Controversial El Paso County lawmaker Douglas Bruce may not get make another appearance in the statehouse next year if the results continue in his opponent’s favor.
Bruce, who was appointed to the state’s House of Representatives from District 15 this year, is behind Republican challenger Mark Waller by about 500 votes in early voting in the Republican primary.
With 5,490 votes counted by 8 p.m., Waller had 55 percent of the vote to Bruce’s 45 percent. Waller is a lawyer and an Air Force veteran.
The winner will face Democrat Michelle Maksimowicz, but in heavily Republican Colorado Springs, the seat is almost certain to be decided in the primary.
Bruce, 58, made headlines last year when he kicked a press photographer during the beginning hours of the legislative session.
Bruce was the first lawmaker in Colorado history to be censured. Republican leaders kicked him off a committee after he refused to co-sponsor a resolution honoring members of the military. He angered Latinos by referring to migrant farmworkers as “illiterate peasants.”
In other statehouse races of note, Lois Court led her opponents in the Democratic primary for House District 6, which would replace outgoing House Speaker Andrew Romanoff.
Romanoff had to step down because of term limits.
Court led with 45 percent of the vote with 4,500 votes counted over Liz Adams’ 38 percent and Josh Hanfling’s 17 percent.
Jeremy P. Meyer: 303-954-1367 or jpmeyer@denverpost.com
