Voters in Greeley, Evans and Garden City will decide this November whether Republican Rep. Ryan Gonzalez retains his Weld County seat or Democrat Tommy Butler wins it. The closely watched House District 50 contest pits the 31-year-old incumbent against the 36-year-old Greeley Bagel Company co-owner, who resigned from the City Council to run.
A Seat That Has Flipped Twice in Two Cycles
The stakes are rooted in recent history. Gonzalez flipped the district in November 2024, defeating three-term Democratic incumbent Mary Young after losing to her by just 330 votes in 2022 — a margin that made HD 50 the closest state House race in Colorado that cycle, according to The Colorado Sun. The closely contested elections underscore how volatile the seat has become.
The contest has also drawn attention from party organizations. The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee named HD 50 one of 13 priority battleground seats in Colorado, part of a broader effort to help Democrats build toward a veto-proof supermajority at the Capitol, according to the Pagosa Daily Post. Democrats currently hold a 43-22 majority in the state House.
Gonzalez: Legislative Record and Priorities
Gonzalez earned bachelor's and graduate degrees from the University of Northern Colorado in 2018, according to Ballotpedia, which lists Wells Fargo among his career experience. Before taking office in January 2025, Gonzalez was elected to represent HD 50. In the current General Assembly session, he serves on the House Business Affairs & Labor, Energy & Environment, and Finance committees, according to Colorado General Assembly committee records.
The Denver Gazette reports that Gonzalez says he passed 14 of the 16 bills he prime-sponsored, as well as one resolution. His campaign priorities include reducing the state budget by 2 percent and cutting programs and positions he considers unnecessary. He also favors deregulating construction and multifamily housing, and prioritizing roads, infrastructure, public safety and education spending. On energy, he supports adding nuclear power to Colorado's portfolio, building on House Bill 25-1040, and expanding oil and gas exploration. He opposes state regulation of AI, data centers and technology growth broadly, while supporting a fail-safe requirement for AI systems that go rogue. He also favors following the spirit of TABOR by sending decisions on additional government revenue to voters, the Denver Gazette reports. His campaign website is gonzalezfor50.com.
Butler's City Hall Record and Priorities
Butler's run required him to give something up first. He resigned his Ward 1 seat on the Greeley City Council in March, after more than six years in office, because the Greeley City Charter requires council members to step down if they accept a nomination for another government office, according to North Forty News. The council subsequently appointed David “Craig” Huddleston to serve out the remainder of Butler's term through November 2027.
During his council tenure, Butler worked on housing projects including Hope Springs and Star Rise Apartments. Outside the council chamber, Butler graduated from the University of Northern Colorado in 2012, co-owns the Greeley Bagel Company, serves as a commissioner on the 19th Judicial District Commission on Judicial Performance, and sits on the board of Greeley-Weld Habitat for Humanity, per Ballotpedia.
What Greeley's Housing Data Shows
The City of Greeley says its At Home in Greeley project is evaluating current and future housing needs, with results intended to inform strategies to expand housing and improve affordability. The cited city information is specific to Greeley and does not provide comparable figures for nearby Weld County communities, according to the City of Greeley. Separately, Speak Up Greeley reports that the city's Housing Solutions Department has invested $4.7 million in affordable-housing development gap financing and helped create 93 affordable units since its creation.
Butler's platform emphasizes maintaining services while addressing costs and infrastructure. He supports protecting Medicaid and reducing administrative waste and duplicative programs, alongside a responsible multiyear budget solution that protects funding for schools, health care access, public safety and vulnerable communities, the Denver Gazette reports. For energy, he proposes expanding efficiency and weatherization programs, making rooftop and community solar more affordable, investing in a more reliable electrical grid, and holding utilities accountable for affordable rates.
For housing, Butler supports adding units across price ranges, including condos, townhomes and starter homes on smaller lots. He proposes using Proposition 123 funds for for-sale affordable housing while preserving existing affordable stock. His campaign website is butlerforhd50.com.
A District Shaped by Demographics and Overlapping Races
House District 50 had a total population of 86,974 as of 2024, with roughly 50 percent Hispanic and 42 percent White residents, according to Wikipedia.
The district also geographically overlaps with Colorado's 8th Congressional District, where Republican U.S. Rep. Gabe Evans is locked in a closely watched reelection fight against Democrat Manny Rutinel, as Hoodline previously reported. That congressional district features a similar roughly 40 percent Latino voter demographic, meaning turnout in the top-of-ticket race could shape how Weld County voters show up down-ballot.
The HD 50 seat carries a two-year term, one of 65 Colorado House seats up for election this cycle. Voters in Greeley, Evans and Garden City will make their choice in November.
