GOP inching toward control of Colorado Senate, House (Colorado)

The Gazette ^ | Wednesday, November 5, 2014 | Megan Schrader

[Red Steel]

Control of the Colorado Senate and House of Representatives rests in a few key races that are still too close to call.

But things are looking good for Republicans who needed to net one seat in the Senate and five seats in the House.

It all hinges on elections in Jefferson and Adams counties, races that are in limbo with ballots uncounted and those coming in from overseas and military voters.

Republicans lost the two seats in the Senate that they had picked up from Democrats during the September 2013 recall elections. Michael Merrifield, a Democrat, unseated Republican Bernie Herpin in Colorado Springs and Democrat Leroy Garcia ousted Republican George Rivera in Pueblo.

But even with those losses, Republicans were poised to win at least three other seats that Democrats had in 2014, just enough to give the GOP a single-vote majority. It would be the first time Republicans have ruled in the Senate since 2005.

The closest of those races is between Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, D-Arvada, and Republican Laura Woods, a Republican, in a Jefferson County seat.

As of Wednesday afternoon, Jefferson County had counted all of its ballots and Woods was up by 1,054 votes or 1.8 percentage points. A recount is automatically called if the difference between the top two candidates is less than .5 percentage points.

Zenzinger was appointed to office in 2013 after former Sen. Evie Hudak, a Democrat, resigned before signatures gathered to force a recall election were turned into the Secretary of State.

Meanwhile, Adams County is still counting.

Republican Beth Martinez Humenik looked likely to claim a Thornton-based seat in Adams County for the GOP. She was up 1,216 votes over the Democrat in the race. The seat was left vacant by Sen. Lois Tochtrop, a Democrat, who had reached her term limits.

The final race Republicans need to pick up is Senate District 16 where Tim Neville was up almost 2,500 votes over the incumbent Democrat Jeanne Nicholson. That race includes voters in Jefferson, Gilpin, Denver and Boulder counties. Boulder County still had not reported all its results Wednesday afternoon.

To take the House, Republicans need victories in five districts and are banking on close races in Arapahoe County District 3, El Paso County District 17, the Adams County districts of 30 and 31 and the Durango-based House District 59.

Republicans now lead in all five of those races, although many are still counting ballots and within the margin of a mandatory recount.

[Red Steel]

Also Bob Beauprez has not conceded the Governor election to Hickenlooper.

[goldstategop]

A GOP takeover of the statehouse would more than make up for the Beauprez loss.

From one’s lips to God’s ears, let’s hope it becomes a reality.

[Blood of Tyrants]

Here’s hoping!

[Red Steel]

Ping.

[real saxophonist]

Weld Sheriff John Cooke handily won the State Senate seat, so he’s going to be a big ol’ thorn in Chickenpooper’ass.

[DonaldC]

“Also Bob Beauprez has not conceded the Governor election to Hickenlooper.”

I hope that means something, but from what I hear, they are counting parts of Denver and Boulder, both liberal strongholds. I am surprised Hickenlooper was not obliterated by the voting public. In the last few months he angered folks on both sides of the fence, particular gun owners and the pot folks.

[Bogey78O]

“It would be the first time Republicans have ruled in the Senate since 2005”

It would be the first time Republicans have ruled in the Senate since Californians took over the state.

[real saxophonist]

Well, Beauprez just conceded.

[VanShuyten]

Too bad. Colorado very likely has tons of illegals voting.

[Eva]

Little attention was paid to this initiative that passed in a Colorado last night. http://watchdog.org/179768/colorado-initiative-seeks-open-teacher-union-negotiations/

The initiative requires that negotiations between the school boards and the teachers union be made public. It is a big step towards cutting the political ties between the school boards and the teachers unions

[familyop]

Looks like the Secretary of State site is crowded, so...

Colorado Election Results

http://results.enr.clarityelections.com/CO/53335/148080/Web01/en/summary.html

[george76]

The Adams County clerk and recorder late Friday released its final results, showing that Republican Beth Martinez Humenik had beaten Democrat Judy Solano by 876 votes. With that victory, Republicans end a decade-long drought and retake control of the state Senate 18-17.

http://blogs.denverpost.com/thespot/2014/11/08/colorado-state-senate-majority/115049/

Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)

[rellimpank]

--don't suppose it is likely to happen but it would be amusing if the Repubs would reverse what the Democraps did as one of the first acts when they won the legislature-

-they removed concealed weapons reciprocity with many other states, making the Florida and Utah permits for out-of stator's not eligible--

[laplata]

Thanks, george76. Very good news.

Let’s hope something can be done about the mail in ballot.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red Steel.

[dynachrome]

Gov. chickenpuffer can veto any repeal of the new gun laws

[george76]

Wonder if Hick will - now - not pardon the mass murderer ?

[Clintonfatigued]

I didn’t know that Republicans had won control of the Colorado state Senate. They also got the Alaska state Senate. More good news.

As mentioned by another Freeper, all of Colorado’s statewide officeholders are long in the tooth. I know it’s early, but once the celebrating is over, preparations for succession (retirements are likely soon) need to be made.

[Viennacon]

Also in rather hilarious fashion, the colorado state house, which has a predator speaker who opposes Jessica’s law, just had Gordon Klingenshmitt elected to it, who once tried to exorcise demons from Obama.