Republican voters in El Paso County appear to have sided Tuesday with two commissioner candidates from prominent families of local political operatives, preliminary primary results show.

District 1 candidate Holly Williams, wife of Secretary of State Wayne Williams, and District 5 hopeful Cami Bremer, who’s married to former county GOP Chairman Eli Bremer, appeared to be on the way to victory.

With more than 90 percent of votes counted, Williams had 11,816 votes, or about 60 percent, reported the county Clerk and Recorder’s Office.

Her opponent, former legislative aide Calandra Vargas, had about 7,816 votes, or about 40 percent.

“We worked hard, and I think that shows in the results,” said Williams, who was the county’s public trustee from 1999 to 2007 before leaving to work for U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn.

Her husband represented the district before being elected to his current position. If elected, she said, she would focus on securing more funds for local roads and ensuring that developers address concerns about water supply and infrastructure before building more housing in the county’s growing northern area.

Bremer had 7,340 votes, or about 58 percent. Her challenger, Vickie Tonkins, had 5,330 votes, or about 42 percent, the results showed.

“I’m excited that it looks like I’ll have the opportunity to serve El Paso County,” said Bremer, whose father-in-law, Duncan Bremer, previously represented District 1. “Our community is facing some issues that will require strong leadership, and I’m ready to tackle those complex problems.”

Bremer previously was governmental affairs director for the Colorado Springs Chamber of Commerce and a city communications specialist. She has said she feels her experience in the public and private sectors has given her the know-how to find community-based solutions to issues such as homelessness.

District 2 county commissioner Mark Waller, who endorsed both women, said he was pleased with the election results.

“I think that experience matters, and I think pragmatic conservatism matters as well,” Waller said. “That’s what both of them have demonstrated.”

Tonkins, who with her husband runs a nonprofit serving at-risk youth, congratulated Bremer on her victory.

Vargas rose to prominence on the state’s political landscape in 2016 when she nearly knocked Lamborn off the primary ballot. She also did not respond to a phone call requesting comment.

The primary winners will appear alongside Democratic candidates on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Democrat Kari Frederick, owner of a marijuana-friendly bed-and-breakfast in Colorado Springs, is also running for District 5. The district now is represented by term-limited commissioner Peggy Littleton and includes much of central Colorado Springs east of Interstate 25.

Democrat Frank DeLalla, a retired software engineer, will vie for District 1, which covers a swath of the county’s northern stretches, including Black Forest and part of Monument. Board of County Commissioners President Darryl Glenn, who is also term-limited, represents that district now.

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