GOP underdog triumphs in Colorado Senate race

DENVER—Republican Congressman Cory Gardner became the first challenger to unseat an incumbent U.S. senator from Colorado since 1978 on Tuesday, defeating Sen. Mark Udall.

“Tonight we shook up the Senate,” said a smiling Gardner as he took the stage at the Colorado GOP election night party in Denver on Tuesday night. He told the ecstatic crowd that Republicans in Colorado had gotten used to waiting until the next election. “Well I’ve got news for you. That next election—it finally happened.”

Gardner, deemed an underdog for the majority of the election, took a late and narrow lead in the polls in September. But on election night, Udall followed Gardner by a few points throughout the evening as precincts reported results. With almost all votes counted Wednesday morning, Gardner led with 50 percent over Udall’s 45 percent.

Udall, who has represented Colorado in D.C. since 1999 as a congressman and then senator, conceded the election with a shaky voice. He quoted Abraham Lincoln, saying he felt like a boy who stubbed his toe: “It hurts too much to laugh, but he was too big to cry.”

The GOP election night headquarters at the Hyatt Tech Center in Denver buzzed as the night wore on and more candidates took to the stage to celebrate victory. Women in evening gowns sported buttons saying “No to Mark Uterus,” a play on Udall’s name and backlash against his emphasis on attracting women voters by advocating for abortion rights and contraception.

“I was hoping, and I was right!” said Andrew Lucas about Gardner’s victory. Lucas, a lanky young Gardner supporter, stood in the main Hyatt ballroom, eyes scanning between the live Fox News stream on the ballroom screen and his iPhone. Proudly wearing a “Gardner for Senate” T-shirt, Lucas said he made phone calls for Gardner until the polls closed.

Colorado voters elected candidates this year with an all mail-in ballot system for the first time. Concerns about voter fraud did not materialize into accusations as counties announced results Tuesday.

Colorado’s incumbent Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper declared victory Wednesday morning in a race too-close-to-call on Tuesday night. His challenger, Republican Bob Beauprez, has not conceded, claiming too many votes remain uncounted.