Greg Lopez
{{Short description|American politician (born 1964)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Use American English|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Greg Lopez
| image = Greg Lopez in 2024.jpg
| caption = Lopez in 2024
| state = Colorado
| district = {{ushr|CO|4|4th}}
| term_start = July 8, 2024
| term_end = January 3, 2025
| predecessor = Ken Buck
| successor = Lauren Boebert
| birth_name = Gregorio B. Lopez
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1964|6|7}}
| birth_place = Dallas, Texas, U.S.
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Democratic (before 1994)
Republican (1994–present)
| spouse = {{marriage|Lisa Garcia|1988}}
| children = 2
| education = New Mexico State University, Alamogordo (AAS)
| website =
| branch = United States Air Force
| serviceyears = 1983–1987
}}
Gregorio B. Lopez{{cite news|url=https://www.legistorm.com/person/bio/495354/Gregorio_B_Lopez_Jr_.html |title=Rep. Greg Lopez (R-Colorado, 4th) |date=July 17, 2024 |access-date=July 17, 2024}} (born June 7, 1964){{cite news |title=Biographical information about Greg Lopez |url=https://apnews.com/general-news-68a9f59553214d2eb334b3a05c8af7ea |access-date=June 26, 2024 |work=Associated Press |date=June 25, 2018}} is an American politician who served as the U.S. representative for Colorado's 4th congressional district from 2024 to 2025. From 2008 to 2014, he served as the Small Business Administration's Colorado director. He previously served as mayor of Parker, Colorado, and ran for Governor in 2018 and 2022. He was the Republican nominee for the 2024 special election in Colorado's 4th congressional district to replace Ken Buck, who resigned in March 2024. He did not run in the general election for a full term.{{cite web|url=https://apnews.com/article/lauren-boebert-election-2024-primary-colorado-congress-4f63a797ca66af5e0217fb0901b7d016|title=Republican panel's selection to be Rep. Buck's likely replacement is a saving grace for Boebert|date=March 29, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2024|last=Bedayn|first=Jesse|website=Associated Press}} He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in June 2024.{{cite web | url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/06/25/colorado-4th-congressional-special-election-results-greg-lopez-trisha-calvarese/ | title=Republican Greg Lopez wins special election to fill former U.S. Rep. Ken Buck's seat | date=June 26, 2024 }}{{cite web | url=https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4739621-greg-lopez-wins-special-election-ken-buck/ | title=Republican Greg Lopez wins special election for Ken Buck's seat | date=June 26, 2024 }}
Early life and education
A third-generation Mexican American,{{Cite news|url=https://denverite.com/2018/06/09/colorado-gubernatorial-candidate-scaled-western-conservative-summit/|title=All four Colorado Republican candidates for governor attempted to scale the Western Conservative Summit|newspaper=Denverite|date=June 9, 2018|last1=Hernandez|first1=Esteban L.|access-date=June 28, 2024}} Lopez grew up in Irving, Texas, with parents and grandparents who were farm workers. Lopez joined the United States Air Force upon graduating from high school and used the military benefits to pay for an associate's degree in business administration from New Mexico State University Alamogordo. Lopez and his wife, Lisa, moved from Texas to Colorado in 1988.{{cite web|url=https://www.cpr.org/2022/06/20/greg-lopez-the-suburban-ex-mayor-challenging-the-republican-establishment/|title=Greg Lopez: The suburban ex-mayor challenging the Republican establishment|last=Kenney|first=Andrew|archive-url=https://archive.today/20220621110704/https://www.cpr.org/2022/06/20/greg-lopez-the-suburban-ex-mayor-challenging-the-republican-establishment/|archive-date=2022-06-21|date=June 20, 2022|access-date=March 29, 2024|website=Colorado Public Radio}}
Career
Lopez served in the United States Air Force 1983 to 1987 as a weapon specialist at Holloman Air Force Base. In that role, he prepared airplanes for flight and left active service after sustaining significant hearing loss from airfield work.{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2018/04/18/greg-lopez-colorado-governors-race/|title=Now that GOP governor's race upstart Greg Lopez is on the ballot, he's talking about the future — and his checkered past|date=April 18, 2018|access-date=March 29, 2024|last=Matthews|first=Mark|website=Denver Post}}
= Mayor of Parker =
Lopez was originally elected Mayor of Parker at 27 years old in 1992 as a Democrat, but switched parties soon after in 1994.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1694867843|last=Drusch|first=Andrea|website=The Hotline|title=Former State SBA Director Greg Lopez Jumps In|date=July 7, 2015|access-date=March 29, 2024|id={{ProQuest|1694867843}} }} He served two terms. As Mayor, Lopez was for managed development and growth.
