In brief: Colorado seat goes to Democrat

Denver – Sen. Michael Bennet narrowly defeated tea party Republican Ken Buck on Wednesday, allowing Democrats to hold onto a Senate seat once viewed as a prime opportunity for the GOP to make gains.

Bennet provided a crucial firewall during midterm elections in which the GOP made a historic surge. But his win looked anything but certain.

Buck, an affable campaigner whose folksy charm launched him over a better-funded Republican primary opponent, had a small lead heading into the election, according to many polls.

Anchorage, Alaska – A fierce ballot-by-ballot fight loomed Wednesday in the Alaska Senate race as lawyers and election monitors prepared to descend on the state capital and haggle over how many voters validly penned in the name of Sen. Lisa Murkowski in her historic write-in bid.

The overseer of Alaska’s elections said the counting of write-in ballots will begin Nov. 10, and a decision could come a few days later.

As of Wednesday, write-in votes had 41 percent; GOP nominee Miller had 34 percent; and Democrat Scott McAdams had 24 percent. At question now is how many of the voters who cast ballots for a write-in candidate did so for Murkowski, and just as important, penned in her name in a legally valid way.

The eventual outcome will be significant not only for Murkowski and Miller but also for former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, who emerged in the waning days of the campaign to rally support for Miller. A loss by Miller in Palin’s home state could be seen as evidence of her having marginal impact on voters here amid the spotty record of the dozens of candidates she backed nationwide on Election Day.

Three Iowa justices voted from office

Des Moines, Iowa – Iowa voters voted to remove three state Supreme Court justices, siding with conservatives angered by a ruling that allowed gay marriage.

The three who weren’t retained were Chief Justice Marsha Ternus and justices David Baker and Michael Streit. They were the only justices up for retention this year.

They were on the court of seven justices who unanimously decided last year that an Iowa law restricting marriage to one man and one woman violated the state’s constitution.