By BRIAN PORTER | Rocky Mountain Voice
Eric Rinard lost his bid at the at-large seat on the University of Colorado’s board of regents Tuesday and with it Republicans lost an opportunity to earn a 5-4 majority on the board.
The board of regents is comprised of one elected member from each U.S. House district in Colorado — there are eight — and one at-large seat. Republicans entered Election Night needing to defend two of the four seats it held and flip the at-large seat.
Democrat Elliott Hood earned 50.5% of the 2,332,032 votes cast in the at-large election to defeat Rinard, who earned 46.8% of the vote, according to results with 72% of ballots reported. The election map read largely like President Donald Trump’s in the state, with the Eastern Plains, Southern Colorado and the Western Slope largely supporting Rinard, but with Hood carrying the Front Range and mountain communities.
The balance of power on the board of regents will remain unchanged, as Republicans held the two other seats on the ballot.
In the 5th District, Republican Ken Montera will return to the board of regents after a convincing win. He carried 58.6% of the 223,466 votes in the race, defeating Democrat challenger Axel Brown with 41.4%.
Republican Ray Scott will take the 3rd District seat currently held by Republican Glen Gallegos. In another convincing win, Scott took 56.2% of the 344,010 votes cast in the election, defeating Democrat Robert B. Logan who claimed 43.8%.
All results are unofficial until certified.