The Ballot Brief
Douglas County, Colorado

Colorado House District 44

3 candidates are tracked for Colorado House District 44 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Anthony Hartsook, Richard Bowness and John H Sutton. Candidate information follows official Douglas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

About this race

Anthony Hartsook (Republican), Richard Bowness (Democratic), John H Sutton (Libertarian) are on the November 3 ballot for Colorado House District 44; Anthony Hartsook is the sitting member, per the General Assembly roster (leg.colorado.gov). Major-party nominees were chosen at the June 30 primary; minor-party nominees by assembly or petition and unaffiliated candidates by petition. The field is the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. This seat is elected by district; only the district covering your address appears on your ballot.

What this office does

State legislator. State legislators write and vote on state laws and the state budget, which fund schools, roads, prisons, universities and health programs, and set the rules for local governments and elections. Each member represents one district and serves on committees that shape bills before a floor vote. Terms are two years in most state houses and four in most state senates.

This race. Elected by district: only voters who live in the district see this race on their ballot. The sitting officeholder, Anthony Hartsook, is on the ballot.

Colorado › Douglas County › Colorado House District 44

Anthony Hartsook

Republican Incumbent

Top priorities
  • Lower taxes and less bureaucracy to spur economic growth
  • Supporting law enforcement for safe communities and schools
  • Parental involvement in education decisions

Per the campaign site.

Biography

Anthony Hartsook is the sitting State Representative for House District 44, first elected in 2022, and serves as House Minority Caucus Chair, per his campaign site. Hartsook is a retired U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel with 26 years of service, per the same source. He earned a master's degree in administration from Central Michigan University and a bachelor's degree in biology from Northern Arizona University, and served as a Legislative Affairs Assistant for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, per his campaign site.

Campaign site (opens in a new tab)

Richard Bowness

Democratic

Biography

Richard Bowness is the Democratic candidate for Colorado House District 44 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

John H Sutton

Libertarian

Biography

John H Sutton is the Libertarian candidate for Colorado House District 44 on the November 3, 2026 ballot, per the Secretary of State's 2026 General Election candidate list. Sutton is the Libertarian candidate for House District 44, a race that also includes Republican incumbent Anthony Hartsook and Democrat Richard Bowness, per Colorado Times Recorder. No campaign website was found as of September 8, 2026.

Next on your ballotColorado House District 45

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Voting info and more

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Questions about this race

Who is running for Colorado House District 44 in 2026?

3 candidates are tracked for Colorado House District 44 on the November 3, 2026 ballot: Anthony Hartsook, Richard Bowness and John H Sutton. Candidate information follows official Douglas County election filings; verify with the official election office linked below.

When is the Colorado House District 44 election in Colorado?

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026. Registration deadlines, early voting dates and mail ballot rules for Colorado are on the Colorado election hub at theballotbrief.com.

How do I see my exact Douglas County ballot?

Enter your ZIP code in the lookup at theballotbrief.com for the statewide and congressional races, or a full street address to add the county, city and district contests for that location.

Verify this race

Candidate roster from official Douglas County and state election office filings, last verified September 27, 2026. Bios and priorities carry their attribution inline.

Cross-check with the official Colorado election office, or see the full Douglas County sample ballot and your exact ballot by address.

The rest of your Douglas County ballot

15 tracked races in Douglas County, Colorado. Landed here from another county's search? Look up your own ballot below.

Also on your ballot
Colorado House District 61Douglas County Commissioner, District 1Douglas County TreasurerSee all 15 Douglas County races
Candidate profiles
Anthony Hartsook, full profileRichard Bowness, full profileJohn H Sutton, full profileOfficial Colorado election office