The crowded field of Republican candidates for the El Paso County Commission District 4 nomination saw Fountain city councilman Cory Applegate claim the greatest portion of votes as polls closed, while incumbent Carrie Geitner was in the lead Tuesday evening for the El Paso County Commissioner District 2.

District 4 had an early front-runner, with Applegate claiming 50% of the vote, Brenda Delgado Miller just under 37% and Raymond Garcia just under 14% as of 7:45 p.m. according to results released by the Colorado Secretary of State’s Office.

As a presumptive nominee, Applegate said he was looking forward to getting back to campaigning and was “excited to get back out there walking and talking before November.”

He said infrastructure and immigration issues resonated most with voters he talked to in the lead up to the primary, and that he would be continuing to advocate for “good sustainable development” in the county.

District 4 is the current seat of Longinos Gonzalez, who is term-limited and could not run again.

Meanwhile, Geitner pulled ahead of political newcomer Kristopher Guido in District 2, claiming 64% of the vote.

Geitner said that she was “humbled” by the early results.

“We put in the work and I’m glad to have earned the votes of my constituents,” she said. “I’m looking forward to another four years.”

Guido said the election had been so far a “learning experience” for him, and an “eye-opener” for what the citizens for the district were looking for in terms of representation.

“I’ve met some pretty fantastic and great people,” he said.

The winners of each race will face off against a Democrat candidate in November’s general election. Both Democrats won in uncontested primaries. Nonprofit advocate Bernard “BJ” Byers will face likely Republican nominee Geitner in the Nov. 5 general election. The only District 4 Democratic candidate is Detra Duncan, who serves on the Fountain City Council alongside Applegate.

Both districts have historically elected Republican candidates.

In District 2, latest results display that about 13,427 ballots were cast from among 59,575 active voters, or about a 22% return. About 7,857 votes from 40,669 active voters were returned in District 4, for a 19% return.

District 2 incumbent Geitner said if elected she would continue to push for low taxes, road improvements and elevate the county’s voice at the state level. The self-described constitutional conservative was first elected in 2020.

Her opponent Guido is a former Army medic. Among his priorities, he listed addressing illegal immigration, managing growth, a responsible county budget and protecting seniors from high property taxes.

In District 4, Delgado Miller is an Army combat veteran who said she would reevaluate the county roads budget and balance growth with wildfire mitigation and infrastructure demands.

Applegate has said that his experience as a city council member equips him to steward the county’s public safety and infrastructure budgets.

Garcia, a former Marine, is the Colorado Hispanic Republicans chair and a self-described “America First” candidate. He said that he would prioritize efficiency at the Sheriff’s Office and address illegal immigration and homelessness.

District 2 encompasses part of east Colorado Springs as well as the northeast El Paso County communities of Cimarron Hills, Falcon, Peyton, Calhan and Ramah. District 4, in which term-limited commissioner Gonzalez is stepping down, covers southeast El Paso County, including Fountain, Security-Widefield, Fort Carson and rural communities to the county line.