Tracy Kraft-Tharp

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Tracy Kraft-Tharp
Member of the
Jefferson County Commission
from the 1st district
Assumed office
2021
Preceded byLibby Szabo
Member of the Colorado House of Representatives
from the 29th district
In office
January 9, 2013 – January 13, 2021
Preceded byRobert Ramirez
Succeeded byLindsey Daugherty
Personal details
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseVern Tharp
EducationMinnesota State University Moorhead (BS)
University of Denver (MSW, JD)
Signature

Tracy Kraft-Tharp is an American teacher and politician who serves on the county commission in Jefferson County, Colorado. Prior to her tenure on the county commission she served in the Colorado House of Representatives from the 29th district from 2013 to 2021, as a member of the Democratic Party.

Kraft-Tharp was educated at Minnesota State University Moorhead and the University of Denver before working at Metropolitan State University, and Regis University. She defeated incumbent Republican Representative Robert Ramirez in the 2012 election for a seat in the state house and was reelected in the 2014, 2016, and 2018 elections. During her tenure she chaired the Business Affairs and Labor committee. She defeated incumbent Commissioner Libby Szabo for a seat on the Jefferson County Commission in the 2020 election.

Early life and education[edit]

Tracy Kraft-Tharp graduated from Minnesota State University Moorhead with a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology and education and from the University of Denver with a master of social work in social work and a Juris Doctor. She worked as a teacher at a middle school, Metropolitan State University, and Regis University, youth counselor in a juvenile detention center, and social worker. She married Vern Tharp.[1][2]

Career[edit]

Colorado House of Representatives[edit]

Robert Ramirez, a Republican member of the Colorado House of Representatives from the 29th district, was targeted by the Democratic Party in the 2012 election as he won in the 2010 election by 197 votes.[3] Kraft-Tharp won the Democratic primary and defeated Ramirez and Libertarian nominee Hans V. Romer in the election.[4][5] She defeated Republican nominee Susan Kochevar and Libertarian nominee Romer in the 2014 election.[6][7] Ramirez was initially the Republican nominee, but withdrew and a vacancy committee selected Kochevar to replace him.[8][9] She defeated Republican nominee Kochevar in the 2016 election.[10][11] Kraft-Tharp defeated Republican nominee Grady Nouis and Libertarian nominee Romer in the 2018 election after she raised $129,699 while Nouis raised $38,762.[12][13][14]

One of Kraft-Tharp's aides accused Representative Steve Lebsock of sexual harassment.[15] During her tenure in the state house she served on the Appropriations and Finance committees and chaired the Business Affairs and Labor committee.[16][17]

Kraft-Tharp declined to seek an appointment to replace Senator Evie Hudak.[18] She considered running to succeed Ed Perlmutter in the United States House of Representatives from Colorado's 7th congressional district during the 2018 election.[19] She endorsed Hillary Clinton during the 2016 Democratic presidential primaries and Joe Biden during the 2020 Democratic presidential primaries.[20][21]

Local politics[edit]

Kraft-Tharp was a member of the Jefferson County PTA.[2] She announced her campaign for a county commission seat in Jefferson County, Colorado, on November 6, 2019, with Lindsey Rasmussen as her campaign manager.[22][23] She defeated incumbent Republican commissioner Libby Szabo and Libertarian nominee Romer.[24][25] During her tenure on the commission she served as the chair pro tem.[2]

Political positions[edit]

Kraft-Tharp voted against renaming Columbus Day to be in honor of Frances Xavier Cabrini.[26] She received an A rating from NARAL Pro-Choice America.[27] Her scores from the American Civil Liberties Union ranged from 89% in 2013, 60% in 2015, and 83% in 2019, while receiving 100% in 2014, 2016, 2017, and 2018.[28]

Electoral history[edit]

