Denver Democrats planning vacancy election for seat that’s not vacant, according to sources

DENVER — The election just took place, but Denver Democrats are planning a special vacancy election for a state senator who just won another four-year term.

State Sen. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, won his race on Tuesday with about 85% of the vote. He represents a district that covers Lowry in east Denver, Cherry Creek, Capitol Hill, downtown Denver and Washington Park.

About a dozen sources in and around the State Capitol tell 9NEWS that Hansen is resigning.

Hansen would only tell 9NEWS that he has a public announcement coming on Tuesday.

In a text message after the story aired on Next with Kyle Clark, Hansen said he is not announcing his resignation.

Lawmakers who do resign have their seats filled by their political party’s vacancy committee.

Last week, Denver Democrats Chair James Reyes confirmed for 9NEWS that the vacancy committee to select Hansen’s replacement will have no more than 121 people.

Based on election results as of 6 p.m. Monday, Hansen was reelected with 84% of the vote. He received 74,000 votes out of almost 88,000 votes cast. His opponent was a Libertarian candidate, David Aitken, who received about 14,000 votes.

A screenshot of an internal message within the Denver Democrats showed that the party is planning a special vacancy committee to fill Hansen’s seat and perhaps more.

“As you may know, there will soon be a vacancy committee meeting for SD31 [Senate District 31] and potentially for HD6 [House District 6] or HD2 [House District 2],” the message started.

Here is why House District 2 and House District 6 are mentioned.

Those are both within the boundaries of Hansen’s senate district.

Democratic State Rep.-elect Sean Camacho, D-Denver, was just elected to House District 6 with 85% of the vote.

Camacho defeated State Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver, in the June primary.

He has yet to serve one day as a state representative. When reached by phone on Monday, he was at a retreat for new lawmakers and would not confirm if he would run to fill Hansen’s vacancy.

“It’s really important that people have a choice. It just can’t be the next person in line,” Camacho said. “That doesn’t do the party any good. Competitive processes are best for everybody.”

Democratic State Rep. Steven Woodrow, D-Denver, was just reelected to House District 2 with 74% of the vote. Woodrow also entered the State Capitol through a vacancy committee, when he was appointed to fill Hansen’s House seat when Hansen was appointed by vacancy committee to fill a seat vacated by then-State Sen. Lois Court, D-Denver.

When reached by phone on Monday, Woodrow said he was still in talks with people about running for Hansen’s vacancy.

“I’m taking a very serious look at it,” Woodrow said. “I have the experience and the relationships to be a more effective Senator. And I think a lot of people who already have concerns about process are turned off by the appearance of the backroom nature of what’s occurred.”

On top of filling Hansen’s vacancy which could create a House district vacancy, the vacancy committees themselves also have vacancies.

Multiple people familiar with the vacancy process said that there is a behind-the-scenes race to get the vacancy committees filled with people who will vote for their preferred candidate.

Of the 100 state lawmakers serving through the rest of this year, 29 earned their seat at one time by vacancy committee.

2023-’24 State Lawmakers Appointed at Some Point (29)

State House: 18 (14 Democrats, 4 Republicans)

State Senate: 11 (9 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

2025-’26 State Lawmakers Appointed at Some Point (20)*

State House: 11 (10 Democrats, 1 Republican)

State Senate: 8 (7 Democrats, 2 Republicans)

*This number includes the vacancy appointment to fill the seat of State Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, who won his election to become Douglas County Commissioner, meaning his seat will be filled by vacancy.