We still don’t have a winner in the Democratic primary for attorney general

The AG race ended up being the closest statewide race during a primary election night that offered few genuine surprises.

Colorado Attorney General candidates Phil Weiser (left) and Joe Salazar. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

Colorado Attorney General candidates Phil Weiser (left) and Joe Salazar. (Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

(Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite)

staff photo

As of  8:30 p.m. Wednesday, there still isn’t an official winner in the Democratic primary for attorney general between Phil Weiser and state Rep. Joe Salazar.

Online results from the Secretary of State’s office show Weiser is currently leading Salazar by 5,198 votes — 50.44 percent to 49.56 percent — with 63 of 64 counties reporting, according to the Secretary of State’s website. But Secretary of State spokeswoman Lynn Bartels said in an email 4 p.m. Wednesday afternoon that the elections director believed there were still around 50,000 uncounted ballots statewide at that time.

Both campaigns said Wednesday they were still awaiting results. The AG race ended up being the closest statewide race during a primary election night that offered few genuine surprises.

“We are encouraged by the numbers as they currently stand. After the final ballots are counted in Denver, we believe our lead will remain strong,” Weiser’s campaign said. They said they’d have more to say sometime later in the evening.

Weiser, a law professor at the University of Colorado Law School, is a political newcomer who hadn’t run for public office before. He earned a coveted endorsement from Gov. John Hickenlooper after committing himself to running a clean campaign.

During the campaign, Salazar touted his deep Colorado roots and criticized Weiser for his lack of legal experience in Colorado. Salazar has a background in civil rights law and has a background in activism, calling himself the party’s progressive choice. He was endorsed by U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders.

This story will be updated. 

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