While Democrats are virtually guaranteed to retain control of the Colorado legislature, the party’s direction at the state Capitol will be decided by Tuesday’s primaries.
For Republicans, a handful of incumbent state representatives and senators are trying to hold onto their seats.
State super PACs funded by dark money spent millions trying to help more moderate candidates beat their more liberal challengers in Colorado’s Democratic statehouse primaries but were mostly coming up short Tuesday.
On the GOP side, more mainstream Republicans were having a big night against legislative candidates who are further to the right.
In all, three, perhaps four, incumbents were set to lose their races.
Here the results in the top legislative primaries this year.
Democratic statehouse primaries
Chela Garcia Irlando beats Andrés Carrera in Senate District 34 in Denver
Chela Garcia Irlando, a nonprofit leader, defeated Andrés Carrera, a policy strategist, in Senate District 34.
The Associated Press called the race for Garcia Irlando at 8:12 p.m. She was winning with about 68% of the vote as of 8:30 p.m.
This race became a battle for the soul of the Colorado Senate, with state super PACS, funded in large part by dark money nonprofits that don’t disclose their donors, pouring more than $1 million into the race.
On one side were liberal groups and the state’s largest labor unions backing Garcia Irlando, while business interests and organizations with unclear motives backed Carrera on the other.
The winner of the race will replace term-limited state Sen. Julie Gonzales, a Denver Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for U.S. Senate on Tuesday.
Justine Sandoval wins House District 5 race in Denver
Campaign consultant Justine Sandoval beat Marine veteran and policy strategist Sterling Simms in House District 5 in Denver.
The Associated Press called the race at about 8 p.m. when Sandoval had 76% of the vote.
The winner of the general election in the district will replace term-limited state Rep. Alex Valdez, a Denver Democrat
Iris Halpern narrowly leads state Rep. Sean Camacho House District 6 in Denver
The Democratic primary between civil rights attorney Iris Halpern and incumbent state Rep. Sean Camacho was too close to call Tuesday night.
Halpern had 51% of the vote to Camacho’s 49% at 10 p.m. The pair were separated by about 363 votes.
Nearly $1 million was spent by state super PACs in the race.
Halpern was backed by some of the state’s largest unions while Camacho got help from groups with unclear funding sources and motives.
VanBuskirk wins in Denver’s House District 9
Monica VanBuskirk, a healthcare policy expert, easily beat community organizer Neal Walia
In House District 9. The Associated Press called the race at 8 p.m. when Van Buskirk had more than 60% of the vote.
The winner of the general election in the district will replace term-limited state Rep. Emily Sirota, a Denver Democrat
House District 13 in the central mountains too close to call
The race between attorney Chris Floyd of Leadville and Consuelo Redhorse, president of the Summit School District Board of Education, was too close to call on Tuesday night.
Floyd led Redhorse by 46 votes at 10 p.m.
About $400,000 in state super PAC money was spent on the race.
Redhorse was backed by progressive groups, some of which don’t disclose their donors, while Floyd got help from organizations with unclear funding sources and motives.
The winner of the general election will replace term-limited House Speaker Julie McCluskie, a Dillon Democrat
House District 19 in eastern Boulder and western Weld counties
Jillaire McMillan beat two candidates to win the primary Tuesday in House District 19.
The Associated Press called the race for her at 8 p.m. when she had about 51% of the vote. She bested Erie town councilmember and engineer Anil Pesaramelli and Colton Jonjak Plahn, a Gen Z fashion model and former Boulder Democratic Party vice chair.
McMillan will once again take on state Rep. Dan Woog, a Frederick Republican, in November. Woog beat McMillan by 110 votes in 2024.
State Rep. Jacque Phillips on verge of being unseated in House District 31 in Thornton
State Rep. Jacque Phillips was on the verge of being unseated Tuesday in the Thornton-based House District 31 on Tuesday night, where she was losing to liberal organizer Gabriel Cervantes by a sizable margin.
Cervantes had 53% of the vote to Phillips’ 47% at 10 p.m.
