Republican incumbent Sen. Barb Kirkmeyer won the primary race for Senate District 23. 

Kirkmeyer led Natalie Abshier, Weld County’s GOP district captain, by 44 points, 72% to 28%, according to the unofficial tally of votes. 

Kirkmeyer told the Denver Gazette she’s “excited and happy” about the way the races across the state have gone for Republicans.

“We’re starting to send that message … we’re going to speak for Republicans across Colorado and build a stronger group in the Capitol,” she said. “We have a lot to work on, but we’re going to lift Coloradans up. I’m really happy and excited about tonight’s results.”

The district includes portions of Larimer and Weld counties. In Larimer, it covers Berthoud, Fort Collins, Johnstown, Timnath and Windsor. Weld County includes Dacono, Erie, Firestone, Frederick, Mead, Milliken, Northglenn and Thornton.

District 23 has 22,529 registered Democrats, 40,239 registered Republicans and 61,833 registered unaffiliated voters.

Kirkmeyer, a 35-year Weld County resident, has served as state senator since 2021.

Before entering politics, she co-owned and operated a dairy farm and was a small business owner for over 15 years. She has also served on the Weld County Commission and the Department of Local Affairs.

She has advocated for agriculture and energy workers and stricter penalties on criminals and fentanyl dealers, and her top priority is public safety, she told Colorado Politics.

“Far-left, woke policies have turned Colorado into one of the most dangerous states in America,” she told Colorado Politics. “We can fix this. When you punish crime, you get less of it.”

Her top priority is public safety, she said.

She said she wants to “restore respect for the law, back our first responders, end the ‘defund the police’ movement once and for all, rein in sanctuary cities, and ensure tough sentencing for repeat criminals and fentanyl dealers.”

During the 2024 session, Kirkmeyer was applauded and criticized for her bi-partisan work with Democrats, who hold the majority levers at the state Capitol. 

Abshier had called Kirkmeyer’s voting record “dismal,” saying she “doesn’t represent her Republican constituents unless it helps her politically,” according to Abshier’s website.

Abshier, who created two software companies that use technology to improve construction, has built her career around construction and technology and currently serves as the Weld County GOP District Captain for the Carbon Valley Community.

“I’m running to serve the people of Colorado, not to build a political career,” Abshier told Colorado Politics. “Accountability is important, and I look forward to being held accountable to the people who elect me.”

In campaigning during the primary election, Abshier has said her top priority is to “stop funding illegal immigration” in Colorado.