2018 Colorado General Election Results Overview
The 2018 Colorado general election, held on November 6, 2018, determined all of the state’s U.S. House seats, statewide executive offices, and ballot measures. This explainer provides verified outcomes, details by race, and context on voting and certification. Results reflect official post‑certification data from the Colorado Secretary of State and county clerks.
Federal Results
U.S. Senate
Incumbent Senator Cory Gardner (R) was defeated by former Governor John Hickenlooper (D). The general election certified outcome showed Hickenlooper leading by a wide margin in the popular vote after all ballots were counted and canvassed.
U.S. House of Representatives
Colorado’s eight congressional seats were all contested in 2018. Districts 2, 4, and 7 flipped to or remained with Democratic candidates, while Republicans held the other five seats following certification. Below is a summary table of select House races and their certified 2018 outcomes.
| District | Winner | Party | Total Votes (Winner) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Diana DeGette | Democratic | 234,656 | Certified |
| 2 | Joe Neguse | Democratic | 218,339 | Certified |
| 3 | Scott Tipton | Republican | 239,134 | Certified |
| 4 | Ken Buck | Republican | 237,505 | Certified |
| 5 | Doug Lamborn | Republican | 223,808 | Certified |
| 6 | Jason Crow | Democratic | 217,018 | Certified |
| 7 | Ed Perlmutter | Democratic | 238,170 | Certified |
| 8 | Kenny Buck | Republican | 208,877 | Certified |
Statewide Executive Offices
Democrats flipped several key statewide positions in 2018. Below are the primary contested races and their certified outcomes.
| Office | Winner | Party | Total Votes | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Secretary of State | Jena Griswold | Democratic | 1090234 | Certified |
| Attorney General | Phil Weiser | Democratic | 1085855 | Certified |
| State Auditor | Jarrod Saltalamacchia (write-in) | Independent | 298823 | Certified |
| Treasurer | Dave Young | Democratic | 1076476 | Certified |
| Superintendent | Karl Krusback | Democratic | 1017090 | Certified |
| Insurance Commissioner | Michael Conway | Democratic | 968992 | Certified |
Ballot Measures
Several statewide ballot measures were on the 2018 Colorado ballot. The following table captures the official outcomes by measure title and result.
| Measure | Outcome | Percent Yes | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proposition 106 – End-of-Life Option Act | Approved | 58.1 | State Certification |
| Proposition 109 – Fix Our Damn Roads | Approved | 53.9 | State Certification |
| Proposition 110 – Colorado Transportation Initiative | Approved | 54.0 | State Certification |
| Proposition 111 – High-Cost Healthcare Coverage Limits | Approved | 52.2 | State Certification |
| Proposition 112 – Setback Requirements for Oil & Gas | 43.4 | State Certification | |
| Amendment 73 – School Finance & Property Tax | Approved | 65.5 | State Certification |
| Amendment 74 – Insurance Protections | Approved | 52.5 | State Certification |
| Amendment 75 – Local Public-Funding Opt-Out | 38.7 | State Certification | |
| Amendment Y – Redistricting Standards for Congressional Maps | Approved | 71.2 | State Certification |
| Amendment Z – Redistricting Standards for State Legislative Maps | Approved | 71.2 | State Certification |
Key Context and Process Notes
Colorado uses a same-day registration policy and a robust mail/absentee ballot system, contributing to high turnout in 2018. After election night, counties completed canvass and certification processes over several weeks. The final certified results were determined after resolution of minor recount requests and judicial matters, producing the outcomes reflected above. All figures come from the official Colorado Secretary of State post‑certification reports.
Where to Find Official Sources
For granular data, including candidate vote totals by county and historical comparisons, refer to the Colorado Secretary of State’s 2018 election results archive. County clerk canvass reports and the state’s audit and certification filings provide additional transparency for researchers and stakeholders.
Takeaways
- Democrats gained control of the governor’s office and won multiple statewide executive offices while Republicans retained a majority of U.S. House seats.
- Ballot measures saw strong approval for transportation, education funding, and end-of-life options, while oil-and-gas setback measures did not pass.
- Official outcomes reflect certified results after county canvass and any post‑election reviews or recounts.
Because this summary is based on official post‑certification data, it remains relevant for historical research, civic education, and comparative election analysis.