Ed Perlmutter will be the next national Congressman for the 7th Congressional District, bringing a Democrat victory to one of the nation’s most hotly contested races.
Perlmutter won the race with 99,824 votes, compared to O’Donnell’s 76,825. Green Party candidate Dave Chandler received 2,964 votes, while American Constitution Party candidate Roger McCarville won 2,495.
From his party in the Marriott Denver West, Perlmutter attributed his victory for a desire for a new direction in the country.
“I think I won because the people in this district are looking for a change in direction,” he said. “We also had a great campaign team.”
O’Donnell’s campaign did not return calls for comment.
Perlmutter said he already has firm ideas about his agenda once he gets to Washington, D.C.
“I want to do some things to promote renewable energy and a diverse portfolio of energy,” he said. “I want to work at overriding the president’s veto on stem cell research. I also want to shift the focus from the wealthiest 1 percent to the working class.”
As of Monday, Perlmutter had barely bested O’Donnell in fundraising, raking in $2.87 million to O’Donnell’s $2.7 million, according to both campaigns. Both candidates received ample money from out-of-state interests and larger groups. O’Donnell accepted donations from the Arizona Republican Party and the Virginia-based Every Republican is Crucial. His filings also showed large donations from Qwest and the pharmaceutical company Pfizer.
Perlmutter also wrangled some big money, confirming his popularity among unions and attorney and education groups. Larger national donors included NARAL Pro-Choice American, which boasts of 2,400 members in the 7th Congressional District.
Given its high stakes, as the race for the 7th progressed it was marked by increasing antagonism from the candidates themselves and 527 committees, which are not connected to the candidates. Perlmutter bemoaned the level of rancor in the race. He acknowledged that much of the negative advertising did not come from the campaigns themselves, but rather from 527 groups.
Bob Beauprez’s announcement that he was running for governor ignited national interest in the race for the 7th, which was seen as a pivotal seat in Democrats’ attempt to gain the 15 seats needed to wrest control of the Congress from Democrats. Since that time, the 7th – which includes parts of Adams and Arapahoe counties – received much attention and big money from the national parties.
In August Perlmutter won a three-way primary against Democrats Peggy Lamm and Herb Rubenstein. O’Donnell forewent a primary election.
At his victory party Perlmutter thanked his family, supporters and his opponents. He built on the message of bringing change to the country, a mission he said began that night.