The swing-district suburbs continue to strike back against Republican House members, with incumbent Mike Coffman of Colorado losing to his Democratic challenger, Jason Crow. Coffman, a five-term incumbent who represents part of the Denver suburbs, was facing an increasingly Hispanic and Democratic district. He distanced himself from President Donald Trump in both 2016 and 2018, emphasizing his independence from his party’s leader on immigration.
Both candidates are Iraq war veterans, but their similarities ended there. Crow, an Army Ranger with extensive combat experience, is a lawyer and a first-time candidate. Coffman has been a mainstay in Colorado politics, with stints as state treasurer and secretary of state.
Coffman joins his fellow swing-suburban Republican Barbara Comstock of Virginia as a victim of these voters’ turn against the GOP in recent years.
