WASHINGTON _ Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn once again survived a primary threat in Colorado's 5th District, despite nearly being removed from the ballot earlier this year.
A legal dispute over the six-term lawmaker's petition signatures threatened to toss him off the ballot, but Lamborn eventually survived the challenge, and won a five-way Republican primary Tuesday night.
With 76 percent of precincts reporting, Lamborn led with 54 percent of the vote when The Associated Press called the race. Trailing behind were El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, the unsuccessful GOP Senate nominee in 2016, with 20 percent and state Sen. Owen Hill with 18 percent.
Lamborn will be heavily favored in November against college professor Stephany Spaulding, who ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Republican.
1st District Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette fended off a spirited primary challenge from Saira Rao, a children's book publisher and former Wall Street lawyer, who outspent the incumbent during the pre-primary reporting period in the Denver-based district.
With 79 percent of precincts reporting, DeGette had 73 percent of the vote to Rao's 27 percent when the AP called the race.
First elected in 1996, DeGette is a member of the Democratic whip team. She will face Republican Casper Stockham in November, but is heavily favored to win a 12th term in a district Hillary Clinton carried by 46 points. Inside Elections rates the race Solid Democratic.
6th District Army veteran Jason Crow won the Democratic primary in the 6th District to take on GOP Rep. Mike Coffman, a top target for Democrats looking to win back the House.
With 70 percent of precincts reporting, Crow led former Obama Energy Department official Levi Tilleman 68 percent to 32 percent when the AP called the race.
Coffman is among the most vulnerable incumbents, running in a suburban Denver district that Clinton carried by 9 points in 2016.
But the incumbent is known as a diligent campaigner, and his seat has eluded Democrats in recent cycles. But Democrats believe anti-Trump energy, fueled by issues such as health care and immigration, along with Crow's strength as a candidate, could lead to Coffman's defeat.
Tilleman, a grandson of the late California Rep. Tom Lantos, decried Democratic leaders for siding with Crow. He said House Minority Whip Steny H. Hoyer encouraged him to drop out of the race. Hoyer defended backing Crow, arguing that Democrats needed to unite around candidates who could win tough districts. Crow was also added to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Red to Blue program for strong recruits late last year.
Inside Elections rates the 6th District race Tilts Republican.
