Sheri Davis, a longtime employee of the Douglas County clerk and recorder’s office, won the Republican primary in the election to run the office Tuesday.

As of Wednesday, Davis had about 54% of the vote in an unofficial tally. Her opponent, Kory Nelson, conceded Tuesday night.

“I’m just ecstatic about the support I received and so overwhelmed with the opportunity to serve the citizens in this capacity,” Davis said Wednesday. 

Nelson, who ran on promises to go head-to-head with Colorado’s Democratic Secretary of State Jena Griswold, said the ballot tally may mean voters are looking for something different.

“Seeing how poorly Tina Peters did, I think people would prefer that clerk and recorders and the secretary of state knock off this political stuff and return to being more of a non-political bureaucratic office,” he said.

Tina Peters, the former clerk of Mesa County who was indicted on seven felony charges related to allegedly breaching that county’s election system, lost in the primary for Secretary of State to Pam Anderson, a former Jefferson County clerk. 

“It appears to me that voters are maybe leaning a little more moderate,” Davis said. 

Davis has served as the deputy director for the three main divisions of the clerk and recorder's office, including for motor vehicles, elections and recording. She said she is confident about her chances to win against her Democratic opponent, Karen Jefferson, in November. 

“I think that my leadership and experience speaks volumes,” she said.

Davis hopes to focus on teaching residents about the election system and its checks and balances.

“I’d really like to educate our citizens, especially those who are uncomfortable with the processes and try to earn their confidence back,” she said.

Nelson also talked about educating residents on the election process during his campaign, suggesting that the clerk’s office offer a citizen's academy. He also said on his website he wanted to create a “citizen’s advisory committee” made up of volunteers to “review the county’s ballot counting machines and election security procedures to the extent lawfully possible.” 

On his website, Nelson also wrote he would post the name and photo of anyone charged with election fraud on the clerk’s website.

Nelson, a prosecutor in the Denver City Attorney’s Office, will continue to participate in Republican Party activities, particularly in John Kellner’s race to become the attorney general, he said.