Republican Cory Gardner pulls off huge win in Colorado Senate race


Republican Cory Gardner has defeated incumbent Sen. Mark Udall (D) in Colorado's hard-fought Senate race, pushing the GOP one net seat away from a Senate majority.
With 65 percent of precincts reporting, Gardner led by about seven percentage points, leading The Associated Press to call the race.
Udall handily won his first term in 2008 amid a favorable political climate for Democrats. But with President Obama's approval rating hovering in the low 40s, and with midterm election demographics typically favoring the GOP, he had a much tougher challenge this time around.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Udall also came under fire for focusing heavily on Gardner's past support for a personhood bill that would have restricted access to abortion and some forms of birth control. In endorsing Gardner, The Denver Post wrote that Udall was "trying to frighten voters rather than inspire them with a hopeful vision," and that "his obnoxious one-issue campaign is an insult to those he seeks to convince."
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Jon Terbush is an associate editor at TheWeek.com covering politics, sports, and other things he finds interesting. He has previously written for Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, and Business Insider.
-
Court says labor board's structure unconstitutional
Speed Read The ruling has broad implications for labor rights enforcement in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi
-
Feds seek harsh charges in DC arrests, except for rifles
Speed Read The DOJ said 465 arrests had been made in D.C. since Trump federalized law enforcement there two weeks ago
-
Trump taps Missouri AG to help lead FBI
Speed Read Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed FBI co-deputy director, alongside Dan Bongino
-
Trump warms to Kyiv security deal in summit
Speed Read Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called Trump's support for guaranteeing his country's security 'a major step forward'
-
DC protests as Trump deployment ramps up
Speed Read Trump's 'crusade against crime' is targeting immigrants and the homeless
-
Ukraine, European leaders to meet Trump after Putin talks
Speed Read Trump meets with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today following talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin last week
-
Border agents crash Newsom redistricting kickoff
Speed Read Armed federal Border Patrol agents amassed outside the venue where the California governor and other Democratic leaders were gathered
-
Man charged for hoagie attack as DC fights takeover
Speed Read The Trump administration filed felony charges against a man who threw a Subway sandwich at a federal agent