Colorado State Sen. Cleave Simpson of Alamosa won re-election over challenger Vivian Smotherman in the Colorado State Senate District 6 race on Tuesday. Simpson had 55 percent of the vote, with final tabulations still to come.
>>FULL RESULTS
Stories and vote totals will be updated on AlamosaCitizen.com throughout the week.
“I worked hard, tried to represent this district well over the last four years, and it feels invigorating again to be selected to represent these folks at the capitol again for the next four years,” he said.
“Both rewarding, a relief that the whole process is over now, sleep a little better at night and get back to some more routine in my life and working hard for the constituents in Senate District 6.”
Smotherman, a resident of Durango, conceded the race Tuesday evening.
“I want to thank my opponent, Sen. Cleave Simpson, for his efforts in keeping this campaign focused on the people and issues rather than hate and fear. I would also like to congratulate Sen. Simpson on receiving the support of this great district and earning a return trip to Denver as the Senate representative for District 6. This was an honorable race and Cleave was a respectable opponent. I’m confident that he will continue to serve the people of Southern and Southwestern Colorado admirably,” Smotherman said.
Simpson’s campaign pulled in a long list of endorsements, from former Republican congressman Scott Tipton to former Democratic congressman John Salazar.
He talked about the ongoing importance for the Colorado legislature to address the water problems of the Colorado River and Rio Grande basins, both of which fall in his state senate district. The state senate district covers the six-county San Luis Valley west through Pagosa Springs and over Wolf Creek into Durango and neighboring counties.
Simpson is a 1979 graduate of Alamosa High and 1984 graduate of Colorado School of Mines.