NEW WEST ELECTION ROUNDUP

GOP Scores Big in West

By David Frey, 11-03-10

In a year in which Republicans enjoyed major victories across the country and seized control of the House of Representatives, the GOP was also celebrating victory parties across the West – a part of the country that has long leaned Republican but had seen recent Democratic gains.

Republicans picked up three new House seats in the Rockies, two in Colorado, one in Idaho. They won a new governor seat in Wyoming. And they fought off Democratic challenges throughout the region.

At a time when it was Republicans’ election to lose, though, Democrats won some key victories in the region.

Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper defeated Tom Tancredo, the American Constitution Party candidate who became the conservative frontrunner after Republican Dan Maes’ campaign collapsed. And incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet, a Democrat, narrowly defeated Republican Ken Buck, a Tea Party favorite. The victory was too close to call Tuesday night; Bennet was declared the winner this morning.

Here’s the rundown:

Colorado: The Tea Party suffered blowback in Colorado. Buck launched a strong campaign against incumbent Bennet, but controversial statements dogged him, and Bennet responded with a successful message that Buck was too extreme. The battle left the two neck-and-neck, with late returns from Boulder pushing Bennet into the lead.

Hickenlooper seemed poised for a rare, easy Democratic win this season after missteps foiled Republican Maes, another Tea Party favorite. But Tancredo, famous for his tough talk on illegal immigration, ran an outsider’s campaign that made him the de facto Republican candidate and brought him within a few points of the governor’s mansion.

Republicans, however, picked up two House seats. “It cements our reputation as a battleground,” Denver pollster Floyd Ciruli told Denver’s 9News.

Idaho: Idaho is comfortable Republican country, and this year was no exception. Republicans won a number of races, including Gov. Butch Otter, who cruised to an easy reelection. The race to watch was incumbent Walt Minnick, a Blue Dog Democrat, who seemed he might stand against the Republican tide, but challenger Raul Labrador surged ahead, buoyed by Tea Party support.

Utah: Republican Mike Lee, a Tea Party favorite, first managed to oust 18-year incumbent Sen. Bob Bennett at the Utah Republican convention. Then he trounced Democrat Sam Granato. Gov. Gary Herbert easily held his seat.

Wyoming: Republican Matt Mead easily won as governor of Wyoming. He replaces Democratic Gov. Dave Freudenthal, who was term-limited. Rep. Cynthia Lummis easily won a second term to Wyoming’s only House seat. She defeated Democrat David Wendt.

Montana: Rep. Denny Rehberg, R, faced an easy reelection bid, defeating Democrat Dennis McDonald, a rancher who ran a lackluster campaign. He returns for a sixth term.

Another Western state, outside of the Rockies, also presented some headline-making races. In Nevada, Sen. Harry Reid, the majority leader who suffered from flagging support in a state with the highest unemployment in the nation, won reelection in a tight race against Tea Party favorite Sharron Angle, whose string of controversial statements made her an unpleasant choice even for some voters who disliked Reid.

His son didn’t fare so well. Rory Reid lost the governor seat to Republican Brian Sandoval, keeping the seat being vacated by Gov. Jim Gibbons in GOP hands. Republicans also picked up the seat held by incumbent Rep. Dina Titus, the first Democrat to hold the 3rd Congressional District. But just barely. A moderate, Joe Heck won the seat by less than one percentage point.

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