=Small Business Administration=
Lopez was the Colorado director for the Small Business Administration in 2008.
==Department of Justice investigation==
In 2020, the United States Department of Justice pursued a civil case alleging Lopez had improperly tried to influence former SBA colleagues years earlier, after his departure from the agency. The case centered on an email and two phone calls, where he had asked a former colleague would look into the status of an open case. Lopez agreed to pay $15,000 to settle the case.
=Political campaigns=
==1998==
Lopez ran for a Colorado State Senate seat in 1998, but lost the Republican primary.{{cite web | url=https://historicalelectiondata.coloradosos.gov/eng/candidates/view/Greg-Lopez | title=State of Colorado Elections Database » Candidate: Greg Lopez }}
==2016==
{{main|2016 United States Senate election in Colorado#Republican_primary}}
Lopez announced a campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2016, but ultimately withdrew before the election.
==2018==
{{main|2018 Colorado gubernatorial election#Republican_primary}}
Lopez first ran for Governor in 2018. He placed third in the Republican primary with 13.20% of the vote.
==2022==
{{main|2022 Colorado gubernatorial election#Republican_primary}}
Lopez campaigned again for the Republican nomination in 2022. In the campaign, he stated he wanted to outlaw abortions without exceptions, denied man-made climate change, and alleged that the 2020 election was won by Trump and stolen.{{cite web|url=https://coloradosun.com/2022/06/10/greg-lopez-heidi-ganahl-issues/|title=Get to know the Republican candidates for Colorado governor and where they stand on the issues|last=Paul|first=Jesse|website=The Colorado Sun|date=June 10, 2022|access-date=March 29, 2024}} He lost the primary to Heidi Ganahl by seven points.
2026
{{main|2026 Colorado gubernatorial election#Republican_primary}}
In April 2025, Lopez announced his candidacy for Governor of the state of Colorado.{{Cite web |title=Greg Lopez Enters 2026 Race for Colorado Governor |url=https://www.greglopez.co/press/2026-announcement |access-date=2025-04-14 |website=Greg Lopez For Colorado |language=en-US}}
=U.S. House of Representatives=
==2024 special election==
{{main|2024 Colorado's 4th congressional district special election}}
Lopez was selected as the Republican nominee for the special election in Colorado's 4th congressional district caused by incumbent Ken Buck's resignation.{{cite web|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/03/28/4th-congressional-district-special-election-nomination/|title=Former gubernatorial hopeful Greg Lopez gets GOP nomination for 4th District special election|last=Aguilar|first=John|date=March 29, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2024|website=The Denver Post}} He won the nomination in the sixth round of voting by a nomination committee, beating Logan County Commissioner Jerry Sonnenberg with 51 to 46 votes respectively.{{citation|url=https://www.cpr.org/2024/03/28/republicans-put-up-greg-lopez-for-special-election-to-replace-rep-ken-buck/|title=Republicans put up Greg Lopez for special election to replace Rep. Ken Buck|date=March 28, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2024|last=Kim|first=Caitlyn|website=Colorado Public Radio}} Much of his pitch to vacancy committee voters was as a placeholder candidate. His selection as the nominee over a candidate that is also running in the general election was considered a boon to Lauren Boebert, who is running in the general but not the special election, because it gives no candidate incumbent status. He faced the Democratic nominee, Trisha Calvarese, Libertarian nominee, Hannah Goodman, and Approval Voting nominee, Frank Atwood, in the June 25 special election, and expectedly won by a comfortable margin due to the district's strong Republican lean.{{cite web|url=https://coloradosun.com/2024/03/28/greg-lopez-ken-buck-colorado-4th-district-lauren-boebert/|title=Greg Lopez selected as Republican nominee for special election in Colorado's 4th Congressional District to replace Ken Buck|last=Paul|first=Jesse|website=The Colorado Sun|date=March 28, 2024|access-date=March 29, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://coloradosun.com/2024/04/01/trisha-calvarese-ken-buck-4th-congressional-district-special-election/|title=Democrats select Trisha Calvarese to be their nominee for the special election to replace Ken Buck|last=Paul|first=Jesse|date=April 1, 2024|access-date=April 2, 2024|website=The Colorado Sun}}{{cite news |title=2024 US House - District 4 Vacancy Election Candidate List & Ballot Order |url=https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/vote/USHouseDistrict4.html |publisher=Colorado Secretary of State |date=April 26, 2024}}{{Cite web |last1=Freed |first1=Judah|title=Colorado Libertarians Select Potential Spoiler Candidates at 2024 State Convention|url=https://coloradotimesrecorder.com/2024/04/colorado-libertarians-select-potential-spoiler-candidates-at-2024-state-convention/60968/|publisher=Colorado Times Recorder|date=April 1, 2024}}
==Tenure==
