Rhonda Fields has won the Democratic primary race for the District 5 Arapahoe County Commissioner seat, according to unofficial county results. Arapahoe County will certify the election results later this summer.
Fields, a former state representative and a current state senator reaching her term limit, received about 38 percentage points more than Hashim Coates, a U.S. Navy veteran and progressive advocate as of the last drop of results on election night at 12:15 a.m.
Fields focused her campaign on supporting public safety institutions, advocacy for those who are aging, supporting military families, jobs and economic development, youth enrichment programs and mitigating undesirable impacts of county growth.
Coates’ top priorities as a county commissioner would have been to expand affordable housing options, protect the environment, promote sustainable development and support holistic community safety, according to his website.
Coates said he is proud of the race he ran and he will continue advocating for marginalized communities.
“My race was to show people that they should still pursue their dreams, aspirations — no matter what they’ve been through in life,” he said. “We don’t have to have cookie-cutter politicians. And I ran my race to really push the notion to people that seats belong to the people.”
Fields could not be reached for comment as of 9:45 a.m. on June 26.
District 5 includes the northern portions of Aurora and unincorporated Arapahoe County. Commissioner Bill Holen, who is term-limited, currently serves in the seat.
Fields is set to face Libertarian candidate Eliseo Gonzalez in the general election in November.