Colorado's 3rd congressional district

Colorado's 3rd congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of Colorado. It takes in most of the rural Western Slope in the state's western third portion, with a wing in the south taking in some of the southern portions of the Eastern Plains. It includes the cities of Grand Junction, Montrose, Durango, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and Pueblo. The district has been represented by Republican Lauren Boebert since 2021.

The district was represented from 1987 to 1993 by Ben Nighthorse Campbell before he ran for the U.S. Senate and switched parties from Democratic to Republican. The district's former representative Scott Tipton lost renomination in 2020 to Lauren Boebert in what was considered a major upset. Boebert won the general election on November 3, 2020, and narrowly won re-election in the closest House race of 2022.

The district is mainly rural and leans Republican, though not as much as the neighboring 4th district. However, the Democrats have a strong base in counties on the I-70 corridor and Pueblo, as well as ski towns such as Aspen, thus keeping the seat competitive.

1990s
Following the 1990 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district consisted of Alamosa, Archuleta, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Dolores, Eagle, Garfield, Grand, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, Lake, La Plata, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Park, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, San Miguel, and Summit counties, as well as portions of Douglas, Fremont, and Jefferson counties.

2000s
Following the 2000 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district consisted of Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, Delta, Dolores, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, Jackson, La Plata, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Ouray, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Routt, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel counties and most of Otero County.

2010s
Following the 2010 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district underwent very little change, and continued to cover 27 of the previous counties, excluding Las Animas and Otero counties.

2020s
Following the 2020 U.S. census and realignment of congressional districts, the 3rd congressional district lost Jackson County, Routt County, and most of Eagle County to the 2nd district as well as Custer and Lake counties to the 7th district. It also gained Las Animas and Otero counties from the 4th district. This configuration of the district took effect starting from the 2022 elections.

Characteristics
The district has two major population centers, in Grand Junction and Pueblo. The two cities and their surrounding rural areas provide a competitive arena for congressional races. Grand Junction, on the Western Slope, is a Republican stronghold, while Pueblo, a town with a large Latino population and (by Colorado norms) a heavily unionized workforce, provides a base of support for Democrats.

The Denver Post describes the district as: "The district is red-leaning, and it covers nearly half of Colorado's land mass, including western and southern Colorado, and 29 of the state's 64 counties. It's also diverse, with wealthy ski towns like Aspen, giant swaths of agricultural land and public lands, and middle-class cities like Grand Junction and Pueblo."

Cities of 10,000 people or more

 * Pueblo – 111,876
 * Grand Junction – 65,560
 * Pueblo West – 33,086
 * Clifton – 20,413
 * Montrose – 20,291
 * Durango – 19,071
 * Fruita – 13,395
 * Rifle – 10,437

2,500 – 10,000 people

 * Glenwood Springs – 9,963
 * Alamosa – 9,806
 * Redlands – 9,061
 * Craig – 9,060
 * Delta – 9,035
 * Cortez – 8,766
 * Trinidad – 8,329
 * Fruitvale – 8,271
 * Gypsum – 8,040
 * La Junta – 7,322
 * Aspen – 7,004
 * Orchard Mesa – 6,688
 * Gunnison – 6,560
 * Carbondale – 6,434
 * Battlement Mesa – 5,438
 * New Castle – 4,923
 * Monte Vista – 4,247
 * El Jebel – 4,130
 * Basalt – 3,984
 * Rocky Ford – 3,876
 * Silt – 3,536
 * Orchard City – 3,142
 * Snowmass Village – 3,096
 * Walsenburg – 3,049
 * Bayfield – 2,838
 * Telluride – 2,607
 * Palisade – 2,565