2012 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district Democratic primary[4]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp 2,664 100.00%
Total votes 2,664 100.00%
2012 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district election[5]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp 19,368 51.27%
Republican Robert Ramirez 16,281 43.10%
Libertarian Hans V. Romer 2,129 5.64%
Total votes 37,778 100.00%
2014 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district Democratic primary[6]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp (incumbent) 3,021 100.00%
Total votes 3,021 100.00%
2014 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district election[7]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp (incumbent) 14,908 49.24%
Republican Susan Kochevar 13,329 44.02%
Libertarian Hans V. Romer 2,040 6.74%
Total votes 30,277 100.00%
2016 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district Democratic primary[10]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp (incumbent) 3,502 100.00%
Total votes 3,502 100.00%
2016 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district election[11]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp (incumbent) 21,701 54.56%
Republican Susan Kochevar 18,072 45.44%
Total votes 39,773 100.00%
2018 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district Democratic primary[12]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp (incumbent) 8,345 100.00%
Total votes 8,345 100.00%
2018 Colorado House of Representatives 29th district election[13]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp (incumbent) 22,100 58.30%
Republican Grady Nouis 14,169 37.38%
Libertarian Hans V. Romer 1,637 4.32%
Total votes 37,906 100.00%
2020 Jefferson County Commission 2nd district Democratic primary[24]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp 104,821 100.00%
Total votes 104,821 100.00%
2020 Jefferson County Commission 2nd district election[25]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Tracy Kraft-Tharp 185,307 51.89%
Republican Libby Szabo (incumbent) 155,443 43.53%
Libertarian Hans V. Romer 16,350 4.58%
Total votes 357,100 100.00%

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Colorado House District 29 candidate Q&A". The Denver Post. October 10, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  2. ^ a b c "Tracy Kraft-Tharp, District 1". Jefferson County, Colorado. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
  3. ^ "Colorado Democrats target state Rep. Robert Ramirez's seat in HD29". The Denver Post. July 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  4. ^ a b "2012 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022.
  5. ^ a b "2012 Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on February 5, 2022.
  6. ^ a b "2014 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022.
  7. ^ a b "2014 Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 13, 2022.
  8. ^ "GOP candidate Robert Ramirez abandons race for House District 29". The Denver Post. June 19, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  9. ^ "Susan Kochevar to represent Republicans in Jeffco House 29 race". The Denver Post. July 9, 2014. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  10. ^ a b "2016 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
  11. ^ a b "2016 Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
  12. ^ a b "2018 Primary Election Results - Democratic Party Ballot". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
  13. ^ a b "2018 Election Results". Secretary of State of Colorado. Archived from the original on May 9, 2022.
  14. ^ "Lindsey Daugherty reports $20,000 haul early in HD29 race". Colorado Politics. October 22, 2019. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
  15. ^ "Colorado House expels Rep. Steve Lebsock, 52-9". Colorado Politics. March 2, 2018. Archived from the original on January 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "Democrats announce House committee assignments". Colorado Politics. January 6, 2020. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  17. ^ "House Democrats line up committee leadership". Colorado Politics. December 1, 2016. Archived from the original on December 6, 2021.
  18. ^ "Hudak resigns Senate seat in face of recall". Colorado Politics. November 27, 2013. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021.
  19. ^ "Lakewood Democrat Andy Kerr plans to announce run for 7th Congressional District seat Wednesday". Colorado Politics. April 11, 2017. Archived from the original on May 16, 2022.
  20. ^ "VIDEO: Colorado legislators endorse Bernie Sanders at Capitol rally". Colorado Politics. February 24, 2016. Archived from the original on January 17, 2020.
  21. ^ "Colorado Senate President Leroy Garcia, slew of fellow Democrats endorse Joe Biden in presidential primary". Colorado Politics. January 24, 2020. Archived from the original on December 1, 2021.
  22. ^ "Colorado state Rep. Tracy Kraft-Tharp to run for JeffCo commission". Colorado Politics. November 7, 2019. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
  23. ^ "Legislative, campaign veterans join Democratic consulting firm Hilltop Solutions". Colorado Politics. July 16, 2021. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022.
  24. ^ a b "2020 Primary Election Results". Jefferson County, Colorado. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022.
  25. ^ a b "2020 Election Results". Jefferson County, Colorado. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022.
  26. ^ "Columbus Day might soon be relic of history". Grand Junction Daily Sentinel. February 20, 2015. p. 1. Archived from the original on June 25, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ "Tracy Kraft-Tharp". NARAL Pro-Choice America. Archived from the original on June 27, 2022.
  28. ^ "2013 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2013. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022.;
    "2014 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2014. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022.;
    "2015 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2015. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022.;
    "2016 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2016. Archived from the original on January 17, 2022.;
    "2017 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2017. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022.;
    "2018 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2018. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022.;
    "2019 Legislative Scorecard". American Civil Liberties Union. August 1, 2019. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022.

External links[edit]

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