David Ortiz.

David Ortiz secured a decisive victory in the Democratic primary for Colorado state House District 38 in the party primary election that ended June 30, with a nearly 2-1 advantage over rival Candice Ferguson in unofficial election results.

In unofficial results early July 1, Ortiz held 65.9% of the vote in the Democratic primary to Ferguson's 34.1%.
Ortiz will now face off against Republican incumbent Richard Champion in November, vying to represent the district that covers much of Littleton, Bow Mar, Columbine Valley, west Centennial and parts of unincorporated Jefferson County.

Champion was unopposed in the primary. Together, the two Democrats drew 16,418 votes to Champion's 9,251 as of early July 1.

District 38 encompasses most of Littleton, west Centennial and parts of Columbine Valley and Bow Mar.
Ortiz, an Army veteran who was rendered paraplegic in a helicopter crash in Afghanistan, works in nonprofit management and veterans' advocacy.

In a questionnaire completed for Colorado Community Media, Ortiz focused on affordable health care and support for public education as primary goals.

Ortiz also mentioned supporting small businesses in enduring the COVID-19 pandemic, and said the state should “utilize the aspect of (the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights, or TABOR) that allows us to declare an emergency and implement a temporary tax on those that have benefited the most from our years of economic success and that are most insulated from the current crisis.”

Asked how he would reach across the aisle to work with Republicans, Ortiz said, “Growing up as an Air Force brat and then serving in the armed forces myself, I view us all as belonging to the same American family. That belief is founded in ideals embodied in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, which should be applied to all equally regardless of who you love, the color of your skin, or your faith.”

Ferguson, a marketing and brand executive from Littleton, ran on a broad platform, with priorities including supporting public education, building low-income housing, improving mental health care access, reducing air and water pollution, increasing renewable energy, creating jobs and amending TABOR to allow tax increases to address revenue shortfalls as a result of COVID-19.

Champion, the Republican incumbent for the seat, was selected by a GOP vacancy committee in February, after Susan Beckman, the seat's previous holder, stepped down to take a federal post. Beckman had eked out a narrow victory to the seat in 2018, with 50.4% of the vote, over Democratic challenger Chris Kolker.

Election day is Nov. 3.