John Walsh is set to be Denver’s next district attorney.
Democratic opponent Leora Joseph conceded the race late Tuesday. Walsh, a former U.S. attorney for Colorado, had received 39,904 votes, or 58.23% of the 68,527 votes tallied, as of 10 p.m.
Because there are no Republican candidates in the race, Walsh will almost certainly become Denver’s next district attorney.
“I congratulate John Walsh on his victory,” Joseph said in a statement. “…I know he will lead with integrity.”
Joseph, a former chief deputy district attorney in the 18th Judicial District, which covers Arapahoe, Douglas, Elbert and Lincoln counties, had received 28,623 votes, or 41.77% of the total number cast.
Barring a surprise in the November general election, Walsh will take office in January for a four-year term, replacing current Denver District Attorney Beth McCann, who served two terms.
The district attorney is Denver’s highest-ranking law enforcement official and sets the city’s overarching approach to prosecuting crime.
Walsh worked as a prosecutor in California and spent 15 years in private practice in Colorado before he served six years as U.S. attorney, leaving that role in 2016 to return to private practice.
During a debate in early June, Walsh named his top priority after taking office as addressing Denver’s violent crime, especially youth violence, and said he wanted to improve public safety downtown and bolster the police force.
He did not immediately offer comment Tuesday night.
In the only two other contested district attorney primaries in the state, George Brauchler took a strong lead over Dagny Van Der Jagt in the newly-created 23rd Judicial District, with 65% of the vote at 8:30 p.m., in Douglas, Lincoln and Elbert counties.
In El Paso County’s Fourth Judicial District, incumbent Michael Allen came in ahead of David Wilson in early returns, with 68% of the vote at 8:30 p.m.
