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Colorado Secretary of State election, 2018 (June 26 Democratic primary)

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Colorado Secretary of State
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Democratic primary
Republican primary
General election
Election details
Filing deadline: March 20, 2018
Primary: June 26, 2018
General: November 6, 2018
Pre-election incumbent(s):
Wayne W. Williams (Republican)
How to vote
Poll times: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voting in Colorado
Ballotpedia analysis
Federal and state primary competitiveness
State executive elections in 2018
Impact of term limits in 2018
State government trifectas
State government triplexes
Ballotpedia's Election Analysis Hub, 2018
Colorado
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A Democratic Party primary election took place on June 26, 2018, in Colorado to determine which candidate would run as the party's nominee in the November 6, 2018, secretary of state election.



For more information about secretary of state elections in 2018, click here.

SETTING THE STAGE
  • Heading into the election, the sitting secretary of state was Wayne W. Williams (R), who was first elected in 2014. Williams filed for re-election in 2018.
  • In 2018, Colorado was under divided government. It had held this status since 2015, when Republicans gained a majority in the state Senate. Colorado was also under divided triplex control.
  • In presidential elections between 2000 and 2016, Colorado was won by the Democratic candidate in 2008, 2012, and 2016, and by the Republican candidate in 2000 and 2004. The widest margin of victory was Barack Obama's 9 percent margin in 2008, while the narrowest was George W. Bush's 5 percent margin in 2004.

    • Candidates and election results

    Jena Griswold advanced from the Democratic primary for Colorado Secretary of State on June 26, 2018.

    Democratic primary election
    Democratic primary for Colorado Secretary of State

    Candidate
    %
    Votes
    ✔
    Image of Jena Griswold
    		Jena Griswold Candidate Connection
     
    100.0
     
    		510,903

    There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified.

    		Total votes: 510,903
    Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
    If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

    Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

    Unaffiliated voters in Colorado primaries

    The June 26, 2018, primaries were the first chance that Colorado voters unaffiliated with either major party had to participate in partisan primaries. The state's 1.1 million unaffiliated voters received mail-in ballots from their county clerks and were not able to opt out of receiving a ballot. If a voter did not request a ballot from one party, she or he received ballots for both parties. Voters could only complete a ballot for one party's primary. If the voter completed both party ballots, the ballots were invalidated.

    County officials recommended that voters mail their ballots in by June 16. If voters chose to drop their ballots off at their county election offices, they had until 7:00 PM MT on June 26.[3]

    This change in the voting system came from Proposition 108, a 2016 initiated state statute approved by 53.3 percent of voters. Prior to the passage of Proposition 108, Colorado utilized a closed primary system where only voters registered with a political party could participate. Unaffiliated voters were able to affiliate with one of the parties on election day if they chose.

    Context of the 2018 election

    Past elections

    2014

    See also: Colorado secretary of state election, 2014

    Joe Neguse was unopposed in the 2014 Democratic primary.[4]

    Voter information

    How the primary works

    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."[5][6]

    For information about which offices are nominated via primary election, see this article.

    Poll times

    In Colorado, polls are open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time for those who choose to vote in person rather than by mail. An individual who is in line at the time polls close must be allowed to vote.[7][8]

    Registration requirements

    Check your voter registration status here.

    In Colorado, an individual can pre-register to vote if they are at least 15 years old. Voters must be at least 18 years old to vote in any election. A voter must be a citizen of the United States and have established residence in Colorado to vote.[9]

    Colorado voters can register to vote through Election Day. However, in order to automatically receive a absentee/mail-in ballot, a voter must register online, through the mail, at a voter registration agency, or driver's license examination facility at least eight days prior to Election Day. A voter that registers through a voter registration drive must submit their application no later than 22 days before the election to automatically receive an absentee/mail-in ballot. A voter can register online or submit a form in person or by fax, email, or mail.[9][10][11]

    Automatic registration

    See also: Automatic voter registration

    Colorado automatically registers eligible individuals to vote through the Department of Motor Vehicles and certain other state agencies.

    Online registration

    See also: Online voter registration

    Colorado has implemented an online voter registration system. Residents can register to vote by visiting this website.

    Same-day registration

    See also: Same-day voter registration

    Colorado allows same-day voter registration for individuals who vote in person.

    Residency requirements

    Colorado law requires 22 days of residency in the state before a person may vote.[10]

    Verification of citizenship

    See also: Laws permitting noncitizens to vote in the United States

    Colorado does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. An individual applying to register to vote must attest that they are a U.S. citizen under penalty of perjury.

