As the dust settles from the 2024 election, residents across Colorado’s 22 judicial districts now know who their district attorneys will be for the next four years, barring any unforeseen changes.
While many district attorneys ran unopposed, there were a few contested elections, including a historic win in Pueblo for Kala Beauvais, who became the first woman to lead the office in the district’s history. She’s also the first Republican to win the office since 1952.
“I am honored and humbled by the trust Pueblo County has placed in me,” said Beauvais in a press release. “I’ve dedicated my career to fighting for justice in this community, and as District Attorney, I am committed to continuing that work — ensuring that every voice is heard, and every case receives the attention it deserves. Being the first woman to serve in this role is not just a personal milestone; it is a victory for all women in our community.”
Beauvais replaces the outgoing DA, Jeff Chostner, who chose not to run for reelection after more than a decade in the office.
Further up the front range, the narrowest DA race of the 2024 elections happened in Fort Collins, with incumbent Democrat Gordon McLaughlin narrowly fending off a challenge from the independent candidate Dawn Downs. According to McLaughlin’s campaign website, his focuses during his first term were pragmatic reform, community safety and increased outreach and transparency.
“I’m honored to continue serving as District Attorney for Larimer and Jackson Counties for another four years,” McLaughlin said in a statement on Facebook. “This was a close race… Thank you for trusting me and supporting our team in creating a safer community.”
New District Attorneys
In Denver, city residents will have a new DA as Beth McCann declined to run for reelection. Democratic primary voters selected John Walsh as their candidate in the summer, and he ran unopposed in the general election.
Walsh will take the reins in January, and he told voters during his campaign that some of his priorities in office will be the safety issues the city is facing and the mental health and fentanyl crises. He intends to address these issues with task forces, targeted enforcement, youth outreach and community engagement.
In the 3rd Judicial District, Nicholas Dale will be at the helm. Dale, a Democrat, ran unopposed in Huerfano and Las Animas counties and replaced Henry Solano, who chose not to run for reelection.
In an unusual turn of events, voters in the 7th Judicial District elected Republican Anna Cooling to be their DA without her name appearing on the ballot. The district’s previous DA, Seth Ryan, withdrew his candidacy on Sept. 24.
According to the Colorado Secretary of State’s website, votes cast for Ryan were counted as votes for Cooling, following her nomination by a vacancy committee to replace Ryan. Cooling, who currently practices family law at Fleming Lowenberg & Cooling, previously served as the district’s deputy DA.
In the 9th Judicial District, Benjamin Sollars, a Republican, won in an uncontested reelection. He will replace a fellow Republican, Jeff Cheney, who is term-limited.
Sollars, in his profile for the Garfield County Republicans, noted that he believes in a victim-centered approach to prosecution and leadership.
“The safety of our community is paramount. I am committed to implementing comprehensive strategies that prioritize the safety and well-being of every resident,” Sollars said in his profile. “By collaborating with law enforcement agencies, community organizations, and other stakeholders, I aim to create an environment where everyone will feel secure.”
Jeffrey Lindsey, who was elected without an opponent in the 11th Judicial District, will begin his term as DA early. Lindsey, a Republican, was sworn in as acting DA to fill the absence caused by the disbarment of the district’s former DA, Linda Stanley.
Lindsey, according to his website, plans to collaborate with law enforcement agencies, community leaders and local governments during his term.
“For over two decades, I have built relationships with many law enforcement leaders, and I am ready to begin building stronger relationships with local leaders on day one,” Lindsey said on his campaign website. “I will foster open communication with the public, and I will listen to your concerns and ideas for making our community safer and stronger.”
In the newly redrawn 18th Judicial District, Democrat Amy Padden will take over, following her election win against Republican Carol Chambers. Padden replaces the outgoing John Kellner, who didn’t run for reelection.
In the 22nd Judicial District, appointed DA Christian Hatfield, a Democrat, was defeated by Republican candidate Jeremy Reed. Reed won the election with more than 67% of the vote. Hatfield was appointed to the position by Polis in 2023.
