Stephens Wins GOP Primary Against Looper

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) - Colorado House Republican Leader Amy Stephens easily fended off a primary challenge from a fellow GOP lawmaker in a battle triggered by state redistricting.

Stephens defeated Rep. Marsha Looper Tuesday with 59.6 percent of the vote and is expected to return to the Legislature for another term representing an El Paso County district. The lawmakers were drawn into the same district last year.

The race became one of the more heated with Looper questioning Stephens' Republican credentials and taking aim at Stephens' sponsorship of a bill last year to set up health insurance exchanges. The exchanges are required under the federal health care law under review by the U.S. Supreme Court.

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