File:Greg Lopez and Mike Johnson 2024.jpg after being sworn in]]Following his victory, Lopez penned an op-ed in The Denver Post, pledging to not "buy, sell, or trade individual stocks" while in Congress, and to not miss any votes.{{cite web|last=Lopez|first=Greg|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2024/06/29/greg-lopez-congressman-six-months-ken-buck-cd4/|title=Greg Lopez: I'll replace Ken Buck in Congress for 6 months. Here's what I plan to accomplish|work=The Denver Post|date=June 29, 2024|accessdate=July 9, 2024}} He was sworn in on July 8, 2024.{{cite web|last=Luning|first=Ernest|url=https://www.coloradopolitics.com/colorado-in-dc/colorado-republican-greg-lopez-sworn-in-to-complete-remainder-of-resigned-ken-bucks-term/article_33a8228a-3d94-11ef-8e9f-77faa3d2e52e.html|title=Colorado Republican Greg Lopez sworn in to complete remainder of resigned Ken Buck's term|work=Coloradopolitics.com|date=July 8, 2024|accessdate=July 9, 2024}}
Electoral history
=2018=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2018 Colorado gubernatorial election, Republican primary
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Walker Stapleton
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 239,415
| percentage = 47.66
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Victor Mitchell
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 151,365
| percentage = 30.13
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Greg Lopez
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 66,330
| percentage = 13.20
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Doug Robinson
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 45,245
| percentage = 9.01
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 502,355
| percentage = 100.0
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2022=
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2022 Colorado gubernatorial election, Republican primary results
}}
{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Heidi Ganahl
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 341,157
| percentage = 53.87%
}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Greg Lopez
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 292,187
| percentage = 46.13%
}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 633,344
| percentage = 100.0%
}}
{{Election box end}}
=2024=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders"
! colspan="13" {{party shading/Republican}} | Republican convention results |
| style="background:#eee; text-align:center;"
! scope="col" style="width: 12em" rowspan=2 |Candidate ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |First ballot ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |Second ballot ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |Third ballot ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |Fourth ballot ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |Fifth ballot ! scope="col" style="width: 5em" colspan=2 |Sixth ballot |
| Votes
! % ! Votes ! % ! Votes ! % ! Votes ! % ! Votes ! % ! Votes ! % |
|---|
| scope="row| {{sort|Lopez|Greg Lopez}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 12.2% | style="text-align:center;"| 17 | style="text-align:center;"| 17.3% | style="text-align:center;"| 27 | style="text-align:center;"| 27.6% | style="text-align:center;"| 34 | style="text-align:center;"| 34.7% | style="text-align:center;"| 45 | style="text-align:center;"| 45.9% | style="text-align:center;"| 51 | style="text-align:center;"| 52.6% |
| scope="row" | {{sortname|Jerry|Sonnenberg}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 23 | style="text-align:center;"| 23.5% | style="text-align:center;"| 24 | style="text-align:center;"| 24.5% | style="text-align:center;"| 24 | style="text-align:center;"| 32.6% | style="text-align:center;"| 24 | style="text-align:center;"| 24.5% | style="text-align:center;"| 30 | style="text-align:center;"| 30.6% | style="text-align:center;"| 46 | style="text-align:center;"| 47.4% |
| scope="row"| {{sortname|Ted|Harvey}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 24 | style="text-align:center;"| 24.5% | style="text-align:center;"| 27 | style="text-align:center;"| 27.6% | style="text-align:center;"| 24 | style="text-align:center;"| 24.5% | style="text-align:center;"| 26 | style="text-align:center;"| 26.5% | style="text-align:center;"| 23 | style="text-align:center;"| 23.5% | colspan=2 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}} |
| scope="row"| {{sortname|Richard|Holtorf}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 12 | style="text-align:center;"| 12.2% | style="text-align:center;"| 13 | style="text-align:center;"| 13.3% | style="text-align:center;"| 16 | style="text-align:center;"| 16.3% | style="text-align:center;"| 14 | style="text-align:center;"| 14.3% | colspan=4 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}} |
| scope="row"| {{sortname|Mike|Lynch|Mike Lynch (Colorado politician)}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 11 | style="text-align:center;"| 11.2% | style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 10.2% | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 7.1% | colspan=6 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}} |
