Republican George Leing. (Campaign handout)
Yes, Democratic Congressman Jared Polis handily won re-election in a GOP wave year, but opponent George Leing is the first Republican congressional candidate to carry Larimer County since 2002.
Leing also carried Grand, Jefferson and Park counties and lost Broomfield County by less than 1 percentage point. Polis’ main advantage was in liberal Boulder County, home of both candidates, where he demolished Leing 75 percent to 25 percent. The 2nd District has a distinct Democratic advantage.
The 2nd Congressional District, redrawn after the 2010 census, now includes all of Broomfield, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Grand, Larimer and Summit counties; most of Boulder and Jefferson counties; and portions of Eagle and Park County.
Overall, Polis won 57 percent to Leing’s 43 percent. Polis, an internet entrepreneur, has represented the district since 2009. He won the three-way Democratic primary in 2008 for the seat held by then Congressman Mark Udall, who was running for the Senate. Leing, the son of Chinese immigrants, is an attorney.
Leing’s campaign manager, Gregory Carlson, pointed out that the 2nd District had the highest turnout in the state, with more than 55,000 votes than the district with the second highest tally, the 4th Congressional District, where Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck won the seat vacated by Congressman Cory Gardner, who unseated Udall in the Senate race.
Here’s a look at the 2nd District numbers:
Boulder County:
Polis: 75 percent
Leing: 25 percent
Broomfield County:
Polis: 50.41 percent
Leing: 49.59 percent
Clear Creek County:
Polis: 51 percent
Leing: 49 percent
Eagle County:
Polis: 63 percent
Leing: 37 percent
Gilpin County:
Polis: 54 percent
Leing: 46 percent
Grand County:
Leing: 58 percent
Polis: 42 percent
Jefferson County:
Leing: 55 percent
Polis: 46 percent
Larimer County:
Leing: 51.09 percent
Polis: 48.91 percent
Park County:
Leing: 64 percent
Polis: 36 percent
Summit County:
Polis: 61 percent
Leing: 39 percent