    All 49 states with voter registration systems require applicants to declare that they are U.S. citizens in order to register to vote in state and federal elections, under penalty of perjury or other punishment.[12] Seven states — Alabama, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Wyoming — have laws requiring verification of citizenship at the time of voter registration, whether in effect or not. In three states — California, Maryland, and Vermont — at least one local jurisdiction allows noncitizens to vote in some local elections. Noncitizens registering to vote in those elections must complete a voter registration application provided by the local jurisdiction and are not eligible to register as state or federal voters.

    Verifying your registration

    The site Go Vote Colorado, run by the Colorado Secretary of State office, allows residents to check their voter registration status online.

    Voter ID requirements

    Colorado requires voters to present non-photo identification when voting in person. If voting by mail for the first, a voter may also need to return a photocopy of his or her identification with their mail-in ballot. Click here for more information.

    The following list of accepted forms of identification was current as of August 2025. Click here for the most current information, sourced directly from the Office of the Colorado Secretary of State.

    “ The following documents are acceptable forms of identification:
    • A valid Colorado driver’s license or valid identification card issued by the Colorado Department of Revenue. (Note: documents issued to not lawfully present and temporarily lawfully present individuals under Part 5 of Article 2 of Title 42, C.R.S. are not acceptable forms of identification.)
    • A valid U.S. passport.
    • A valid employee identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by any branch, department, agency, or entity of the U.S. government or of Colorado, or by any county, municipality, board, authority, or other political subdivision of Colorado.
    • A valid pilot’s license issued by the federal aviation administration or other authorized agency of the U.S.
    • A valid U.S. military identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector.
    • A copy of a current (within the last 60 days) utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck, or other government document that shows the name and address of the elector.
    • A Certificate of Degree of Indian or Alaskan Native Blood.
    • A valid Medicare or Medicaid card issued by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
    • A certified copy of a U.S. birth certificate for the elector.
    • Certified documentation of naturalization.
    • A valid student identification card with a photograph of the eligible elector issued by an institute of higher education in Colorado, as defined in section 23-3.1-102(5), C.R.S..
    • A valid veteran identification card issued by the U.S. department of veterans affairs veterans health administration with a photograph of the eligible elector.
    • A valid identification card issued by a federally recognized tribal government certifying tribal membership.

    Any form of identification listed above that shows your address must show a Colorado address to qualify as an acceptable form of identification.

    The following documents are also considered acceptable forms of identification for voting:

    • Verification that a voter is a resident of a group residential facility, as defined in section 1-1-104(18.5), C.R.S.
    • Verification that a voter is a person committed to the department of human services and confined and eligible to register and vote shall be considered sufficient identification of such person for the purposes of section 1-2-210.5, C.R.S.
    • Written correspondence from the county sheriff or his or her designee to the county clerk indicating that a voter is confined in a county jail or detention facility.[13][14]
    		 ”
    • Note: SB 1, signed into law on May 12, 2025, specified that tribal IDs issued by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, the Indian Health Service, or another federal agency were also valid identification.

    Early and absentee voting

    Colorado conducts what are commonly referred to as all-mail elections. In Colorado, voting is conducted primarily, although not necessarily exclusively, by mail. Election officials automatically distribute mail-in ballots to active electors starting 18 to 22 days before an election. Colorado law requires county clerks to operate polling locations (Voter Service and Polling Centers, or VSPCs) starting 15 days before an election and continuing through Election Day, excluding Sundays. At these locations, eligible voters can do any of the following:[15]

    • void their mail-in ballots to vote in person,
    • register to vote,
    • update existing voter registration records,
    • obtain mail-in ballots, or
    • vote in person via paper ballots or accessible voting devices.

    State overview

    Partisan control

    This section details the partisan control of federal and state positions in Colorado heading into the 2018 elections.

    Congressional delegation

    • The state had a split delegation (one Democrat, one Republican) in the U.S. Senate. Colorado did not hold elections for either U.S. Senate seat in 2018.
    • Republicans held four of seven U.S. House seats in Colorado, and Democrats held three.

    State executives

    State legislature

    • The Colorado state legislature was under divided control. Republicans had an 18-16 majority in the state Senate, with one Independent who caucused with the Democrats. Democrats had a 36-29 majority in the state House.

    Trifecta status

    • Heading into the 2018 elections, Colorado was under divided government.

