Rob Witwer

Several of the 20 candidates for Colorado's Secretary of State have some heavy hitters backing them.

TV talk show host and 1990 Democratic Secretary of State nominee Aaron Harber offered former U.S. Sens. Gary Hart (D-Kittredge) and Hank Brown (R-Denver) as references on his application.

Joseph Poche, vice president of operations at Physicians Management Information Services, Inc., can more than match Harber when it comes to prominent backers: the Denver resident lists 1992 and 1996 presidential candidate Ross Perot and U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) as references.

Assistant Colorado House Majority Leader Terrance Carroll said he expects close races in three GOP-held districts but also said he expects Democratic incumbents Bernie Buescher and John Kefalas to hold on to their seats.

Besides House District 40, which appears set to switch to the Republican Party, the state House District 7 Democrat from Denver said he's concerned about districts in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Specifically, Carroll listed Judy Solano in House District 31, Joe Rice in House District 38, and Bernie Buescher in House District 55.

Carroll said he expects the closest races in the state to come in state House Districts 25, 37, and 39 -- all of which are currently held by Republicans.

Assistant state House Majority Leader Terrance Carroll predicted Tuesday that Democrats would pick up at least four seats in the Colorado House of Representatives this November.

Speaking at the Democratic National Convention Colorado delegation breakfast at the Grand Hyatt in Denver, Carroll said Democrats would take over Republican seats in House Districts 25, 37, 39 and 45.

District 37 is held by state Rep. Spencer Swalm; Assistant House Minority Leader David Balmer (R-Centennial) is seeking re-election in House District 39. Districts 25 and 45 are open seats being vacated by Republicans Rob Witwer and Victor Mitchell, respectively.

Stella Garza-Hicks’ seat in state House District 17 is also vulnerable, Carroll said.

“They’re highly competitive seats we can be successful at,” Carroll said. "Clearly, the independents and moderate Republicans have a greater affinity for our message than they do for the Colorado Republicans' message."

Asked if Democrats would hold onto state Rep. Debbie Stafford’s seat in House District 40, Carroll smiled.

“We’ll fight for it,” he said.

Democrats currently hold a 40-25 majority in the state House and a 20-15 majority in the state Senate.

Colorado Republican Party Chair Dick Wadhams disagreed with Carroll’s prediction, saying the GOP would hold on to those seats and take Democratic seats this November.

“It’s almost comical to watch how cocky and arrogant Democrats have gotten in Colorado,” Wadhams said.“ (Democrats) are just going to decide we don’t even need to have the election -- it’s over.”

Wadhams said while Democrats would keep their majorities in both legislative houses this fall, he said the GOP would win back both houses in 2010.