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Greg Lopez
Gregorio Beltran Lopez[1] (born June 7, 1964)[2] 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.[3] He was elected to the United States House of Representatives in June 2024.[4][5] Early life and educationA third-generation Mexican American,[6] 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 1987.[7] CareerLopez 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.[8] Mayor of ParkerLopez was originally elected Mayor of Parker at 27 years old in 1992 as a Democrat, but switched parties soon after in 1994.[9] He served two terms. As Mayor, Lopez was anti-development and growth.[7] Small Business AdministrationLopez was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Colorado director for the Small Business Administration in 2008.[7] He served until 2014.[7] Department of Justice investigationIn 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 for a "favor" in a business deal. Lopez agreed to pay $15,000 to settle the case.[7] Political campaigns1998Lopez ran for a Colorado State Senate seat in 1998, but lost the Republican primary.[10] 2016Lopez announced a campaign for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in 2016, but ultimately withdrew before the election. 2018Lopez first ran for Governor in 2018. He placed third in the Republican primary with 13.20% of the vote. 2022 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.[11] He lost the primary to Heidi Ganahl by seven points. U.S. House of Representatives2024 special electionLopez was selected as the Republican nominee for the special election in Colorado's 4th congressional district caused by incumbent Ken Buck's resignation.[12] 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.[13] 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.[3] 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.[14][15][16][17] Tenure 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.[18] He was sworn in on July 8, 2024.[19] Electoral history2018
2022
2024
Personal lifeLopez lives in Elizabeth, Colorado, with his wife, Lisa Garcia.[7] The couple have two adult children, Michael and Christina. He is partially deaf, having no hearing in his right ear. Legal troublesIn 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.[8] In 2003, Lopez was charged with a DUI and stated the incident had cost him nearly $10,000.[7] 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.[7] 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."[21] See alsoReferences
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