    2018 elections

    See also: Colorado elections, 2018

    Colorado held elections for the following positions in 2018:

    Demographics

    Demographic data for Colorado
     ColoradoU.S.
    Total population:5,448,819316,515,021
    Land area (sq mi):103,6423,531,905
    Race and ethnicity**
    White:84.2%73.6%
    Black/African American:4%12.6%
    Asian:2.9%5.1%
    Native American:0.9%0.8%
    Pacific Islander:0.1%0.2%
    Two or more:3.5%3%
    Hispanic/Latino:21.1%17.1%
    Education
    High school graduation rate:90.7%86.7%
    College graduation rate:38.1%29.8%
    Income
    Median household income:$60,629$53,889
    Persons below poverty level:13.5%11.3%
    Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015)
    Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Colorado.
    **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here.

    As of July 2017, Colorado had a population of approximately 5.6 million people, and its two largest cities were Denver (pop. est. 719,000) and Colorado Springs (pop. est. 484,000).[16][17]

    State election history

    This section provides an overview of federal and state elections in Colorado from 2000 to 2016.

    Historical elections

    Presidential elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the presidential election in Colorado every year from 2000 to 2016.

    Election results (President of the United States), Colorado 2000-2016[18]
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016 Democratic Party Hillary Clinton 48.2% Republican Party Donald Trump 43.3% 4.9%
    2012 Democratic Party Barack Obama 51.5% Republican Party Mitt Romney 46.1% 5.4%
    2008 Democratic Party Barack Obama 53.7% Republican Party John McCain 44.7% 9.0%
    2004 Republican Party George W. Bush 51.7% Democratic Party John Kerry 47.0% 4.7%
    2000 Republican Party George W. Bush 50.8% Democratic Party Al Gore 42.4% 8.4%

    U.S. Senate elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of U.S. Senate races in Colorado from 2000 to 2016. Every state has two Senate seats, and each seat goes up for election every six years. The terms of the seats are staggered so that roughly one-third of the seats are up every two years.

    Election results (U.S. Senator), Colorado 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2016[19] Democratic Party Michael Bennet 50.0% Republican Party Darryl Glenn 44.3% 5.7%
    2014[20] Republican Party Cory Gardner 48.2% Democratic Party Mark Udall 46.3% 1.9%
    2010[21] Democratic Party Michael Bennet 48.1% Republican Party Ken Buck 46.4% 1.7%
    2008[22] Democratic Party Mark Udall 52.8% Republican Party Bob Schaffer 42.5% 10.3%
    2004[23] Democratic Party Ken Salazar 50.4% Republican Party Pete Coors 45.7% 4.7%
    2002[24] Republican Party Wayne Allard 50.1% Democratic Party Tom Strickland 45.2% 4.9%

    Gubernatorial elections, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the results of the four gubernatorial elections held between 2000 and 2016. Gubernatorial elections are held every four years in Colorado, and take place in even-numbered years between presidential elections.

    Election results (Governor), Colorado 2000-2016
    Year First-place candidate First-place candidate votes (%) Second-place candidate Second-place candidate votes (%) Margin of victory (%)
    2014[20] Democratic Party John Hickenlooper 49.3% Republican Party Bob Beauprez 46.0% 3.3%
    2010[21] Democratic Party John Hickenlooper 51.1% Grey.png Tom Tancredo 36.4% 14.7%
    2006[25] Democratic Party Bill Ritter 56.0% Republican Party Bob Beauprez 39.5% 16.5%
    2002[24] Republican Party Bill Owens 61.7% Democratic Party Rollie Heath 33.2% 28.5%

    Congressional delegation, 2000-2016

    This chart shows the number of Democrats and Republicans who were elected to represent Colorado in the U.S. House from 2000 to 2016. Elections for U.S. House seats are held every two years.

    Congressional delegation, Colorado 2000-2016
    Year Republicans Republicans (%) Democrats Democrats (%) Balance of power
    2016[19] Republican Party 4 57.1% Democratic Party 3 42.9% R+1
    2014[20] Republican Party 4 57.1% Democratic Party 3 42.9% R+1
    2012[26] Republican Party 4 57.1% Democratic Party 3 42.9% R+1
    2010[21] Republican Party 4 57.1% Democratic Party 3 42.9% R+1
    2008[22] Republican Party 2 28.6% Democratic Party 5 71.4% D+3
    2006[25] Republican Party 3 42.9% Democratic Party 4 57.1% D+1
    2004[23] Republican Party 4 57.1% Democratic Party 3 42.9% R+1
    2002[24] Republican Party 5 71.4% Democratic Party 2 28.6% R+3
    2000[27] Republican Party 4 66.7% Democratic Party 2 33.3% R+2

    Trifectas, 1992-2018

    A state government trifecta occurs when one party controls both chambers of the state legislature and the governor's office.

