Here in Colorado, it was a good night for Democrats — despite a shaky economy, threat of a “red wave” and attacks over drugs and crime — who swept statewide constitutional offices, fended off Republicans’ “perfect candidate” for the U.S. Senate and celebrated what appeared to be continued trifecta control of the legislature and governor’s office.
Colorado Republicans, meanwhile, are wondering what comes next for the party after a night of significant losses. The state has “fundamentally shifted,” said Kristi Burton Brown, the chairwoman of the Republican Party here. Republicans ran on the economy and on crime, and their positions were “not what voters chose” Tuesday, she said.
But the full scope of Colorado voters’ choices is not yet clear. As of Wednesday morning, a number of races — from U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert vs. challenger Adam Frisch to Proposition 122, a measure to legalize medicinal psychedelics — are still too close to call.
We’ve linked to all of our midterm election result stories below, and stories about undecided races will continue to update as more results become available. To see detailed numbers from each election as they currently stand, check out our rundown of Colorado midterm results.
Statewide
Governor
Gov. Jared Polis won a convincing and expected re-election victory after opening an early and dominant lead over challenger Heidi Ganahl on Tuesday night, extending Democrats’ record-setting control of the state’s chief executive and signaling the limits of Republican gains.
Secretary of State
Colorado Secretary of State candidate Jena Griswold, the incumbent Democrat, claimed victory just before 9 p.m. Tuesday at a Colorado Democratic Party election night watch party.
Attorney General
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser retained his seat Tuesday, defeating the Republican prosecutor challenging him by 11 percentage points.
Treasurer
Treasurer Dave Young won re-election Tuesday night over Republican challenger Lang Sias, winning what was considered the most vulnerable statewide seat held by Democrats and retaining the party’s rare hold on the office.
Colorado Amendment D
Early election results Tuesday showed Coloradans voting in favor of a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would allow seven judges to move from one Front Range judicial district to a neighboring district.
Colorado Amendment E
Colorado voters showed strong support Tuesday for a proposed amendment to the state’s constitution that would extend an existing property tax exemption to the spouses of servicemembers who died in the line of duty or from a service-related injury or illness.
Colorado Amendment F
So far, voters in Colorado aren’t in favor of Amendment F, a measure that opens up bingo and raffle games for charitable purposes to newer nonprofits.
Colorado Proposition FF
Colorado voters are largely in favor of Proposition FF, which would provide the state’s students with free school meals — no matter their families’ incomes. With tax deduction limits in place, the price tag would fall on wealthy Coloradans.
Colorado Proposition GG
Proposition GG, which sought to place more detailed tax information tables directly on petitions and ballots for citizen-initiated measures in Colorado, was maintaining a commanding lead Wednesday morning with all counties reporting election results.
Colorado Proposition 121
A measure to cut Colorado’s state income tax rate from 4.55% to 4.4% for both individuals and corporations starting with the 2022 tax year was coasting to victory by a nearly two-to-one margin on Wednesday morning.
Colorado Proposition 122
A measure to legalize medicinal psychedelics was still too close to call Wednesday morning, as election officials continued to count ballots.
Colorado Proposition 123
A ballot measure to redirect 0.1% of Colorado state income tax revenues for a range of affordable housing efforts remained too close to call Wednesday morning.
Colorado Proposition 124
Colorado voters on Tuesday appeared to soundly reject a measure that would have eliminated a cap on the number of storefronts a liquor license holder could operate.
Colorado Proposition 125
A vote to allow Colorado grocery and convenience stores the ability to sell wine was still too close to call Wednesday morning, as opponents hung on to a narrow lead.
Colorado Proposition 126
Colorado voters on Tuesday appeared to have decided against allowing third-party companies the ability to deliver alcoholic beverages, a victory for small, independent liquor stores that actively campaigned against the measure.
U.S. Congressional races
U.S. Senate
U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet won his reelection bid Tuesday night, according to the Associated Press, setting him up to be one of the longest-serving senators in the state’s history.
U.S. House District 1
Rep. Diana DeGette won a 14th term representing Colorado’s First District in Congress on Tuesday, handily defeating political newcomer Jennifer Qualteri.
U.S. House District 2
Democrat Joe Neguse won a third term in Colorado’s 2nd Congressional District after surging ahead of Republican Marshall Dawson early and holding onto an insurmountable lead.
U.S. House District 3
The race between incumbent U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert and challenger Adam Frisch for Colorado’s massive 3rd Congressional District was still too close to call Wednesday morning, as election officials continued to count ballots.
U.S. House District 4
Ken Buck, the Republican incumbent who has represented a wide swath of eastern Colorado in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2014, retained his seat Tuesday.
U.S. House District 5
Eight-term U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn won reelection Tuesday by defeating Democratic challenger David Torres.
U.S. House District 6
Democratic incumbent Rep. Jason Crow won a third term representing Colorado’s 6th Congressional District on Tuesday by defeating Republican challenger Steve Monahan.
U.S. House District 7
Democratic State Sen. Brittany Pettersen decisively won the race for Colorado’s 7th Congressional District Tuesday, besting her Republican challenger and Army veteran Erik Aadland in the Jefferson County-anchored district by 17 points.
U.S. House District 8
Democrat Yadira Caraveo maintained a thin lead Wednesday morning over Republican State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer in the race for Colorado’s 8th Congressional District, but the margin between the candidates narrowed to within two points as votes continue to be counted.
Denver and Aurora ballot measures
Denver Question 2I: Denver Public Library tax
City voters are supporting a property tax hike that would provide the Denver Public Library system with more than $30 million per year in ongoing funding, according to unofficial election night results. In results updated at 10 p.m. Tuesday, the measure was passing 65.1% to 34.9%.
Denver Ordinance 305: No Eviction Without Representation
Denver voters came out against a new excise tax on landlords to fund a legal defense program for tenants facing eviction.
Denver Ordinance 306: Waste No More
Denver voters on Tuesday were endorsing new rules mandating that large apartment buildings, restaurants and a broad range of other commercial businesses be required to recycle or compost as much waste as possible, according to unofficial Election Night results.
Denver Ordinance 307: Sidewalk repair fees on property owners
Voters on Tuesday were endorsing the city taking over responsibility for building out and maintaining Denver’s hodgepodge sidewalk network, according to unofficial election night results.
Aurora Question 3A
Aurora voters were opposing a change to the city charter to remove a ban on people convicted of felonies from running for local office, unofficial results showed as of early Wednesday morning.
Regional races
Colorado State Board of Education
Democrats were poised to hold on to the majority of seats on the Colorado State Board of Education as election results Wednesday morning showed Republicans trailing in races for seats they’d need to flip.
University Colorado Board of Regents
Colorado voters elected three new members to serve on the nine-member University Colorado Board of Regents, updated results Wednesday morning showed, reshaping governance of the state’s flagship school.
RTD Board of Directors
Two incumbent board directors handily defeated their challengers Tuesday in the only contested races on the ballot for the Regional Transportation District.
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