A vacancy in an elected office occurs when an office holder resigns or passes away during their elected term. A vacancy may also occur when an elected official moves outside of the district they represent.

Vacancies in federal, state, and local elected offices in Colorado are filled in a variety of ways, including appointments, vacancy elections, and political party vacancy committees.

What is a vacancy?

Who can vote in a State House and Senate District vacancy election?

The members of the District’s Vacancy Committee, as established during the political party’s District reorganization meeting, are the voting members.

Who runs State House and Senate district vacancy elections?

Vacancies are run by the political party of the resigning member. The State and County Parties send out an Official Call (notice) to all vacancy committee members and invite them to participate and vote.

These meetings can happen online or in person. For districts drawn in a single-county, the county party manages the election, and the Colorado Democratic Party manages vacancy elections for districts comprised of multiple counties.

What about other voters in the district?

Registered Democrats in the District and members of the press are welcome to attend any candidate forum and the vacancy election. Public comments are encouraged and will be shared with voting members, however voting is conducted only by vacancy committee members.

How does a vacancy election work?

With 98% of the vote, the Senate District 25 Vacancy Committee on December 23, 2025 selected Rep. William Lindstedt to fill the vacancy created by the passing of State Senator Faith Winter. Read the full release here.

Read Sen. Winter’s obituary and share any memories you have with her family here and consider supporting costs for her funeral, celebration of life and her children’s college savings accounts here.

Senate District 25 Vacancy

On January 11, 2026, the House District 29 Vacancy Committee, with 34 members present, unanimously selected Lori Goldstein to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former State House Representative Shannon Bird.

House District 29 Vacancy

On January 12, 2026, the House District 33 Vacancy Committee, with 36 members present, selected Kenny Nguyen to fill the vacancy created when William Lindstedt was chosen to serve as State Senator following the passing of State Senator Faith Winter. Representative-Elect Nguyen earned 52.9% of the vote, defeating Heidi Henkel, who received 47.1%.

Vacancy Elections