Moderate Democrats allied with Gov. Jared Polis won a number of Colorado state legislative primaries Tuesday night, the culmination of a hotly contested election season that pitted progressives against moderates as the future of state policy hung in the balance.

In one of the most closely watched races, attorney Sean Camacho defeated incumbent state Rep. Elisabeth Epps, a progressive Democrat from Denver whose tumultuous term in office was frequently marked by public squabbles with her colleagues.

The Associated Press called the race at 8:20 p.m., and Camacho led with 64% of the vote as of 10:23 p.m.

Another Polis-backed candidate, state Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, a moderate Democrat from Arvada, also won her state Senate race against Obi Ezeadi, a progressive Westminster council member.

“You’ve called for a return to respectful dialogue and collaborative problem-solving, and I’ve taken that to heart,” Daugherty wrote in an email to supporters. “In the state Senate, I’ll work tirelessly to bridge divides, find common ground, and foster the kind of respectful, productive political discourse that you’ve asked for.”

This year’s legislative primaries were an unusually bitter affair — reflecting the high stakes of the nominating contest in an era of historic Democratic majorities at the Colorado statehouse.

The winners will determine the future of laws on housing, environmental regulations, taxes, and worker and consumer protections — policy areas where bills have lived or died based on the votes of a single Democratic lawmaker on a key committee.

Progressives didn’t come up empty-handed. Fort Collins tax attorney Yara Zokaie defeated lobbyist Ethnie Treick in the House District 52 primary. Zokaie led with 62% of the vote as of 9:38 p.m.

State Rep. Mike Weissman, a progressive from Aurora, also won his state Senate race, defeating Idris Keith, an attorney backed by business groups. The AP called the race with Weissman winning around 54% of the vote as of 10:30 p.m.

The elections pitted progressives pledging to fight corporate interests and Gov. Jared Polis to achieve their policy aims against more moderate candidates who cast themselves as “pragmatic progressives” willing to strike compromises and work with business groups to shape legislation.

The results pointed to a split decision of sorts that may preserve the political status quo at the state Capitol for the foreseeable future.

Political groups poured more than $5 million into the party nominating contests — a level of spending normally not seen until the November general election.

Traditionally Democratic groups, including labor unions, environmental advocates and teachers, lined up behind the more progressive candidates, while business groups spent heavily to elect a slate of candidates they expect to serve as a moderating influence on the Democratic majority.

One group alone spent over $1 million on TV ads in the last few days of the race to help moderates win seats. That group — Let Colorado Vote Action — has ties to Kent Thiry, the wealthy former CEO of the Denver-based dialysis giant DaVita, who has spent a fortune to support moderate candidates on both sides of the aisle, as well as election changes aimed at the same goal.

The spending divide mirrors the political dynamics that have played out at the statehouse in recent years, with Polis and moderate Democrats in the state Senate frequently siding with business groups to frustrate the legislative agenda of the House’s progressive majority.

“Our win just solidifies my belief that people power can beat big money,” Zokaie told The Colorado Sun in a statement. “I look forward to a strong campaign in the general election in the fall, and hope we can come together as a community to protect our environment, support our schools and ensure access to health care for everyone.”

Here are the Democratic legislative primaries we’re tracking:

House District 4: Rep. Tim Hernández vs. Cecelia Espenoza

In north Denver, former federal immigration judge Cecelia Espenoza unseated Rep. Tim Hernández. 

The Associated Press called the race at 10:17 p.m., when Espenoza had 55% of the vote to Hernández’s 45%.

The race presented an especially stark choice for voters. Hernández, a former Denver Public Schools teacher backed by the Democratic Socialists of America, is one of the most liberal lawmakers at the state Capitol, while Espenoza is a moderate Democrat backed by business groups, including the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

Espenoza will face Republican Jack Daus in the November general election in the Democratic-leaning district.

House District 6: Rep. Elisabeth Epps vs. Sean Camacho

Air Force veteran Sean Camacho easily won his challenge against Rep. Elisabeth Epps for her Denver district seat in one of the most closely watched races of the year. 

The AP called the race at 8:20 p.m. By 9 p.m., Camacho was winning with 65% of the vote.

Epps, the director of the Colorado Freedom Fund, argued she was the true progressive in the race. However, her first term was beset with fights with her House colleagues that Camacho, an attorney and former Republican, argued made her an ineffective legislator.

In the heavily Democratic district, Camacho will face Republican Kyle Witter in the November general election.

House District 30: Kyra deGruy Kennedy vs. Rebekah Stewart

In Lakewood, City Councilor Rebekah Stewart defeated political consultant Kyra deGruy Kennedy.

The AP called the race for Stewart, who had 59% of the vote as of 11 p.m.

The seat is currently held by deGruy Kennedy’s husband, Rep. Chris deGruy Kennedy, who is term-limited.

The winner will face Republican Ramey Johnson in the November general election in the Democratic-stronghold district.

