Colorado Governor: Tea Party Fave Dan Maes Edges Scott McInnis in GOP Primary

Dan Maes, a little-known conservative voice who never held public office but attracted Tea Party movement support, was chosen by Colorado Republicans as their choice for governor over former Congressman Scott McInnis.

Maes won by just over 1 percent of the vote, leaving the possibility of a recount, the Denver Post reported. But Maes told supporters, "I am confident I am our Republican candidate for governor." It sets up a three-way contest in November, with Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper and third party hopeful Tom Tancredo, a former Republican congressman whose cause is fierce opposition to illegal immigration.

Maes said he too would "enroll the state in a program that deports illegal alien criminals" and he urged Tancredo to drop out, since he would likely carve into the GOP vote. "Mr. Tancredo, stop your campaign tonight," Maes declared.

As governor, Maes want to eliminate the influence of unions on state employees and stop "subsidizing abortions." Maes has also decried Hickenlooper's attempts to make the Mile High City more friendly to bicycle-sharing, saying such policies "threaten our personal freedoms" and could make American cities a tool for a United Nations agenda.

McInnis was hurt by a report that he had plagiarized some work when he was participating in a $300,000 fellowship.