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No Surprises In Colorado's Down-Ticket Congressional Races

File: Nathan Heffel
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KUNC
U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman addresses supporters on Nov. 4, 2014.

Election Night brought plenty of drama to races at the top of the ticket with Republican Cory Gardner upsetting Democratic incumbent Mark Udall. But further down the ticket, races for the U.S. House of Representatives brought few surprises.

In one of the closest races, Republican incumbent Coffman won handily over Democratic challenger Andrew Romanoff.

“For me it’s very important to be able to share my vision to create more jobs, more opportunities to everyone in Colorado,” said Coffman in his victory speech, repeating the same sentence in Spanish.

Coffman faced a veritable challenger in Andrew Romanoff, and the two sounded off in Colorado’s first Spanish-language debate.

The tight race was in part due to redistricting in 2012, which turned the Republican stronghold into a more competitive district divided evenly in thirds between Republicans, Democrats and unaffiliated voters.

Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck will be one of a few new faces headed to Washington D.C. next year. The Republican candidate successfully won the 4th Congressional District against Democratic Challenger Vic Meyers.

Credit Grace Hood / KUNC
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KUNC
Ken Buck greets a supporter at the Weld County GOP Headquarters on Nov. 4, 2014.

Buck said he intends to focus on foreign policy issues, and putting limits on the federal government.

“As I have traveled the 4th Congressional District, I have heard from many, many people that they’re concerned with the spending and overregulation in Washington D.C.,” said Buck. “Really I am going back to carefully examine and work on the role of the federal government in our country.”

Buck originally launched a bid to run for the U.S. Senate seat this year. But he swapped races with 4th Congressional District Rep. Cory Gardner, who was largely considered a more competitive candidate to face off against the incumbent Mark Udall. It’s a strategy that paid off for Republicans with Gardner winning the U.S. Senate seat

In Colorado's 2nd Congressional District, which covers Larimer, Boulder, Grand and Summit counties, the re-election of incumbent Jared Polis was hardly a surprise over challenger George Leing. 

Polis said Tuesday night that his focus for his fourth term will include making college more affordable, reducing the amount of standardized testing and balancing the budget.

“Hopefully as a result of this election, people will give both parties a chance to work together and move our country forward,” said Polis.

In the 1st Congressional District Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette beat Republican challenger Martin Walsh.

Just two districts over, in the 3rd Congressional District, covering Pueblo and the Western Slope — Republican incumbent Scott Tipton beat challenger Abel Tapia.

Tapia is a Pueblo Democrat. According to The Aspen Times he ran a largely grassroots campaign.

In Colorado's 5th Congressional District — which mostly covers El Paso County — Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn sailed to re-election winning over challenger Irv Halter.

In Colorado’s 7th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Ed Perlmutter edged out Republican challenger Don Ytterberg.

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