Colorado construction company owner Joe O’Dea — the rare Republican in a competitive congressional race to support abortion rights — won his party’s nomination Tuesday to challenge Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.
O’Dea was leading state Rep. Ron Hanks 57 percent to 43 percent when The Associated Press called the race at 7:35 p.m. Mountain time.
O’Dea’s nomination is almost certain to raise national interest in the Colorado Senate race. If elected, he would join only a handful of Republicans in Congress who have deviated from their party’s push to outlaw abortions under almost any circumstances at a crucial moment in the nation’s battle over reproductive rights. O’Dea says the procedure should be allowed early in preganancy — although he has declined to say when he would impose a cutoff — in cases of rape or incest or when the life of the mother is at risk.
