Recount ordered after three-vote difference in Colorado GOP primary for 58th district

Colorado Democrat Secretary of State Jena Griswold ordered a recount, required under state law, in the Republican primary race for House District 58 in the southwest corner of the state.

Larry Don Suckla received 6,488 votes in the primary, three more votes than Republican opponent J. Mark Roeber’s total of 6,485.

Colorado statutes require a recount when the vote differential in the race is within 0.5% of the winner’s total. Therefore, the benchmark for the recount is approximately 33 votes.

“The unofficial results of the Republican primary race for House District 58 race show that every vote matters,” Griswold said in a statement.

The eight counties in District 58 were notified to begin preparations to proceed with a recount for the race. State law requires the recount be completed by July 26. All eight counties will work with their bipartisan canvas boards to complete a logic and accuracy test on the tabulation equipment. Once the tests are completed, the counties will begin recounting all ballots in the race.

District 58 is comprised of six counties – Dolores, Gunnison, Hinsdale, Montrose, Ouray and San Miguel – and parts of Delta and Montezuma County, where the two candidates reside.

Kathleen Curry ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination in District 58 and received 6,550 votes.

Republican Marc Catlin served District 58 for four two-year terms in the Colorado House, beginning his first term in 2017. He sponsored nine bills signed into law by Democrat Gov. Jared Polis during the legislative session this year.

Suckla is a rancher, farmer and auctioneer, according to his campaign website. He is a retired firefighter and emergency medical technician. He currently is a volunteer firefighter with the Lewis-Arriola Volunteer Fire Department.

Roeber is a fourth-generation cattle rancher from Paonia, according to his campaign website. He currently serves as the president of the National Public Lands Council, which represents cattle and sheep producers with grazing permits on public lands. He also is a member of the Colorado River District, the Gunnison Basin Roundtable and the Southwest Resources Advisory Council for the Bureau of Land Management. He formerly served as a commissioner and chairman of Delta County.

Roeber received 81% of the vote in his home county of Delta; Suckla gained 78% of the vote in his home county of Montezuma.