    Colorado Party Control: 1992-2025
    Thirteen years of Democratic trifectas  •  Four years of Republican trifectas
    Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.

    Year 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 00 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25
    Governor D D D D D D D R R R R R R R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D D
    Senate R R R R R R R R R D D R R D D D D D D D D D D R R R R D D D D D D D
    House R R R R R R R R R R R R R D D D D D D R R D D D D D D D D D D D D D


    Pivot Counties

    See also: Pivot Counties by state

    Four of 64 Colorado counties—6 percent—are Pivot Counties. Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states.

    Counties won by Trump in 2016 and Obama in 2012 and 2008
    County Trump margin of victory in 2016 Obama margin of victory in 2012 Obama margin of victory in 2008
    Conejos County, Colorado 3.56% 9.22% 12.93%
    Huerfano County, Colorado 6.61% 8.27% 11.23%
    Las Animas County, Colorado 15.60% 2.65% 7.04%
    Pueblo County, Colorado 0.50% 13.99% 14.97%

    In the 2016 presidential election, Hillary Clinton (D) won Colorado with 48.2 percent of the vote. Donald Trump (R) received 43.3 percent. In presidential elections between 1900 and 2016, Colorado voted Republican 63.3 percent of the time and Democratic 36.7 percent of the time. Colorado voted Republican in the 2000 and 2004 presidential elections, but voted Democratic in the 2008, 2012, and 2016 elections.

    Presidential results by legislative district

    The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Colorado. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[28][29]

    In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 37 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 27.3 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 40 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 24.8 points. Clinton won four districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections.
    In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 28 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 21.2 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 25 out of 65 state House districts in Colorado with an average margin of victory of 25.8 points. Trump won one district controlled by a Democrat heading into the 2018 elections.


    See also

    Colorado government:

    Elections:

    Ballotpedia exclusives:

    External links

    Footnotes

    1. ↑ Same-day registration was available for those voting in person at Voter Service and Polling Centers,
    2. ↑ Same-day registration was available for those voting in person at Voter Service and Polling Centers,
    3. ↑ Denver Post, "Colorado’s 1 million-plus unaffiliated voters can participate for the first time in a primary election. Here’s what they need to know," June 2, 2018
    4. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast," accessed September 29, 2017
    5. ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Revised Statutes § 1-7-201," accessed August 6, 2025
    6. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Primary Elections FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
    7. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Mail-in Ballots FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
    8. ↑ LexisNexis, "Colorado Revised Statutes, § 1-7-101," accessed August 6, 2025
    9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Voter Registration FAQs," accessed August 6, 2025
    10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Colorado Voter Registration Form," accessed August 6, 2025
    11. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Go Vote Colorado," accessed August 6, 2025
    12. ↑ Under federal law, the national mail voter registration application (a version of which is in use in all states with voter registration systems) requires applicants to indicate that they are U.S. citizens in order to complete an application to vote in state or federal elections, but does not require voters to provide documentary proof of citizenship. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the application "may require only the minimum amount of information necessary to prevent duplicate voter registrations and permit State officials both to determine the eligibility of the applicant to vote and to administer the voting process."
    13. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Acceptable Forms of Identification," accessed August 6, 2025
    14. ↑ Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
    15. ↑ This information came directly from the Colorado Secretary of State's office via email on September 13, 2016.
    16. ↑ United States Census Bureau, "QuickFacts Colorado," accessed April 2, 2018
    17. ↑ World Population Review, "Population of Cities in Colorado (2018)," accessed April 2, 2018
    18. ↑ US Election Atlas, "United States Presidential Election Results," accessed April 2, 2018
    19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "2016 Abstract of Votes Cast," accessed April 3, 2018
    20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 Colorado Secretary of State, "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast," accessed April 3, 2018
    21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Colorado Secretary of State, "2010 Abstract of Votes Cast," accessed April 4, 2018
    22. ↑ 22.0 22.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2008 Primary & 2008 General," accessed April 4, 2018
    23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2003 Coordinated, 2004 Primary, & 2004 General," accessed April 4, 2018
    24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 24.2 Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2001 Coordinated, 2002 Primary, & 2002 General," accessed April 4, 2018
    25. ↑ 25.0 25.1 Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2005 Coordinated, 2006 Primary, & 2006 General," accessed April 4, 2018
    26. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "2012 Abstract of Votes Cast," accessed April 4, 2018
    27. ↑ Colorado Secretary of State, "Official Publication of the Abstract of Votes Cast for the 2000 Presidential, 2000 Primary, & 2000 General," accessed April 4, 2018
    28. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
    29. ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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