however voting is conducted only by vacancy committee members.