Camacho beats Epps in closely watched Colorado statehouse race

Colorado House District 6 Democratic candidate Sean Camacho, left, and Attorney General Phil Weiser, right, at an Election Night watch party on June 25, 2024. (Sara Wilson/Colorado Newsline)

Challenger Sean Camacho defeated Rep. Elisabeth Epps in the Democratic primary for state House District 6, according to early results from the Colorado secretary of state.

Camacho was ahead with 63% of the vote, according to the results as of 8:30 a.m. Wednesday, and Associated Press-subscribed outlets reported that the AP called the race for Camacho.

Camacho was the establishment-backed candidate. Epps was the more progressive, yet controversial, first-term lawmaker. The race was seen as a bellwether among many state Capitol observers.

Epps, who heads the Colorado Freedom Fund, won her first term in office in 2022 after another tough primary challenge from Katie March. During her two years in office, she championed progressive legislation including a ban on most semi-automatic firearms and a bill to allow overdose authorization centers. She also publicly criticized House leadership over their handling of floor speech and open meetings practices. She was reprimanded by House leadership after she joined pro-Palestinian protestors in the chamber gallery during a special session last fall.

Epps was backed by labor and grassroots groups including the AFL-CIO and SEIU Local 105.

Camacho had endorsements from the Democratic establishment of Colorado, including Gov. Jared Polis, Attorney General Phil Weiser, House Speaker Julie McCluskie and Senate President Steve Fenberg.

Camacho vastly outraised and outspent Epps, according to campaign finance records. He also benefited from outside spending. Various committees spent over $120,000 for communications opposing Epps and over $250,000 supporting him. That included a series of negative mailers targeting Epps.

Camacho will almost certainly win the general election in November against Republican candidate Kyle Witter. The safe Democratic seat spans the Denver neighborhoods of Capitol Hill, Congress Park and extends into Lowry.

Editor’s note : This story was updated at 8:39 a.m., June 26, 2024, to reflect new information about the outcome of the race.

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