Pitkin County voters mirror statewide results; Polis, Stapleton lead in county
While local races will have to wait until the November general election, about 25 percent of the registered Pitkin County voters nonetheless chimed in on statewide races during Tuesday’s primary election.
The Colorado governor’s race was, by far, the most contested race this election, with four Republicans and four Democrats vying for the chance to replace Gov. John Hickenlooper.
With 3,438 Pitkin County ballots counted as of 10:36 p.m. Tuesday night, the Democratic race was proving a bit more competitive than the Republican side, where Walker Stapleton was way out ahead with more than 63 percent of the vote. For the Democrats, Jared Polis held a solid lead of 48.7 percent. After that, Cary Kennedy and Mike Johnston were a distant second each with 23 percent of Pitkin County voters.
Republican Scott Tipton’s 3rd Congressional District seat attracted three Democratic challengers, including attorney Karl Hanlon of Carbondale.
Hanlon, however, trailed three-term state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush of Steamboat Springs 58.7 percent to 36.4 percent in Pitkin County for the right to run against Tipton in November. Tipton did not have a Republican challenger.
The most competitive race of the night — in Pitkin County anyway — was the fight for the Republican nomination to run for state treasurer. Justin Everett was leading Polly Lawrence 38.3 percent to 31.4 percent in that contest, with Brian Watson a close third with about 30.3 percent of the vote.
Dave Young was the front-runner for the Democratic nomination to run for state treasurer.
Finally, Phil Weiser (58.5 percent) was ahead of Joe Salazar (41.5 percent) for the Democratic nomination to run for attorney general. The Republican in that race, George Brauchler, had no challengers.
According to the Secretary of State’s office, there were 12,241 active voters register in May in Pitkin County.
Pitkin County will feature several competitive races for county offices in November.
The District 1 commissioner seat will feature incumbent Patti Clapper against the man she beat in 2014, Rob Ittner. Just one person, Kelly McNicholas Kury, filed to run for the District 2 seat, currently held by Commissioner Rachel Richards, who is term-limited.
Sheriff Joe DiSalvo will face longtime Aspen Police Officer Walter Chi in a bid for his third term in office, while former Aspen Mayor Mick Ireland will run against Deb Bamesberger, a longtime member of the county assessor’s staff, for county assessor. Longtime Assessor Tom Isaac is retiring.
Clerk Janice Vos Caudill will run unopposed for her third term.
