Colorado Springs neighborhood advocate Bill Wysong and state Rep. Don Wilson were within about 2 points to earn the Republican nomination Tuesday in the race for El Paso County District 3 commissioner, according to unofficial results in the primary election.

Unofficial returns from the Secretary of State’s Office updated at 9:25 p.m. show Wysong edging ahead, capturing 32.5% of the vote and Wilson earning about 31%.

“I’m excited, humbled, and nervous as all get-out,” said Wysong, reached by phone Tuesday night at Church at Briargate in Colorado Springs, where Colorado GOP Chairman Dave Williams hosted a private watch party. Dave Williams was losing the GOP primary for retiring Rep. Doug Lamborn’s seat to his Republican opponent Jeff Crank in that highly watched race, unofficial results showed.

Wilson did not immediately return The Gazette’s call requesting comment.

Two other El Paso County District 3 GOP candidates trailed. Former Councilwoman Brandy Williams was earning 19%, and Colorado Springs Councilman David Leinweber 18%.

Just over 113,000 ballots had been cast from among 462,495 active voters, or about a 24% return. Turnout has so far fallen short of Clerk and Recorder Steve Schleiker’s hope for a 40% return, unofficial results show.

Just under 18,200 voters had cast ballots for the four District 3 candidates in the Republican primary.

Colorado law requires automatic recounts if the margin of victory is equal to or less than 0.5% of the winner’s vote. Recounts must be completed within 35 days after Election Day for county races.

Leinweber said by phone Tuesday he ran his campaign on mental health and homelessness, which he feels are the biggest challenges for El Paso County and Colorado Springs. Leinweber said he was disappointed he “is not going to be able to (advocate) at the county level” but will continue to do so as a councilman. He will retain his City Council seat.

“I’m concerned that voters in Colorado Springs are less concerned about people dying along our streams and are more concerned about their views of Pikes Peak,” he said.

A debate sparked months ago in the city about whether to limit building heights in a small section of downtown, and if residents should be able to vote on the issue in November. Leinweber and six of his fellow Colorado Springs councilmembers on Monday did not support Councilman Dave Donelson’s proposal that the council discuss and vote during a future public meeting about whether to send the question to voters this fall.

Wysong sent an email to the council Sunday voicing his support to put a building heights referendum on the November ballot.

Candidate Brandy Williams also did not immediately respond to The Gazette’s request for comment Tuesday night.

The candidate who wins the Republican primary will face Naomi Lopez, a speech pathologist and the sole Democrat in the District 3 race, in the Nov. 5 general election. The candidate who wins the general election will serve a four-year term and will succeed Republican Stan VanderWerf in the seat.

El Paso County’s Commissioner District 3 covers central and western El Paso County and includes the west side and downtown Colorado Springs; the city of Manitou Springs; the towns of Green Mountain Falls, Palmer Lake and Monument; and unincorporated areas on the west side of the county, including Ute Pass and those south of Cheyenne Mountain State Park.

The district is the county’s most politically competitive district on average after redistricting efforts last year, with a deviation from zero, or “even” competitiveness, of just under 1% in favor of Republicans. There are more active, registered unaffiliated voters than affiliated voters in the county. Residents have not elected a non-Republican to the Board of County Commissioners in about 50 years.