No surprises in Colorado congressional races as incumbents roll

Republican Rep. Mike Coffman of Aurora has won a fourth term in the U.S. House after a costly race in one of the nation's most competitive congressional districts.

Coffman defeated Democrat Andrew Romanoff for the suburban Denver seat. The national Democratic and Republican parties poured millions into the contest, one of the most expensive races in state history.

The 6th District is divided almost evenly among Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters.

Coffman is the only member of Congress who served in the military during both Iraq Wars.

1st District

Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette, Colorado's longest-serving member of Congress, has won a 10th term.

DeGette easily defeated Republican challenger Martin Walsh on Tuesday.

DeGette was the clear favorite in the overwhelmingly Democratic 1st Congressional District, which includes the entire city of Denver.

The district also includes the suburbs of Glendale, Englewood, Sheridan and Cherry Hills Village. It has the highest percentage of registered Democrats of any Colorado district at about 45 percent.

DeGette was first elected in 1996, succeeding Democratic Rep. Patricia Schroeder.

2nd District

He defeated Republican challenger George Leing in Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, which includes the University of Colorado and Colorado State University.

Democratic Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder has won a fourth term.

Polis is known for advocating for greater limits on oil and gas drilling. He also is one of the few members of Congress to back marijuana legalization

Polis was first elected in 2008.

Earlier this year, he clashed with fellow Democrats in Denver over his support for giving local governments greater ability to regulate energy production. He later withdrew a promise to fund ballot measures on the question.

Also this year, Polis became one of the first members of Congress to accept the virtual currency bitcoin for his re-election campaign.

3rd District

Republican Rep. Scott Tipton has won a third term in Colorado's largest congressional district.

Tipton defeated Democratic challenger Abel Tapia of Pueblo in the 3rd District.

The district is the size of Arkansas and covers the western and southern portions of Colorado. It historically is one of the state's most competitive districts because of its nearly equal shares of Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters.

Tipton was first elected in 2010, when he defeated Democrat John Salazar, who is now Colorado's agriculture commissioner.

Earlier this year, Tipton backed a bill that would prevent the Gunnison sage grouse from being protected under the Endangered Species Act for 10 years.

4th District

Weld County Republican Ken Buck has won the open race in Colorado's 4th Congressional District.

Buck defeated Democrat Vic Meyers.

The 4th district includes the Eastern Plains and runs the length of the state from Wyoming to New Mexico.

Buck will succeed Republican Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma, who withdrew to challenge Democratic Sen. Mark Udall.

Buck's election marks a revival for the longtime prosecutor. He narrowly lost a Senate race in 2010 to Democrat Michael Bennet.

Buck originally planned to challenge Udall but withdrew after Gardner announced his effort.

5th District

Rep. Doug Lamborn of Colorado Springs has won election to a fifth term in Congress in Colorado's most Republican district.

The Republican defeated Democratic challenger Irv Halter in the 5th Congressional District, centered in Colorado Springs.

Lamborn faced a lively challenge from Halter, a retired Air Force major general.

Halter and even some fellow Republicans criticized Lamborn for urging generals who disagreed with President Barack Obama to resign "in a blaze of glory."

The remarks were made as the military stepped up its campaign against the Islamic State militant group.Lamborn said later that he wasn't referring to current military policy.

7th District

Democratic Rep. Ed Perlmutter is returning to Congress for a fifth term from a district in Denver's western suburbs.

He defeated Republican Don Ytterberg.

Perlmutter is known for his work on banking issues. He has sponsored efforts to help marijuana businesses get access to banking services.

Perlmutter also sponsored a measure to strengthen data confidentiality in communications among regulators.

The 7th District was created after the 2000 Census. Before Perlmutter, the seat was held by Republican Bob Beauprez, who resigned to run for governor and ran for governor again this year.