Colorado's 11th Senate district

Colorado's 11th Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Colorado Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Tony Exum since 2023. Prior to redistricting the district was represented by Democrats Pete Lee and Michael Merrifield.^[3]

Colorado's 11th State Senate district
From 2022 onward From 2012 to 2022
Senator	Tony Exum D–Colorado Springs
Registration	31.9% Democratic 22.8% Republican 42.6% No party preference
Demographics	56% White 9% Black 27% Hispanic 3% Asian 5% Other
Population (2018)	147,383^[1]
Registered voters	92,005^[2]

Geography

District 11 is based in central Colorado Springs in El Paso County, also stretching to cover the nearby communities of Manitou Springs and Stratmoor.^[4]

The district is located entirely within Colorado's 5th congressional district, and overlaps with the 17th, 18th, and 20th districts of the Colorado House of Representatives.^[5][6]

Recent election results

Colorado state senators are elected to staggered four-year terms; under normal circumstances, the 11th district holds elections in midterm years.

2022

The 2022 election will be the first one held under the state's new district lines. Democratic incumbent Pete Lee now lives in the 12th district, meaning he won't be able to run for the Senate at all in 2022, and 2nd district Republican senator Dennis Hisey is running in the 11th district instead.^[7]

2022 Colorado Senate election, District 11^[8][9]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tony Exum	4,887	54.1
	Democratic	Yolanda Avila	4,147	45.9
Total votes			9,034	100
General election
	Democratic	Tony Exum	20,258	49.9
	Republican	Dennis Hisey	18,042	44.5
	Libertarian	Daryl Kuiper	2,264	5.6
Total votes			40,564	100

Historical election results

2018

2018 Colorado Senate election, District 11^[10]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Pete Lee	28,015	62.0
	Republican	Pat McIntire	17,200	38.0
Total votes			45,215	100
	Democratic hold

2014

2014 Colorado Senate election, District 11^[11]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Merrifield	18,815	52.2
	Republican	Bernie Herpin (incumbent)	14,978	41.5
	Libertarian	Norman Dawson	2,282	6.3
Total votes			36,075	100
	Democratic gain from Republican

2013 recall

In 2013, an attempt to recall incumbent Democrat John Morse over his support for gun control legislation was successful, resulting in the election of Republican Bernie Herpin.

Shall John Morse be recalled from the office of State Senate, District 11?

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	9,131	50.9
No	8,812	49.1
Total votes	17,845	100.00

2013 Colorado Senate recall election, District 11^[6][12]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bernie Herpin	8,895	83.2
	Write-in		1,796	16.8
Total votes			10,691	100
	Republican gain from Democratic

Federal and statewide results

Year	Office	Results^[13]
2020	President	Biden 58.6 – 36.9%
2018	Governor	Polis 58.2 – 36.4%
2016	President	Clinton 50.2 – 39.3%
2014	Senate	Udall 50.6 – 41.7%
	Governor	Hickenlooper 51.1 – 41.3%
2012	President	Obama 59.2 – 37.6%

References

1. "State Senate District 11, CO". Census Reporter. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
2. "Total Registered Voters by State Senate District, Party, and Status" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
3. "Senator Pete Lee". Colorado General Assembly. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
4. "Final Plans Approved by the Court". Colorado Redistricting - General Assembly. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
5. David Jarman. "How do counties, House districts, and legislative districts all overlap?". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 18, 2020.
6. "Colorado State Senate District 11". Ballotpedia. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
7. Faith Miller (February 24, 2022). "Three candidates face off in one of Colorado's most competitive legislative districts". Colorado Newsline. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
8. "2022 Primary Election". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
9. "2022 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved January 10, 2022.
10. "2018 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
11. "2014 Abstract of Votes Cast" (PDF). Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
12. "2013 Recall Election Results". Colorado Secretary of State. Retrieved July 5, 2022.
13. "Daily Kos Elections Statewide Results by LD". Daily Kos. Retrieved April 18, 2020.