House District 36: Michael Carter vs. Bryan Lindstrom

Michael Carter, an Aurora Public Schools board member, rolled past public school teacher Bryan Lindstrom in a race to succeed Rep. Mike Weissman in this open seat.

The AP called the race for Carter at 8:27 p.m., when Carter had 61% of the vote.

Polis endorsed Carter over Lindstrom, a union-backed labor organizer who has criticized the governor for vetoing bills supported by labor groups.

House District 52: Ethnie Treick vs. Yara Zokaie

In Fort Collins, tax attorney Yara Zokaie, who was endorsed by the district’s incumbent Rep. Cathy Kipp, easily beat former lobbyist Ethnie Treick.

The AP called the race for Zokaie at 8:36 p.m., when she was leading with 61% of the vote.

Kipp is running for an open state Senate seat instead of seeking re-election to the House.

Senate District 19: Rep. Lindsey Daugherty vs. Obi Ezeadi

State Rep. Lindsey Daugherty, backed by Polis, sailed past union-backed Westminster Councilman Obi Ezeadi in the race for this seat in the northwestern Denver suburbs.

The AP called the race for Daugherty at 8:21 p.m., when Daugherty had 65% of the vote.

Incumbent Sen. Rachel Zenzinger, a moderate Arvada Democrat, is term-limited and prevented from seeking re-election.

Polis endorsed Daugherty in the race, while Ezeadi had the backing of Colorado Wins, the state employee union.

Daugherty faces Republican Sam Bandimere in the November general election in the Democratic-leaning district.

Senate District 28: Rep. Mike Weissman vs. Idris Keith

In this Arapahoe County district, Rep. Mike Weissman beat attorney Idris Keith in the race to replace Democrat Rhonda Fields, Aurora’s long-serving moderate state senator.

The AP called the race for Weissman at 10:13 p.m., when Weissman had 54% of the vote.

Weissman has long been among the most liberal lawmakers in the House, while Keith had the backing of the Colorado Chamber of Commerce.

The winner faces Republican Pedro Espinoza in the November general election in the Democratic-stronghold district.

Other Democratic primaries

• Rep. Judy Amabile of Boulder defeated Jovita Schiffer in Senate District 18, with 77% of the vote as of 10:12 p.m. The AP called the race at 8:50 p.m.
• In House District 10, Rep. Junie Joseph of Boulder defeated Tina Mueh, a former state pension trustee. The AP called the race at 9:11 p.m.
• Jacqueline Phillips defeated incumbent Rep. Julia Marvin of Thornton in House District 31. She led with 55% of the vote as of 10:12 p.m. The AP called the race at 9:31 p.m.

Republican legislative primaries

There were a handful of contentious Republican legislative primaries decided on Tuesday, too.

Here’s a look at the results in the contests The Sun was tracking: 

• Former House GOP spokesman Jarvis Caldwell defeated Jason Lupo in House District 20 in Colorado Springs. The AP called the race at 8:34 p.m. He faces Democrat Arik Dougherty, a security engineer, in the general election. The district is heavily Republican.
• State Rep. Mary Bradfield, R-Colorado Springs, defeated two challengers, businessman Bill Garlington and former educator Jan Koester. The AP called the race for Bradfield at 9:12 p.m. Bradfield faces Democratic activist Liz Rosenbaum in the House District 21 general election, but she’s heavily favored to win in the GOP stronghold.
• Castle Rock Town Council Member Max Brooks defeated youth minister Bill Jack. Brooks will face Navy veteran and nurse Chad Cox in the GOP-stronghold House District 45 in Douglas County. The AP called the race for Brooks at 8:51 p.m.
• Former teacher and school administrator Lori Garcia Sander defeated Weld County Council Member Trent Leisy. The AP called the race at 7:50 p.m. She faces Democratic businessman Will Walters in the general election in House District 65, a heavily Republican district.
• State Rep. Lisa Frizell, R-Castle Rock, easily beat information technologist Timothy Arvidson for the open Senate District 2 seat. The AP called the race for Frizell at 9:06 p.m. She faces Democrat Jennifer Brady in the general election in the Republican district currently represented by term-limited Republican Sen. Jim Smallwood. 
• State Sen. Larry Liston, R-Colorado Springs, fended off two GOP challengers: Rex Tonkins, husband of El Paso County GOP chairwoman Vickie Tonkins, and business owner David Stiver. The AP called the race for Liston at 8:38 p.m., when he had 62% of the vote. Liston faces no Democratic opposition in the general election for his District 10 seat.
• El Paso County Commissioner Stan VanderWerf defeated former teacher Adriana Cuva in the GOP primary in Senate District 12 in Colorado Springs, where Republican Sen. Bob Gardner is term-limited. The AP called the race at 8:22 p.m. He will face Democratic state Rep. Marc Snyder in the tossup district.
• State Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, handily defeated challenger entrepreneur Natalie Abshier of Mead. The AP called the race at 7:37 p.m. Kirkmeyer faces no Democratic opposition in the general election for her Senate District 23 seat.