Colorado politics watchers looking for more clarity on the tight state Senate District 31 race after this weekend’s Democratic Party assemblies will just have to wait.

Emergency room doctor Steve Sherick topped veteran lawmaker Rep. Lois Court in assemblies held in Denver and Arapahoe counties, but both candidates won enough votes to make it onto the primary ballot in one of the most watched legislative elections in the state. So after weekend voting, the race remains a three candidate contest. Workers’ rights advocate Erin Bennett submitted signatures to the secretary of state’s office to petition on to the ballot.

The candidates are seeking to replace term-limited Sen. Pat Steadman, a stalwart liberal lawmaker and leader on civil rights and budget issues in the upper chamber.

“We’ve been working hard. We’ve been knocking doors since last June — more than 14,000 doors in Senate District 31 — and that’s the number one thing I’d attribute it to,” Sherick told The Colorado Statesman. “That, and a fresh voice,” he said. “(Voters) want someone who is thoughtful and listens and is approachable. That theme is very important for folks. They don’t expect their legislators to agree on everything, but if they don’t (agree), they want a good reason from the person who represents them. They want to see that thought process, and that plays a huge role in our success.”

Sherick notched 64 percent of the vote in Denver County. Court netted 36 percent. Sherick also won in Arapahoe County, but those numbers weren’t available by press time.

Sherick, has never previously run for political office, but he is a well-known figure in state Democratic Party circles. He has served in party positions that include state finance chair.

Court, who has served in the state House for eight years and is term limited this year, said she was happy with Saturday’s voting results and looked forward to continuing to bring her message to the district residents. She touted her experience as a lawmaker and waves off criticism  that working in the Legislature has made her part of an entrenched and out-of-touch “establishment” — a claim popular in the year of presidential candidates Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders.

“I think today went very well,” she told The Statesman. “I think I earned the support I received because the people of Denver know how hard I’ve worked to represent their voices at the Capitol. One has an assumption that because you’ve been there, you’re part of the establishment and I’m not sure I agree with that assumption.

“Why does experience matter? I think experience matters because it teaches you not only the issues your constituents care about, but it’s also taught me how to get things done, and I’ve been successful at doing that for eight years.”

Bennett, who has worked as an advocate for low-income residents of Denver for years, including at 9 to 5 Colorado, said she decided not to run in the assemblies in part because many of her supporters wouldn’t have been able to participate in the caucus voting due to work and family obligations. She noted that her campaign has had to win the support of significantly more people than participated on Saturday in both the Denver and Arapahoe assemblies.

“At the end of the day, we turned in more than 14,000 signatures, which is more than about five times the number of people who took part in the party process,” Bennett said. “Some of those folks are certainly the least active in the party, but we’re going to see well over 10,000 people vote in the primary for this important race.

“I’ve been disappointed in the lack of leadership, especially in the Senate, around issues of working families and economic justice issues. Not enough people in the Senate, especially Democrats, stand up to corporate interests.”

Court and Sherick have raised fairly large campaign war chests. Court has raised $111,883 and Sherick has raised $99,303, according to the latest figures available from the secretary of state’s office. Bennett has raised $27,085.

— ramsey@coloradostatesman.com