Western Wire takes a quick look at some important races across the west that impact energy issues and particularly, those of oil and gas.
All results as of 10:30pm, MST.
First up, the New Mexico Land Commissioner race. Democrat Stephanie Garcia Richard holds a 5-point lead over Republican Patrick Lyons, with about half of the votes in the state counted.
In Colorado, the Attorney General race between Democrat Phil Weiser and Republican George Brauchler remains tight, with Weiser clinging to a 2-point lead, with 33,000 votes separating him and his opponent out 1.8 million votes counted. It’s the only top-of-ticket race in the state that remains uncalled at this time. About 500,000 ballots are outstanding, so this race could go on for a while.
The big oil and gas issue in Colorado, the proposed 2,500-foot setback measure known as Proposition 112, has been defeated. No votes lead by approximately 14 percent, or 255,000 votes. Governor-elect Jared Polis, a Democrat who opposed Proposition 112, cruised to a 6-point victory over Republican Walker Stapleton. Polis has supported increased setbacks in the past.
The U.S. Senate race in North Dakota saw U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer, a Republican, unseat incumbent Democrat Heidi Heitkamp by an 8-point margin.
In neighboring Montana, incumbent Democrat Jon Tester holds a narrow 1.5-point lead of around 4,000 votes over Republican Matt Rosendale with approximately half of the votes counted. Incumbent U.S. Rep. Greg Gianforte has a 7-point lead over Democrat Kathleen Williams.
