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The 3rd Congressional district of Colorado is located in western and south central Colorado, encompassing most of the rural Western Slope, including the cities of Grand Junction and Durango, as well as southern portions of Colorado's eastern plains, including the city of Pueblo. It is represented in Congress by Democrat John Salazar.
[edit] History
[edit] Alignments
[edit] 1990s alignment
Following the 1990 U.S. Census and associated realignment of Colorado congressional districts, the 3rd Congressional district consisted of Alamosa, Archuleta, Chaffee, Conejos, Costilla, Custer, 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.
[edit] 2000s alignment
Following the 2000 U.S. census and associated realignment of Colorado 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.
[edit] Representation
[edit] Competitiveness
The district has two major population centers, Grand Junction and Pueblo. The two towns and their surrounding rural areas provide a competitive arena for congressional races. Grand Junction, on the Western Slope provides a base for conservatism while Pueblo, a town with a large Latino population and (by Colorado norms) a heavily unionized workforce, provides a base of support for Democrats. George W. Bush received 55% of the vote in this district in 2004.
[edit] 2004 election
[edit] 2006 election
