DENVER — Congressman Ed Perlmutter announced that he will not seek reelection in 2022.
The Democrat represents Colorado's 7th District, which currently encompasses portions of Adams, Arapahoe and Jefferson counties.
In 2021, the 7th District was re-drawn by the Colorado Independent Redistricting Commission. Its new borders go from Broomfield County in the north to Lake and Chaffee counties in the west and stretches to Custer County in the south. The re-drawn district also includes Park, Teller and Fremont counties respectively. Most of Jefferson County remains within the district.
Perlmutter released the following statement:
"I have loved representing my friends, neighbors and fellow Coloradans in the Congress of the United States of America. I will miss meeting the voters of the new 7th District – it is truly the most beautiful district in America. It’s got the best of Colorado in it and even though the numbers are slightly tighter we will win. I’ve never shied away from a challenge but it’s time for me to move on and explore other opportunities. There comes a time when you pass the torch to the next generation of leaders."
Perlmutter has been the 7th Congressional District's representative since 2006. He won the seat after former two-term Representative Bob Beauprez retired to run for governor in 2006.
In 2017, Perlmutter briefly ran for the Democratic nomination for governor, but dropped out shortly after then-Congressman Jared Polis announced he would also run.
Perlmutter's political career began in 1995 when he was elected to the state Senate. He held that seat until 2003.
The voter makeup of the new 7th Congressional District as of June 15, 2021 was:
- Unaffiliated: 233,077(44.3%)
- Democrat: 148,275(28.2%)
- Republican: 135,643(25.4%)
Based on previous elections among the voting population of the new 7th Congressional District, it leans Democratic.
In the 2020 U.S. Senate race between then-Republican Sen. Cory Gardner and Democratic challenger John Hickenlooper, the voters of the newly drawn 7th Congressional District picked Hickenlooper by 10 points.
Over the last eight statewide races (2016 Senate, 2016 President, 2018 Attorney General, 2018 Governor, 2018 Treasurer, 2018 Secretary of State, 2018 CU Regent At-Large, 2020 U.S. Senate), the Democratic candidate won each race by an average of seven points.
Two Republicans had previously announced their candidacies for CD7: Erik Aadland and Laurel Imer.
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