CQ Risk Rating: Safe Democrat 
| GENERAL ELECTION: NOVEMBER 7, 2000 |
|
| Diana DeGette (D) | 141,831 | 69% |
| Jesse L. Thomas (R) | 56,291 | 27% |
| Richard Combs (LIBERT) | 5,852 | 3% |
| Lyle L. Nasser (REF) | 2,452 | 1% |
| write-ins | 8 | 0% |
| PRIMARY ELECTION: AUGUST 8, 2000 |
|
| | Votes | Percentage | | Democratic |
| Diana DeGette | 16,742 | 100% |
| | Republican |
| Jesse L. Thomas | 7,249 | 100% |
Source: Congressional Quarterly. To suggest updates and corrections: politics.feedback@cq.com
Major Industry | Population | Cities | People | Race | Median Household Income | Unusual Features
COLORADO 1
:
Denver
While most of Colorado swings to the right, the 1st remains an enclave
of liberalism. Democrats haven't lost this capital district since 1970. In
1992, Clinton won Denver while barely squeaking by in the rest of the state,
and in 1996, Denver continued its strong support for Clinton while the rest
of the state went for the Republican presidential candidate.
Many residents of the Mile High City tend to be young, single and
culturally liberal. North Denver, historically home to Scottish and Irish
immigrants, now has large Hispanic and black populations. The 1st also takes
in some blue-collar portions of Aurora and Commerce City, including the
controversial Denver International Airport, engineered by former Mayor
Federico Peña (later Clinton's secretary of Transportation, then Energy).
The $4.9-billion airport is finally starting to get on its feet and bring
new commerce into the city.
After suffering an economic bust in the 1980s, Denver boomed in the
1990s. Rapid growth in the city's high-tech and telecommunications
industries has revitalized downtown and mitigated both the loss of Lowry Air
Force Base and the gradual shutdown of Fitzsimons Army Medical Center, which
was slated to close in 1999. Lowry has become a high-tech education center,
and Fitzsimons has become home to the U. of Colorado's medical school and a
bioscience research park.
Major Industry
Telecommunications, computers, health care
Population
549,053 (1990)
Cities
Denver, 497,840 (1996); Aurora (pt.), 55,504; Commerce City (pt.), 15,424
(1990)
People
100% urban; 13% age 65+ (ranks first of six in state; middle third
nationally); 39% married couples, 16% married couples with children; 27%
college educated (ranks fourth of six in state; top third nationally); 63%
white collar (ranks fourth of six in state; top third nationally), 20% blue
collar (ranks fourth of six in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Race
73% white, 13% black, 2% Asian; 22% Hispanic origin (1990)
Median Household Income
$24,870 (ranks fifth of six in state; bottom third nationally) (1990)
Unusual Features
Great American Beer Festival, the nation's largest and oldest annual brewing
competition; U.S. Mint coin production facility; Rocky Mountain Arsenal near
Commerce City, a former chemical weapons storage site that is being
converted into a wildlife preserve.
Source: Congressional Quarterly (Updated April 1999)
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District 1
