Stan Matsunaka (born November 12, 1953) is a former Democratic member of the Colorado State Senate . He served as President of the Senate for two years. In 2002 and 2004 he lost to Republican Marilyn Musgrave in the election to represent the 4th District of Colorado in the United States House of Representatives).
Matsunaka is Japanese-American native of Akron, Colorado, whose grandparents settled in the state in the early 20th century. Matsunaka grew up in rural Weld County near Fort Morgan and is a graduate of Colorado State University. Matsunaka later moved to Loveland and was elected to the Colorado State Senate. In 2002 he ran against Musgrave for the open seat in the 4th District, which includes the cities of Greeley, Loveland, Longmont, and Fort Collins, as well much of the Colorado Eastern Plains; he lost to Musgrave 55%-42%. In 2004, he challenged the incumbent Musgrave, who had attracted controversy for her sponsorship of the Federal Marriage Amendment. Matusanka was once again defeated by Musgrave, but my a much closer margin of 51%-45%. Matsunaka carried the populous Larimer County but lost in Weld County, as well as in most of rural eastern Colorado.
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