The Democrats’ six-year control of the Colorado legislature was on the line Tuesday as Republicans banked on voter discontent to put them back in power.
Based on early returns, they could regain the House, but the Senate was waiting for an outcome in a close contest.
All 65 seats in the House were up for grabs, as were 17 of the 35 seats in the Senate.
Democrats currently enjoy a 21-14 edge in the Senate, so Republicans needed four seats to win the majority.
The GOP said it had defeated Sens. Gail Schwartz and Bruce Whitehead and picked up the open seat held by Sen. Dan Gibbs, who did not run for re-election. Republican Tim Leonard battled Democrat Jeanne Nicholson in that race.
Meanwhile, Democrat Cheri Jahn led Republican John Odom for an open Senate seat in Jefferson County.
That left the the battle between Democratic Sen. John Morse and Republican Owen Hill in Colorado Springs.
El Paso County was late in reporting its totals, but Morse was leading by 368 votes in the latest tallies available.
In the House, where Democrats enjoy a 37-27-1 advantage, Republicans needed six seats to take control.
Republican Keith Swerdferger picked up an open seat in Pueblo West.
And Republicans appeared to be defeating Sara Gagliardi of Arvada, Dianne Primavera of Broomfield, Dennis Apuan of Colorado Springs, Debbie Benefield of Arvada and Joe Rice of Littleton.
The Benefield race is headed for a recount as Republican Robert Ramirez led by only 62 votes in the latest tallies.
Rice received the endorsement of the state’s three top business groups, but still had a tough battle with Republican Kathleen Conti in House District 38.
It’s the most Republican-leaning seat that Democrats currently hold, and the GOP hammered Rice for sponsoring the legislation that increased auto-registration fees, known as FASTER.
“I knew what I was doing when I ran FASTER,” Rice said Tuesday night, noting that he was likely to lose.
“It was the right thing, and most people agree with FASTER after a five-minute conversation. I tried to have as many five-minute conversations as I could, but apparently fell a few hundred short.
“I wouldn’t change it, though. That’s why no one else did anything on transportation for 18 years. They knew what it would cost. So did I.”
On the campaign trail, Republicans have hammered lame-duck Democratic Gov. Bill Ritter and the Democrat-controlled legislature over a variety of issues, from FASTER to the temporary suspension of a property-tax break for seniors.
Democrats in 2004 won control of the legislature in an upset that Republicans never saw coming — the Democrats had last won both the state House and Senate in 1960.
Democrats boosted their numbers in the next two elections, in 2006 and 2008, thanks to Democratic tidal waves nationwide.
It was a different story this year.
“The surprise won’t be that we lose seats, but that we ever won them to begin with,” said Democratic political consultant Steve Welchert.
“The voter registration in some of those districts now held by Democrats really favors Republicans.”
Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327 or lbartels@denverpost.com
