Free Republic

The race for House District 59 is at last at a definitive close. After almost two weeks of praying, hoping and searching for more ballots, on Thursday, Democrat Mike McLachlan conceded to Republican challenger J. Paul Brown. In a brief interview, McLachlan said he would not seek a recount. “I’m done,” he said. In a telephone interview Thursday afternoon, Brown, who was in Denver for new legislator orientation, said he didn’t begrudge McLachlan for taking his time to concede.

Beyond Colorado's headline-grabbing races for Senate and governor, the election for House District 59 is starting to generate its own news for being the most expensive race for state house in Colorado — all thanks to tough new gun control laws passed in 2013. The contest is between Democratic incumbent Mike McLachlan and Republican challenger J. Paul Brown for a small district centered on the rural city of Durango. According to the Durango Herald, the race has attracted "a waterfall of money" from outside groups, to the tune of at least $718,000 in a market where media and advertising are...