Reed, a former deputy DA in the district, was dismissed from his position after telling Hatfield that he intended to challenge him for the position of DA.
“I want to thank all of you who supported me in so many ways, I cannot express how much that support meant to me,” Reed said in a statement on the Facebook account for his campaign. “I am looking forward to getting back to work in the DA’s office.”
Colorado’s inaugural DA for its newest judicial district, the 23rd, will be Republican George Brauchler. Brauchler defeated Democrat Karen Breslin by a more than 20% margin. Brauchler previously served as DA for eight years in the 18th Judicial District, part of which became the new district.
Brauchler previously ran for Colorado Attorney General in 2018, but was defeated by Phil Weiser.
Reelected
In Colorado’s 1st Judicial District, Alexis King, a Democrat, was reelected to the position without an opponent. King was elected as district attorney in 2020, and since taking office, she has created a conviction integrity unit, enforced bond reform and developed a pre-file diversion program, according to her website.
King was also part of the group of Colorado district attorneys that launched the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators dashboard in 2022, with the intent to increase transparency in the prosecutorial process and build public trust.
In Colorado Springs, Republican Michael Allen won reelection with more than 61% of the vote, securing his second term as the 4th Judicial District’s DA. According to his website, Allen uses experience, research and data-led prosecution efforts to guide the office.
In the 5th Judicial District, Democrat Heidi McCollum will continue as DA after winning an uncontested election. McCollum has been with the district since 2013, and this will be her second term as the head of the department.
In the 12th Judicial District, Republican Anne Kelly won an uncontested reelection after a shorter than usual term. Kelly took over the office in 2022, following the resignation of former DA Alonzo Payne. She was then elected to the position in November 2022. Following her reelection, she will have a new, full term as the head of the office.
Travis Sides was reelected unopposed in the 13th Judicial. This will be the Republican DA’s second term in the position. Sides has been with the office since 2010, serving previously as a deputy district attorney.
Colorado’s only independent district attorney, Matthew Karzen, won reelection in the 14th Judicial District. Karzen has been DA for Routt, Moffat and Grand counties since 2019.
In Adams and Broomfield counties, DA Brian Mason secured reelection without competition. Mason, a Democrat, noted two primary goals on his campaign website: “keeping the community safe and making the criminal justice system better.”
Mason recently spoke with Law Week Colorado about one of his office’s focuses, its diversion program, which he has expanded during his time in office.
Michael Rourke is now set to serve his final term as DA for the 19th Judicial District, following his unopposed election win. Rourke has been DA since 2014, when he was appointed to the position after the departure of Ken Buck, who left after winning an election to serve as a U.S. Representative.
Boulder voters reaffirmed Michael Dougherty as their DA in the 20th Judicial District. The Democrat ran unopposed, and he will begin his second full term as the county’s DA in January. Dougherty was initially appointed as DA by Polis in March 2018. Dougherty spoke with Law Week in 2023 about secondary trauma and criminal law.
In Mesa County and Grand Junction, a familiar face will continue as DA, as Republican Daniel Rubinstein won in an unopposed reelection. Rubinstein was appointed to the position in 2015, and has served as DA for the 21st Judicial District since.
Appointees Secure Full Terms
Voters in the 6th Judicial District have affirmed Sean Murray as their district attorney. Murray, a Democrat, was appointed by Polis to serve out the remainder of former DA Christian Champagne’s term after Champagne accepted a position in Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser’s office.
In the 15th Judicial District, Republican DA Andrew Hayden won in an uncontested race, securing a four-year term following his October appointment by Polis to fill the position after the resignation of Joshua Vogel.
Another Polis appointee, Republican James Bullock, was affirmed by voters in the 16th Judicial District. Bullock was appointed in April after William Culver was named to the Otero County Court. He was previously DA for the 16th Judicial District from 2012 to 2021.