More than $300,000 was spent by state super PACs on the race.
Cervantes was backed by some of the state’s largest unions while Phillips got help from groups with unclear funding sources and motives.
State rep fends off challenger in House District 33 in Broomfield
State Rep. Kenny Van Nguyen won the Democratic primary in House District 33 on Tuesday, fending off a primary challenge from Broomfield City Councilwoman Heidi Henkel.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:42 p.m. when Nguyen had about 53% of the vote.
More than $700,000 in state super PAC money was spent on the race.
Nguyen was backed by some of the state’s largest unions while Henkel got help from groups with unclear funding sources and motives.
State Rep. Jamie Jackson holds on House District 41 in Aurora
State Rep. Jamie Jackson, D-Aurora, fended off a primary challenge in House District 41 from Aurora Public School board member Anne Keke.
The Associated Press called the race for Jackson at 8:17 p.m., when Jackson was leading with 55% of the vote.
About $350,000 in state super PAC money was spent on the race.
Jackson was backed by some of the state’s largest unions while Keke got help from groups with unclear funding sources and motives.
Mandy Lindsay unseated in House District 42 in Aurora
Sarah Woodson, who works in the cannabis industry, unseated state Rep. Mandy Lindsay on Tuesday in House District 42.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:11 p.m. with Woodson having won 68% of the vote.
Lindsay is being investigated by the House Ethics Committee for alleged misuse of Democratic caucus funds.
More than $400,000 in state super PAC money was spent on the race.
Republican statehouse primaries
Lynda Zamora Wilson unseated in Senate District 9 in El Paso County
Former state Rep. Terri Carver of Colorado Springs, backed by a group focused on electing more establishment Republicans, unseated state Sen. Lynda Zamora Wilson on Tuesday.
Zamora Wilson is a U.S. Air Force veteran and a former Air Force Academy professor who was backed by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners Association, a hard-line gun rights group.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:11 p.m., when Carver was winning with 68% of the vote.
State super PACs spent about $250,000 on the race.
Ava Flanell holds on in House District 14 in Colorado Springs
State Rep. Ava Flanell, backed by a group focused on electing more establishment Republicans, fended off a primary challenge Tuesday from Troy Vanderhule, who works in philanthropy and marketing.
The Associated Press called the race for Flanell at 8:08 p.m. when she had about 74% of the vote.
House District 16 in Colorado Springs
Jill Haffley, a retired teacher and School District 11 board member, won the primary in House District 16 on Tuesday. She beat Jamie Koch, a school coordinator for Charis Bible College.
The Associated Press called the race at 8:14 p.m. when Haffley had about 65% of the vote.
The winner of the general election in the district will replace Republican state Rep. Rebecca Keltie, who opted not to seek reelection after completing one term.
Anthony Hartsook beats challenger in House District 44 in Parker
State Rep. Anthony Hartsook of Parker defeated his primary challenger Tuesday thanks to backing by a group focused on electing more establishment Republicans.
Hartsook faced a GOP primary challenge from former police officer Bob Davis in House District 44. David got support from Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.
The Associated Press called the race for Hartsook at 8:16 p.m. when he had about 58% of the vote.
State super PACs spent about $260,000 on the race.
Consultant wins in House District 51 in Loveland
Republican consultant Amy Parks, backed by a group that works to elect more establishment Republicans, won her primary Tuesday. She fended off Thompson School District Board member Nancy Rumfelt, who was backed by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners.
Parks was winning about 65% of votes Tuesday night.
Too close to call in House District 60 in Pueblo and Fremont counties
The race between Matt Alexander, a Cañon City Schools board member backed by Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, and Michelle Gray, the former chair of the Pueblo County GOP, was too close to call on Tuesday.
Gray was backed by a group focused on electing more establishment Republicans.
Gray led narrowly with 50.2% of the vote to Alexander’s 49.8% at 10 p.m. They were separated by fewer than 70 votes.
Data journalist Sandra Fish contributed to this report.