The unofficial results of the June 25 primary election have been released, with Archuleta County voters sending John Ranson to the November general election for Archuleta County commissioner for District 2.
“Election day results are never final results,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold explained on June 21. “After Election Day, ballots continue to be counted, military and overseas voters return their ballots, signature discrepancies can be fixed, and audits are conducted to confirm the results.”
Colorado Republican, Democratic and unaffiliated voters were able to vote in the election, with unaffiliated voters allowed to choose one major party ballot to vote.
According to the secretary of state’s website, 3,819 ballots were cast in Archuleta County out of 11,038 active votes for a turnout of 34.60 percent.
“We had a lower turn out than we had hoped for but everything went well,” Archuleta County Clerk and Recorder Kristy Archuleta wrote in an email to The SUN. “All judges and my office staff helped with the process and it went smoothly.”
Archuleta adds the Pagosa Lakes Property Owners Association “went above and beyond” to provide a second location for a voter service and polling center, “and checked in on them all day which is appreciated.”
Results by race
Following are the vote totals as of Wednesday morning, June 26. Vote totals listed below are for Archuleta County unless otherwise noted.
County offices
Archuleta County commissioner for District 1
Warren M. Brown was the sole Republican candidate on the ballot and garnered 1,782 votes.
There were no Democratic candidates.
Archuleta County commissioner for District 2
Ranson tallied 1,612 votes, with Zane Kraetsch following with 927 votes.
There were no Democratic candidates.
Archuleta County coroner
Republican Brad Hunt ran uncontested and received 1,681 votes.
There were no Democratic candidates.
Federal offices
Representative to the 119th United States Congress for District 3
Republican voters across the congressional district opted for Jeff Hurd, with Archuleta County voters favoring Lew Webb.
Hurd will advance to the November ballot, logging 41.29 percent of the district’s vote, or 36,207 votes. Hurd was the second-highest vote-getter in Archuleta County, receiving 669 votes.
Webb received 8.00 percent of the votes, 7,014 votes, in the congressional district and garnered 737 votes in Archuleta County.
Ron Hanks received 580 votes in Archuleta County and 28.45 percent of the votes across the district.
Stephen A. Varela received 164 votes in Archuleta County and 9.75 percent of the district’s votes.
Curtis M. McCracken received 146 votes in Archuleta County and 6.53 percent of the district’s votes.
Russ Andrews received 115 votes in Archuleta County and 5.99 percent of the district’s vote.
On the Democratic ballot, Adam Frisch was the sole candidate and received 1,136 votes in Archuleta County and 51,080 votes across the district.
State offices
State Board of Education member for Congressional District 3
Each party had one candidate on the ballot.
Democrat Ellen Angeles tallied 1,057 votes in Archuleta County and 46,458 across the district.
Republican Sherri M. Wright received 1,708 votes in Archuleta County and 64,445 across the district.
Regent of the University of Colorado — at large
Two candidates appeared on the Democratic ballot. Elliott Hood tallied 562 votes in Archuleta County and 52.22 percent of the overall vote, or 218,203 votes. Charles “CJ” Johnson tallied 416 votes in Archuleta County and 47.78 percent of the overall vote, or 199,661 votes.
Eric Rinard was the sole candidate on the Republican ballot, receiving 1,668 votes in Archuleta County and 366,901 total.
Regent of the University of Colorado for Congressional District 3
Robert B. Logan was the sole candidate on the Democratic ballot, tallying 1,037 votes in Archuleta County and 45,067 total.
Republican Ray Scott received 1,375 votes in Archuleta County and 54,408 overall. Kristine Sposato withdrew from the race and votes cast for her were not tallied.
State senator for District 6
Each ballot featured one candidate.
Democrat Vivian Smotherman received 1,060 votes in Archuleta County and 12,897 across the district.
Republican Cleave Alan Simpson tallied 1,751 votes in Archuleta County and 14,478 across the district.
State representative for District 59
Katie Stewart, appearing on the Democratic ballot, tallied 1,073 votes in Archuleta County and 7,252 votes across the district.
Republican Clark Craig received 1,763 votes in Archuleta County and 7,654 across the district.
District attorney for the 6th Judicial District
Democrat Sean Murray tallied 1,072 votes in Archuleta County and 6,117 across the judicial district.
There were no Republican candidates for the office.
General election
The general election will be on Nov. 5.
While the major party candidates are now known, potential unaffiliated candidates have until July 11 to file a nomination petition, according to the state’s election calendar, and write-in candidates have until July 18 to file an affidavit of intent.
The election calendar is available at https://www.coloradosos.gov/pubs/elections/calendars/2024ElectionCalendar.pdf.
How to register to vote
Those eligible can register to vote up to and including Election Day at www.govotecolorado.gov or at the county’s election’s office.
More information on registering to vote is available at https://www.archuletacounty.org/192/Elections.
randi@pagosasun.com
