Mark "Tip" Cortez is an American politician and the current Representative in the United States Congress for Colorado's 3rd congressional district. Cortez is a left-leaning member of the Republican Party, and has held the district since 2005 after a vacancy for the seat. Cortez was born on 4 April 1976 and raised a Catholic. He obtained his B.A. from the University of Colorado Denver in 1997 and ran unsuccessfully for the state's 1st congressional district in 2000. He however won in 2005 after the former Representative left his post. Cortez has held the seat ever since. He has had a reputation of not voting with the party, usually supporting more socially liberal policies. The Republican Party has since refused to assist with campaign funding, however Cortez has made due with independent d