Democrat Barbara McLachlan won a third-term victory as Colorado House District 59 representative after fending off her Republican opponent, Marilyn Harris, according to unofficial results Tuesday.
About 55% of voters in Archuleta, Gunnison, Hinsdale, La Plata, Ouray and San Juan counties supported McLachlan and 45% supported Harris, according to preliminary results from the Colorado Secretary of State. The majority of all ballots had been counted across the district, and McLachlan won four of the six counties, including La Plata County with 58% of the vote as of 10 p.m.
During the campaign, McLachlan cast herself as a rural advocate in state politics willing to work across the aisle to get things done. Harris said she would help balance the Democratic Party-controlled government as a Republican candidate.
“I’m excited,” McLachlan said. “I’m so honored that my constituents know that I’m working hard on their behalf, and they have the confidence that I’m going to continue to do that.”
Harris did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
McLachlan, a Durango resident, is a former Durango Herald journalist and a former teacher at Durango High School. Her husband, Mike McLachlan, has previously held the House District 59 seat.
She started her first two-year term as the representative for HD 59 in 2016 and was re-elected in 2018.
McLachlan focused her campaign on economic recovery during the coronavirus pandemic, saying Colorado consumers needed to buy local to boost the economy. She supported paid sick leave and expanding Medicare to cover primary care.
McLachlan said schools should reopen slowly and safely during the pandemic and emphasized her work supporting rural schools.
On the environment, she supported public lands and water-efficient crops including hemp. She was against projects that pull Western Slope water to the Front Range.
Harris, a Pagosa Springs resident, served on the National Federation of Republican Women and is a business owner.
During the campaign, she cast herself as pro-life, pro-Second Amendment and pro-responsible government spending.
Harris supported small businesses, affordable housing, transparency on medical insurance billing and increased school funding. Parents should have more choice in schooling options, and voters should support her to get “radical Democrat politicians” out of office, she said.
smullane@durangoherald.com
