In this Capitol Report:
Primary Election Results on Key Colorado Races
On Tuesday, June 26th, Colorado held its Primary Election which resulted in some expected wins while other races were significant upsets for some candidates. This election year, many statewide seats are open including the race for Governor, State Treasurer and the Attorney General and the balance of the State House and State Senate will be decided in the November General Election.
Below are the results on the key races across the State:
Congressional Districts:
U.S. House District 2:
Joe Neguse, the former Executive Director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies, easily won the Democratic primary in the 2nd Congressional District (Boulder). Due to the political makeup of the district, Joe Neguse will replace Jared Polis as the next congressman in the 2nd Congressional District.
U.S. House District 5:
Congressman Doug Lamborn easily defeated 4 challengers by 52.5%, including Sen. Owen Hill, current State Senator, in the Republican primary for the 5th congressional district seat (Colorado Springs). Due to the political makeup of the district, Congressman Lamborn will return to Congress after the general election.
Governor:
As expected, State Treasurer Walker Stapleton won the Republican gubernatorial primary by 47.8% against three other candidates including Greg Lopez, Victor Mitchell and Doug Robinson. Congressman Jared Polis (Boulder) won the Democratic gubernatorial primary by 44.6%. He beat three (3) other candidates, including Donna Lynne, the current Lieutenant Governor, Cary Kennedy and Mike Johnston.
State Treasurer:
Current State Representative Dave Young (Greeley) easily won the Democratic primary for State Treasurer and is likely to face Brian Watson (R) in the General Election.
Brian Watson, a real estate investor who lost his race in 2012 for the State House of Representatives (House District 3), holds a slim lead over current State Representative Justin Everett (Jefferson County) and a significant lead over current State Representative Polly Lawrence (Douglas County) in the Republican primary for State Treasurer.
Attorney General:
Phil Weiser, Dean of the University of Colorado Law School is maintaining a strong lead over current State Representative Joe Salazar (Adams County) in the Democratic primary for Attorney General. Governor John Hickenlooper recently endorsed Phil Weiser.
George Brauchler, the District Attorney who prosecuted the shooter in the Aurora Theater Shooting, was unopposed and will be the Republican candidate for Attorney General.
State Senate District 7:
Current State Senator Ray Scott easily defeated current House Representative Dan Thurlow in the Republican primary for the 7th state Senate District seat (Grand Junction). He is expected to win in the General Election based on the voter registration which favors Republicans in this seat.
State House District 4:
Serena Gonzales-Guterrez won a three-way Democratic primary for House District 4 which is currently held by State House Representative Dan Pabon who is term-limited. She is expected to win the General Election based on the voter registration which strongly favors Democrats in this seat.
State House District 5:
Alex Valdez won a four-way Democratic primary for House District 5 which is currently held by the Speaker of the House, Crisanta Duran, who is term-limited. Former State House Representative Joel Judd was one of the candidates defeated in this primary. He is expected to win the General Election based on the voter registration which strongly favors Democrats in this seat.
State House District 9:
Emily Sirota won this Democratic primary in a contentious race against Ashley Wheeland for this seat currently held by State House Representative Paul Rosenthal who did not secure a place on the ballot. She is expected to win the General Election based on the voter registration which strongly favors Democrats in this seat.
State House District 24:
Monica Duran won the Democratic primary in this seat against Kris Teegardin, Mayor of Edgewater, who previously ran against State House Representative Jesse Danielson in a 2014 Democratic primary. She will face Arthur Irwin (R) in the General Election.
State House District 47:
Current State House Representative Judy Reyher, who replaced Clarice Navarro after she took a job in the Trump Administration, lost to Don Bendell, a rancher and author, in the Republican primary for the 47th State House District seat (Pueblo). Bendell faces Bri Buentello (D) in this now open seat.
State House District 50:
Rochelle Galindo (D) won the Democratic primary in an upset against former State House Representative Jim Riesberg. The seat is currently held by State House Representative Dave Young who is running for the State Treasurer seat. Galindo faces Michael Thuener (R) in the General Election in this swing seat.
State House District 56:
Current State House Representative Phil Covarrubias lost to Rod Bockenfeld, a former Arapahoe County Commissioner, in the Republican primary for the 56th state house district seat (Commerce City). Bockenfeld faces Dave Rose (D) in the General Election in this now open seat.