By Dan Karpiel

The Surveyor

Voter turnout for Tuesday primary election broke the previous state record, set in the 2018 primary, by more than two million votes. This year saw more than 1.4 million ballots returned, compared to 1.16 million in 2018, according to information from the Colorado Secretary of State’s office. Statewide, 41.40% of active voters returned ballots.

The hotly contested race for the Democratic Party nomination for the United States Senate between former-Governor John Hickenlooper and State Senator Andrew Romanoff was won by Hickenlooper, 59.54% to 40.46%. Hickenlooper, who most analysts viewed as the stronger candidate, will face off against incumbent Republican Senator Cory Gardner in November in a race with nationwide implications.

More locally, there were several contested primaries for open County Commissioner seats in both Larimer and Weld Counties. In the Republican race for Weld County Commissioner-at-large, Perry Buck defeated Kevin David Ross 61.81% to 38.19% and will face off against Democrat Paul Echternacht in November. For Weld Commissioner District 1, Mike Freeman defeated Kristie Melendez to win the Republican nomination. Freeman will face John Shull in November. As of Wednesday morning, Lori A. Saine was leading by just 27 votes over Tommy Holton in a three-way race that also included Lynette Kilpatrick for the Republican nomination for District 3.

For the two open seats on the Larimer County Commission, Ben Aste defeated Aislinn Kottwitz by more than 20% for the Republican nomination for District 3 and Bob McCluskey defeated Jeff Jensen in the race for the GOP nomination for District 2. McCluskey will face off with Democrat Kristin Stephens, who was uncontested, while Aste will face Democrat Jody Shadduck-McNally, who handily defeated Myles Baker, this November.