Denver’s set for some new faces in the statehouse after a series of competitive primary elections on Tuesday night. Here’s who’s leading in the state House and Senate races around the city.
State Senate District 34
Chela Garcia Irlando held a strong lead over Andrés Carrera in the Democratic primary for Senate District 34.
Garcia Irlando, 33, is an executive at an environmental nonprofit with a long family history in Colorado.
“I’m just really proud of my roots, and it has given me a deep sense of accountability, not only to my community, but to the next generation,” she said in an earlier interview.
Carrera is a former political director for Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and former director of community engagement for Jared Polis.
As of 10 p.m., Garcia Irlando had 67% of the vote.
Senate District 34 covers much of west and northwest Denver. The two candidates are vying to replace state Sen. Julie Gonzales, who is reaching her term limit after eight years in office. Gonzales lost her campaign against U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper.
Garcia Irlando will face Jack Daus in the general election. Daus was unopposed in the Republican primary. In a previous campaign, he cited “rising crime, homelessness, and public drug use” as top issues.
State House District 6
In State House District 6, progressive attorney Iris Halpern has a slight lead over moderate incumbent state Rep. Sean Camacho in the Democratic primary.
As of 10 p.m., Halpern had 51% of the vote and Camacho had 48%.
The race has seen more than $1.2 million in spending this year, most of it from moderates supporting Camacho, The Denver Post reported.
Halpern pledged to use the seat to fight “federal government abuses, dark money and corporate greed, and Gilded Age-level inequality.”
Meanwhile, moderate Democrats argued Camacho was the practical choice.
The Democratic nominee will face Kathleen Angel, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
House District 6 stretches east from Capitol Hill along Colfax Avenue.
State House District 5
In State House District 5, Justine Sandoval had 76% of the vote in a Democratic primary face-off with Sterling Simms.
Sandoval, a fourth-generation Denverite whose family was involved in the Chicano movement, has been involved in local politics and community organizing for two decades. She got her start fighting a ballot measure that would have forced public schools to teach exclusively in English.
“(Democrats) don’t have a cohesive message. People are increasingly leaving the party to vote independent in Colorado. We know that. Ultimately, I think that we haven’t been working together,” she said in an earlier interview. “We need to get on the same page and show some force and convince people that we can be the leaders that they need.”
Housing, transportation and the state budget are her primary concerns.
Simms is a former Marine who works in Denver Mayor Mike Johnston’s administration. Both are competing for the seat held by state Rep. Alex Valdez, who is term-limited.
The Democratic nominee will face Johnnie W. Johnson, who was unopposed in the Republican primary. Johnson’s campaign stresses his opposition to tax increases.
House District 5 covers a stretch of west and north Denver.
State House District 9
As of 10 p.m., Monica VanBuskirk had a wide lead in her House District 9 race against Neal Walia.
VanBuskirk has worked on strategy for the state, Denver Health, Kaiser Permanente and Connect for Health Colorado.
Her priority is creating “an affordable, safe and thriving home for Coloradans,” she wrote on her campaign website.
Walia is a healthcare advocate and former deputy director of the Asian Pacific Development Center. The winner of the race will replace state Rep. Emily Sirota, who is term-limited. Sirota was unopposed in the Democratic primary for Senate District 32.
The Democratic nominee will face Tom Cowhick, who was unopposed in the Republican primary.
House District 9 is in south Denver and includes Glendale.
Other unopposed primary candidates:
- SD-31: State Sen. Matt Ball, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Michael F. DiManna in November.
- SD-32: State Rep. Emily Sirota is set to succeed state Sen. Robert Rodriguez as the Democratic nominee in Senate District 32, covering much of south Denver. She’ll face Republican nominee Sydnnia Wulff in November.
- HD-1: State Rep. Javier Mabrey, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Joseph Montoya.
- HD-2: Democratic nominee Scott Baldermann will face Republican nominee Carey Marin. Democratic state Rep. Steven Woodrow did not seek reelection.
- HD-3: Democratic nominee Gena Ozols will face Republican nominee Rebecca Winegar. Democratic state Rep. Meg Froelich is termed out.
- HD-4: State Rep. Cecelia Espenoza, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Ellwood Ervin.
- HD-7: State Rep. Jennifer Bacon, a Democrat, will not face a Republican challenger.
- HD-8: State Rep. Lindsay Gilchrist, a Democrat, will face Republican challenger Carolyn Barnes.