Consuelo Redhorse Wins Colorado House District 13 Election

Consuelo Redhorse Wins Colorado House District 13 Election

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Consuelo Redhorse, a Democrat from Silverthorne, has won the race for Colorado House District 13, besting Republican challenger Miguel Martinez in the Nov. 3 election, Summit Daily reported. With this win, Redhorse is set to replace outgoing House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat who has reached her term limit and will leave office after years representing the mountain region.

House District 13 encompasses Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park and Summit counties, where affordability challenges include housing costs, limited childcare options and transportation needs.

A Contested Path to the General Election

Redhorse’s road to November ran through a competitive Democratic primary in June, where she faced Lake County Attorney Chris Floyd. Floyd entered the race with McCluskie’s endorsement, setting up a contest between the establishment-backed candidate and the school board president from Summit County.

Consuelo Redhorse Wins Colorado House District 13 Election
Photo: kkco11news.com

Preliminary election results as of around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 3, showed Redhorse leading with 27,245 votes, or 59.23%, while Martinez garnered 18,757 votes, or 40.77%, out of 41,200 votes counted. The 59.23% to 40.77% margin came as Martinez ran primarily on serving as the voice of the taxpayer and championing fiscal responsibility.

Her Background Shapes Legislative Focus

Redhorse, a member of the Navajo Nation, campaigned on bringing historically underrepresented voices to the statehouse. Her personal history informs her legislative priorities: she has spoken about growing up outside the majority and lacking political power in her community.

“I feel like there have been so many groups that have not been represented and that have not had the political power. I grew up not being in the majority and not having a lot of people understand where my family came from or our culture, and I think this is an opportunity to bring those values.”

As president of the Summit School District Board of Education, Redhorse has direct experience with the challenges facing rural school districts, including teacher retention and funding gaps. She has said she would champion these voices while bringing her lifelong values of respecting community and nature to the Capitol.

Her platform centered on concrete affordability challenges facing District 13 residents: housing costs that have priced out longtime locals, limited childcare options that keep parents out of the workforce, and transportation needs in a region where public transit is scarce and distances are long.

“It’s going to get really challenging, but I’m excited to do the work for the people and address issues that they feel in their lives.”

The Opposition’s Message

Martinez ran primarily as the voice of the taxpayer, championing fiscal responsibility, protections for seniors and veterans, and what he described as restoring family values. Redhorse thanked her opponent, along with her family, friends and community members, for their participation in the election.

What Comes Next for District 13

The election results confirm that District 13 remains a Democratic stronghold, but Martinez still received 40.77% of the vote. For residents of Chaffee, Grand, Jackson, Lake, Park and Summit counties, Redhorse campaigned on addressing affordability challenges including housing costs, limited childcare options and transportation needs.

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