EL PASO COUNTY, Colo. — Tuesday is Primary Day, and nearly 459,000 ballots have been sent to all eligible and active registered Republican, Democratic and Unaffiliated voters.
If you plan to vote in person, or have not yet filled out your ballot, here’s a breakdown of the candidates for four major races – United States Senator, Representative to the 118th United States Congress – District 5, El Paso County Sheriff, and County Coroner.
U.S. Senator
Ron Hanks and Joe O’Dea will face off in the race for the Senate GOP Primary. Hanks won the top line designation on the Republican Primary ballot in April at the state GOP’s assembly in Colorado Springs, but the state party did not make an endorsement in this race. The winner will go on to face incumbent Senator Michael Bennet this fall.
Ron Hanks
Hanks is running on national security and economic issues, with priorities including border security, lowering gas and diesel prices, reducing supply shortages, and eliminating the Department of Education.
Joe O’Dea
O’Dea is running on a platform of foreign policy, crime, and inflation. His priorities are term limits, a balanced budget, and opposing higher taxes.
Representative to the 118th United States Congress – District 5
The frontrunners for the Republican Primary for the 5th Congressional District are Incumbent Congressman Doug Lamborn and State Lawmaker Dave Williams. District 5 leans 20 percentage points in Republicans’ favor, meaning whoever wins the party’s primary has a high probability of winning the general election.
Doug Lamborn
Lamborn’s top issues include gun rights, tax reform, illegal immigration, and a pro-life agenda.
Dave Williams
Williams is running on a pro-life platform, with his priorities being religious liberty, second amendment rights, and election integrity.
El Paso County Sheriff
Todd Watkins
Watkins is running on a platform of constitutional protection of freedoms and tackling government corruption.
Greg Maxwell
Maxwell commits to protecting and defending life, liberty, and property of El Paso County residents, as well as upholding constitutional liberties.
Joe Roybal
Roybal hopes to reduce victims and crime, by prioritizing law enforcement presence in targeted areas to combat crime, and reduce recidivism in inmates.
County Coroner
Leon Kelly
Dr. Kelly is a medical doctor certified in anatomic, clinical, and forensic pathology by the American Board of Pathology, and has more than 14 years of forensic pathology medical practice.
Rae Ann Weber
Weber, an Osteopath, has been critical of Dr. Kelly regarding what she calls a ‘lack of transparency around COVID factors contributing to deaths in the county.’
