The presidential contest grabbed most of the attention, but voters in Northeast Denver and Northwest Aurora also were faced with a host of local measures and candidates on the November 5 ballot.

Voters in the area chose Democrats to represent them in Congress and the Colorado legislature. They approved big spending measures to make improvements to Denver and Aurora schools. In Denver, voters said no to bans on animal fur products and slaughterhouses, and expanded labor rights for certain city workers. In Adams County, including northwest Aurora, voters rejected a proposal to fund affordable housing; the result of a similar measure in Denver was uncertain as of the morning of November 6.

Here are the results of key measures and races in the election, based on partial, unofficial results as of 8am Wednesday, November 6. (Click the links provided below for updated results.)

NORTHEAST DENVER

Candidates

• U.S. Congress – In the 1st Congressional District, a U.S. House of Representatives seat held by Democrats for 51 years, Democratic incumbent Diana DeGette, who was first elected to the seat in 1996, sought a 15th term. She faced Republican Valdamar Archuleta, Daniel Lutz of the Approval Voting Party, and Critter Milton of the Unity Party. Result: DeGette easily won re-election.
• Colorado General Assembly – In state Senate District 33, incumbent Democrat James Coleman was challenged by Republican Max Minnig. Result: Coleman won by a big margin. In state House of Representatives District 7, including northern Central Park, Democratic incumbent Jennifer Bacon sought to hold off Republican Tom Swift and Libertarian Raymon Doane. Result: Bacon won easily. And in state House of Representatives District 8, including the main part of Central Park and Park Hill, Democrat Lindsay Gilchrist, Republican Philip Borrelli and Jesse Parris of the Unity Party competed in a race to succeed incumbent Democrat Leslie Herod. Result: Gilchrist won by a huge margin.
• 2nd Judicial District Attorney – John Walsh, former U.S. attorney for Colorado, ran unopposed to succeed Beth McCann as Denver’s DA. He defeated Leora Joseph in the primary election in June.
• Denver judges – All current 2nd Judicial District Court judges and Denver County Court judges on the ballot were retained.

Local Ballot Measures

• Denver Ballot Issue 2Q: Denver Health Funding – This measure would increase Denver sales taxes by 0.34% in order to raise an additional $70 million a year to support Denver Health, the City’s safety-net provider of hospital services for low-income patients. Result: This measure was narrowly passing as of early November 6.
• Denver Ballot Issue 2R: Affordable Housing – This measure, pushed by Mayor Mike Johnston, proposes a 0.5% sales tax increase in the City to raise an estimated $100 million a year to build, buy, and maintain affordable housing. Result: This measure was too close to call as of early November 6.
• Denver Referred Question 2S: Department of Human Rights – This measure amends the City charter to elevate the Agency for Human Rights and Community Partnerships to the level of a cabinet department. Results: The measure passed.
• Denver city worker requirements and rights — Referred Question 2T would remove the City charter’s requirement that applicants for its police and fire departments be U.S. citizens. Result: This measure was narrowly passing as of early November 6. Referred Question 2U establishes collective bargaining rights for certain non-supervisory city employees, including employees of Denver Water and the Denver Library. Result: The measure passed. And Referred Question 2V provides for binding arbitration for firefighters in the event of an impasse in collective bargaining negotiations. Result: The measure passed.
• Denver Initiated Ordinance 308: Animal Fur Ban – This citizen initiative called for prohibiting the manufacture, distribution, and sale of certain animal fur products in the City. Result: The measure failed.
• Denver Initiated Ordinance 309: Slaughterhouse Ban – This citizen would have prohibited the construction, maintenance, or use of slaughterhouses within the City. (Currently Denver has one slaughterhouse, the Superior Farms lamb processing plant in Globeville, employing about 160 people.)  Result: The measure failed.
• Denver Public Schools Ballot Issue 4A: Improvements – This measure seeks to raise up to $975 million in new bond debt to fund installation of air conditioning systems in 29 DPS buildings as well as pay for maintenance and safety improvements. Result: The measure passed by a wide margin.

NORTHWEST AURORA

Candidates

• U.S. Congress – In the 6th Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Jason Crow sought a fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives. He faced Republican John Fabbricatore, a former official of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, as well as John Kittleson of the Libertarian Party and Travis Nicks of the Approval Voting Party. Result: Crow easily won re-election.
• Colorado General Assembly – In state Senate District 28, Democrat Mike Weissman (currently a state representative in District 36) faced Republican Pedro Espinoza in a race to succeed Rhonda Fields. Result: Weissman won. And in state House of Representatives District 36, Democrat Michael Carter vied with Forward Party member Eric Mulder for the seat being vacated by Weissman. Result: Carter won by a wide margin.
• Adams County Board of County Commissioners – Commissioners are elected countywide but represent specific parts of the county. In District 1, Republican Shelly McClure faced Democrat Julie Duran Mullica in a bid to succeed Eva Henry. Result: Mullica was narrowly winning as of early November 6. In District 2, Democrat Kathy Henson vied with Center Party candidate Bernadette Tedesco to succeed Charles “Chaz” Tedesco. Result: Henson won. And in District 5, which includes northern Aurora, incumbent Democrat Lynn Baca faced Republican Jim Wood. Result: Baca was narrowly winning as of early November 6.
• Local judges – All current 17th Judicial District Court judges (serving Adams and Broomfield counties) and Adams County Court judges on the ballot were retained.

Local Ballot Measures

• 17th Judicial District Ballot Question 7B: DA Term Limits – This measure called for changing term limits for the district attorney serving Adams and Broomfield counties, allowing up to three consecutive terms instead of two terms. Result: The measure failed. (Current DA Brian Mason ran unopposed for re-election.)
• Adams County Ballot Issue 1A: Affordable Housing – This measure would have imposed a temporary sales tax surcharge of 0.15% to raise an estimated $22.2 million to finance more affordable housing for the county. Result: The measure failed by a wide margin.
• Aurora City Question 3A: Pit Bulls – This measure would repeal the city’s current ban on owning pit bull dog breeds. (A no vote was for keeping the ban in place.) Result: This measure was narrowly passing as of early November 6.
• Aurora Public Schools Ballot Issues 5A and 5B: Improvements – Aurora Public Schools asked voters to approve a pair of money measures to make widespread improvements across the district. Measure 5A is a $1 billion bond measure to pay for improving and enhancing school facilities, infrastructure and technology. Result: The measure passed. Measure 5B is a capital mill levy to raise $30 million a year to fund ongoing capital expenses such as building maintenance and small-scale improvements. Result: The measure passed by a wide margin.

REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT

• RTD Ballot Measure 7A: TABOR Exemption – This measure allows the transit agency to keep and spend an estimated $670 million in sales tax revenue that otherwise could be returned to taxpayers under terms of the state Constitution’s Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights (TABOR). Results: The measure passed by a wide margin. (Note: Several RTD district directors were also chosen in the election, but not in District B, which encompasses northeast Denver and northwest Aurora.)

COLORADO AND JUDICIAL RESULTS

• Voters also faced a long list of statewide measures, University of Colorado regent races, Supreme Court and Court of Appeals judge retention questions and more. For statewide results, visit the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.