Colorado Supreme Court approves new congressional districts
The Colorado Supreme Court gave unanimous approval Monday to a new Colorado Congressional Districts map submitted to it by the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission. The San Luis Valley remains in the 3rd Congressional District, but the district boundaries itself was amended to reflect the 2020 Census and deliberations of the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission.
“Receiving this approval from the Colorado Supreme Court reaffirms that this new redistricting process is a successful model that should set the standard for the rest of the country,” said Jessika Shipley, staff director of the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commissions.
Colorado voters in 2020 adopted Amendment Y, which made the state the first in the nation to create an independent commission to redraw congressional districts based on the 2020 Census. Colorado gained an additional seat in the U.S. House of Representatives based on its population growth from 2010 to 2020, which required the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission to overhaul the map to create a new, eighth congressional district.
The 3rd Congressional District encompasses western and southern Colorado. It includes twenty-six whole counties: Alamosa, Archuleta, Conejos, Costilla, Delta, Dolores, Garfield, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Huerfano, La Plata, Las Animas, Mesa, Mineral, Moffat, Montezuma, Montrose, Otero, Ouray, Pitkin, Pueblo, Rio Blanco, Rio Grande, Saguache, San Juan, and San Miguel.
To keep the Roaring Fork Valley whole, the district also includes a portion of Eagle County, including the towns of Basalt and El Jebel. To ensure precise population equality, the congressional district includes a portion of Eagle County up to Interstate 70 and east, excluding the 16 towns of Gypsum and Eagle.
Republican Lauren Boebert is up for re-election in 2022 and has drawn both a Republican primary challenger in Marina Zimmerman from Durango as well as a host of Democratic challengers, including state Rep. Don Valdez who represents the San Luis Valley in the state legislature.
Colorado Congressional Districts (Final Approved Plan)
Colorado state house and senate maps still to come
The state Supreme Court is also reviewing new redistricting maps for the Colorado legislature house and senate seats. One major change in the final state legislative maps submitted to the state Supreme Court is changing the current boundaries of the area represented by state Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa. Simpson is the current District 35 state senator but under the proposed plan before the state Supreme Court would move into Senate District 6. District 35 currently covers the San Luis Valley, parts of Pueblo, and the eastern plains. District 6, if the map is approved, would include the San Luis Valley and then counties covering the western slope of Colorado. For Simpson instead of roaming east from the San Luis Valley, he would look west for his constituents.
The Colorado Supreme Court has until Nov. 15 to review and approve the final state legislative maps
Adams State students perform at Sacred Heart Church this week
Here’s a cool collaboration. The Adams State University Music Department with the School of Visual and Performing Arts will present “Celebration and Remembrance,” at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Nov. 4, in the Alamosa Sacred Heart Church. The concert will feature the Adams State winds and percussion, chamber choir and percussion ensemble. Guest performers include Janice Robison, organist, and Christopher Spears, guitarist.
“We are grateful to be celebrating making live music again in this sacred space, while remembering the challenges and losses we have all endured these past two years,” said Beth Robison, D.M.A., director of choral programs.
Admission is $5 for adults; $1 for students and seniors; and free to Associated Students and Faculty and Friends of Music. For more information call 719-587-7621. For the safety of all, face masks are required for audience members.
