▁ 1 4 , ▁ 1 9 1 3 , ▁the ▁Colorado ▁General ▁Assembly ▁elected ▁both ▁of ▁the ▁state ' s ▁sen ators : ▁Dem ocrat ▁John ▁F . ▁Sh af ro th ▁for ▁the ▁class ▁ 2 ▁seat ▁( ending ▁ 1 9 1 9 ) ▁and ▁Dem ocrat ▁Charles ▁S . ▁Thomas ▁for ▁the ▁class ▁ 3 ▁seat ▁( ending ▁ 1 9 1 5 ). ▁ ▁Colorado ▁( General ) ▁▁ ▁One - term ▁Republican ▁inc umb ent ▁Simon ▁G ug gen heim ▁chose ▁to ▁ret ire ▁in ▁the ▁term ▁beginning ▁March ▁ 4 , ▁ 1 9 1 3 . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 2 ▁state ▁elections , ▁Democratic ▁Governor ▁of ▁Colorado ▁John ▁F . ▁Sh af ro th ▁won ▁the ▁popular ▁vote . ▁ ▁The ▁Colorado ▁General ▁Assembly ▁rat ified ▁that ▁decision ▁January ▁ 1 4 , ▁ 1 9 1 3 ▁by ▁elect ing ▁Thomas . ▁ ▁Colorado ▁( Special ) ▁▁ ▁Dem ocrat ▁Charles ▁J . ▁Hugh es ▁Jr . ▁( D ) ▁had ▁died ▁January ▁ 1 1 , ▁ 1 9 1 1 ▁and ▁the ▁seat ▁remained ▁vac ant ▁for ▁two ▁years ▁because ▁the ▁Colorado ▁General ▁Assembly ▁failed ▁to ▁elect ▁a ▁successor . ▁ ▁In ▁the ▁ 1 9 1 2 ▁state ▁elections , ▁Dem ocrat ▁Charles ▁S . ▁Thomas ▁( former ▁Governor ▁of ▁Colorado ) ▁won ▁the ▁popular ▁vote , ▁and ▁the ▁Colorado ▁General ▁Assembly ▁rat ified ▁that ▁decision ▁January ▁ 1 4 , ▁ 1 9 1 3 ▁by