Colorado's Campbell Turns Back Conservative Challenger
He'll face Dottie Lamm in November
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Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell
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DENVER (AllPolitics, Aug. 12) -- Republican Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell turned back a more conservative primary challenger Tuesday, capturing 70 percent of the vote to lawyer Bill Eggert's 30 percent.
But GOP voters turned to a conservative in the fight for the open Colorado governor's seat. Democrat Roy Romer is ineligible to run again because of term limits.
In Tuesday's other balloting, Georgia Democrats made it official and selected state legislator Roy Barnes in a runoff to face millionaire businessman Guy Millner in the fall. The winner will succeed Democratic Gov. Zell Miller.
In Colorado, it was Campbell's first time running as a Republican since he switched parties in 1995. But he had no trouble beating Eggert, who built his campaign around opposition to abortion and gun control.
"It shows the moderate voices within the Republican Party are dominating, and that they want experience and what I've tried to stand for -- smaller government and fewer taxes," Campbell told The Associated Press. "And it sends an important message to me, because I am sick to death to hear my opponent saying Republicans don't trust me. They do trust me, in landslide proportions."
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Dottie Lamm
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In the November general election, Campbell, 65, will face former newspaper columnist Dottie Lamm, the wife of former Gov. Dick Lamm. She captured the Democratic nomination, beating state Rep. Gil Romero 58-42 percent.
In the governor's race, GOP voters turned to state Treasurer Bill Owens, who took 59 percent of the vote against more moderate state Senate President Tom Norton, who got 41 percent.
In the fall, Owens will face Democratic Lt. Gov. Gail Schoettler, who beat Senate Minority Leader Mike Feeley. She is the first woman ever nominated for governor in Colorado. Schoettler had 56 percent to Feeley's 44 percent.
Turnout was a low 20 percent.
In two Colorado congressional districts where incumbents are leaving office, there were lively primary contests for the open seats.
In the 2nd district, including Boulder and some Denver suburbs, Democratic incumbent David Skaggs' retirement drew six candidates. Democratic state Rep. Mark Udall and Republican Bob Greenlee, the mayor of Boulder, will compete in the fall.
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Roy Barnes
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In the 6th district, covering the Denver suburbs, former state Rep. Tom Tancredo beat out four other Republicans and will face Democrat Henry Strauss in November. The winner succeeds retiring Republican incumbent Dan Schaefer.
After the Georgia runoff, state Rep. Roy Barnes is officially the Democrats' choice for governor. His opponent, Secretary of State Lewis Massey, withdrew and threw his support to Barnes two days after the July 21 primary, so the outcome was no cliffhanger.
Barnes will face Millner this fall, with the winner succeeding Miller, who was ineligible to seek a third term.
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