State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer will be the Republican nominee in Colorado's new congressional district.
According to final, unofficial results, the Brighton Republican had 40% of the vote in the four-way race, about 18 points ahead of Thornton Mayor Jan Kulmann, with Weld County Commissioner Lori Saine and political novice Tyler Allcorn, an Army veteran, trailing. The Associated Press called the race for Kirkmeyer at 8:12 p.m.
The winner of the primary will face state Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a Thornton pediatrician, who was unopposed for the nomination in the Democratic primary.
Created after Colorado gained enough additional population ins the 2020 census, the new 8th District stretches from Adams County suburbs on the north side of the Denver metro area along the Interstate 25 corridor to Greeley in Weld County. It's expected to be the state's most evenly matched district and has already drawn heavy spending from both national parties.
After thanking her campaign's volunteers, donors and supporters, Kirkmeyer said that advertising paid for by the Democratic-aligned House Majority PAC had failed to sway enough primary voters toward Saine.
"It was because of each one of you that we were able to tell Nancy Pelosi and D.C. Dems that in Colorado, we make up our own minds," Kirkmeyer said on Facebook after she was declared the victor.
Caraveo called Kirkmeyer "dangerous" in a statement, citing the GOP nominee's positions on abortion rights and gun control.
“Barb Kirkmeyer is dangerous for Colorado families," Caraveo said. "Kirkmeyer supports a total nationwide ban on abortion without exceptions and cheered the radical (Supreme Court) decision to overturn Roe. She opposes even the most common-sense gun violence reforms to keep Coloradans safe, and her primary victory was bought by her corporate, special interest donors. Working Coloradans, like the families I treat in clinic every day, deserve a leader in Congress who will fight for them and work across the aisle to get things done — not an extremist like Barb Kirkmeyer.”