| scope="row"| {{sort|Melbye|Scott Melbye}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 10 | style="text-align:center;"| 10.2% | style="text-align:center;"| 7 | style="text-align:center;"| 7.1% | colspan=8 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}} |
| scope="row"| {{sort|Phelen|Chris Phelen}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 6 | style="text-align:center;"| 6.1% | colspan=10 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}} |
| scope="row"| {{sort|Trujillo|Floyd Trujillo}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0.0% | colspan=10 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Eliminated}} |
| scope="row"| {{sort|Yu|Peter Yu}}
| style="text-align:center;"| 0 | style="text-align:center;"| 0.0% | colspan=10 style="text-align:center; background:#cbcbcb"| {{sort|00|Withdrawn}} |
{{Election box begin no change
| title = 2024 Colorado's 4th congressional district vacancy election{{cite web|url=https://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/121727/web.317647/#/detail/1|title=Representative to the 118th United States Congress - District 4 (Congressional Vacancy Election)|publisher=Colorado Secretary of State|year=2024|access-date=July 7, 2024}}
}}{{Election box winning candidate with party link no change
| candidate = Greg Lopez
| party = Republican Party (United States)
| votes = 100,068
| percentage = 58.40%
}}{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate=Trisha Calvarese
|party=Democratic Party (United States)
|votes=59,003
|percentage=34.43%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate=Hannah Goodman
|party=Libertarian Party (United States)
|votes=9,065
|percentage=5.29%}}
{{Election box candidate with party link no change
|candidate=Frank Atwood
|party=Approval Voting Party
|votes=3,224
|percentage=1.88%}}
{{Election box total no change
| votes = 171,360
| percentage = 100.00%}}
{{Election box hold with party link no change
|winner= Republican Party (United States)}}{{Election box end}}
Personal life
Lopez lives in Elizabeth, Colorado, with his wife, Lisa Garcia. The couple have two adult children, Michael and Christina. He is partially deaf, having no hearing in his right ear.
=Legal troubles=
In 1993, Lopez's wife called the police alleging domestic violence. She reportedly told police that she first struck Lopez, who then pushed her to the ground, kicked her, and attempted to drag her by the hair. The pair both pled guilty to a single charge of harassment. Despite the incident, they remain married and she stated she regrets the ensuing media coverage.
In 2003, Lopez was charged with a DUI and stated the incident had cost him nearly $10,000. In 2020, Lopez settled for $15,000 in a civil case brought by the Department of Justice for improperly trying to influence his colleagues at the SBA.
When asked by an interviewer in 2022 about his numerous run-ins with the law, Lopez said "There's only been one perfect man that's ever walked this earth, and we nailed him to the cross, I'm not a perfect man. I've made my mistakes. But I've learned from them."{{cite magazine|url=https://newrepublic.com/post/180267/greg-lopez-republican-nominee-replace-ken-buck-violent-past|title=Republicans Somehow Find Worst Possible Nominee to Replace Ken Buck|date=
March 30, 2024|access-date=June 22, 2024|last=Otten|first=Tori|magazine=The New Republic}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://lopez.house.gov/ Congressman Greg Lopez] official U.S. House website
- [https://www.greglopez.co/ Greg Lopez for Congress] campaign website
- {{CongLinks|congbio=L000604|fec=H4CO04348|congress=greg-lopez/L000604|votesmart=16895}}
- {{C-SPAN|140793}}
{{s-start}}
{{s-par|us-hs}}
{{s-bef|before=Ken Buck}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Colorado's 4th congressional district|years=2024–2025}}
{{s-aft|after=Lauren Boebert}}
|-
{{s-prec|usa}}
{{s-bef|before=Connie Conway|as=former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-ttl|title=Order of precedence of the United States
{{small|as former U.S. Representative}}|years=}}
{{s-aft|after=John E. Cunningham|as=former U.S. Representative}}
{{s-end}}
{{United States representatives from Colorado}}
{{USCongRep-start |congresses=118thUnited States Congresses |state=Colorado}}
{{USCongRep/CO/118}}
{{USCongRep-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lopez, Greg}}
Category:20th-century mayors of places in Colorado
Category:21st-century Colorado politicians
Category:21st-century members of the United States House of Representatives
Category:American politicians of Mexican descent
Category:Candidates in the 2016 United States Senate elections
Category:Candidates in the 2018 United States elections
Category:Candidates in the 2022 United States elections
Category:Hispanic and Latino American mayors
Category:Hispanic and Latino American members of the United States Congress
Category:Hispanic and Latino American military personnel
Category:Latino conservatism in the United States
Category:Military personnel from Dallas
Category:New Mexico State University alumni
Category:Obama administration personnel
Category:People from Parker, Colorado
Category:People from Elbert County, Colorado
Category:Politicians from Dallas
Category:Republican Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Colorado