The latest results from news sources across the nation have called the Colorado gubernatorial race for Bill Ritter.
The Denver Post and CNN declared Ritter the winner with 45 percent of precincts reporting. Among those precincts, 530,634 voted for Ritter to 402,018 for Bob Beauprez.
Ritter was elected as the Denver district attorney in 1994 and was re-elected in 1996 and 2000.
Barbara O’Brien is the new Lt. Governor. Her career includes serving as president of the Colorado Children’s Campaign.
The victory is part of a larger national trend by Democrats.
So far, the Democratic Party has gained six governor seats, while the Republicans have lost six.
Ritter was favored over Beauprez going into the Tuesday election. The race got dirty in stages, many complained, with both sides mudslinging.
Democratic ads endorsing Ritter labeled Beauprez as “Both-ways Bob,” accusing him of doing one thing and saying another. Beauprez accused Ritter of giving out too many plea bargains while he was the state’s district attorney and insinuated that he was too soft on crime.