Colorado's 31st Senate district

Colorado's 31st Senate district is one of 35 districts in the Colorado Senate. It has been represented by Democrat Matthew Ball since 2025, following the resignation of fellow Democrat Chris Hansen.^[3]

Colorado's 31st State Senate district
From 2022 onward From 2012 to 2022
Senator	Matthew Ball D–Denver
Registration	42.2% Democratic 8.5% Republican 47.0% No party preference
Demographics	70% White 9% Black 14% Hispanic 4% Asian 3% Other
Population (2018)	167,225[1]
Registered voters	126,790[2]

Geography

District 31 is based in the central and southeastern neighborhoods of Denver, including Capitol Hill; the district also includes the Arapahoe County exclaves of Glendale and Holly Hills.^[4]

The district is located entirely within Colorado's 1st congressional district, and overlaps with the 2nd, 5th, 6th, 8th, and 9th districts of the Colorado House of Representatives.^[5] At 23 square miles, it is the smallest Senate district in the state.^[1]

Recent election results

Colorado state senators are elected to staggered four-year terms; under normal circumstances, the 31st district holds elections in presidential years.

2020

2020 Colorado State Senate election, District 31^[6]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Chris Hansen (incumbent)	24,439	52.7
	Democratic	Maria Orms	21,916	47.3
Total votes			46,355	100
General election
	Democratic	Chris Hansen (incumbent)	74,288	76.7
	Republican	Doug Townsend	22,562	23.3
Total votes			96,850	100
	Democratic hold

2016

2016 Colorado State Senate election, District 31^[7]

Primary election
Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lois Court	7,632	44.1
	Democratic	Steve Sherick	5,810	33.6
	Democratic	Erin Bennett	3,874	22.4
Total votes			17,316	100
	Republican	Bob Lane	3,189	67.9
	Republican	Jeffery Washington	1,511	32.1
Total votes			4,700	100
General election
	Democratic	Lois Court	57,793	69.6
	Republican	Bob Lane	25,268	30.4
Total votes			83,061	100
	Democratic hold

2012

2012 Colorado State Senate election, District 31^[8]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Pat Steadman (incumbent)	54,390	69.9
	Republican	Michael Carr	23,425	30.1
Total votes			77,815	100
	Democratic hold

Federal and statewide results

Year	Office	Results[9]
2020	President	Biden 78.2 – 19.4%
2018	Governor	Polis 75.8 – 21.4%
2016	President	Clinton 71.5 – 21.1%
2014	Senate	Udall 68.2 – 27.5%
	Governor	Hickenlooper 71.8 – 24.4%
2012	President	Obama 69.8 – 28.0%