Incumbent Republican Michael Allen appears to be comfortably leading Democrat Jeremy Dowell to retain his position as 4th Judicial District Attorney, early returns show Tuesday night. 

Allen led Dowell with 60.4% of the vote compared to Dowell’s 39.6%, according to the El Paso County Clerk and Recorder’s Office, in his bid for a second four-year term.

Allen first took office as a 4th Judicial District Attorney in 2021. Dowell is an attorney representing Colorado Springs-area children in the juvenile justice system. 

At the GOP watch party event held at the Boot Barn Hall in Colorado Springs Allen has claimed victory over Dowell in a speech to attendees.

“It is my distinct honor to continue serving the 4th Judicial District,” Allen said to the full-capacity crowd at the Boot Barn. “People are tired of emboldened criminals victimizing our neighborhoods. They trust us to hold the line on public safety, and to put the bad guys in jail where they belong.”

During Allen’s time in charge of the 4th Judicial District Attorney’s Office he prosecuted several high-profile cases in the area including that of Club Q shooter Anderson Aldrich and Letecia Stauch, who was convicted in 2022 of killing her 11-year-old stepson Gannon Stauch.  

When speaking with The Gazette last month, Allen stated that one of his priorities if reelected would be to augment the juvenile prosecution unit for better outcomes. He said rehabilitation of juveniles is important so they do not become repeat offenders, but a “stiffer touch” is required for juveniles who commit violent crimes or have lengthy criminal histories. That could include trying them as adults.

Dowell said it’s time for change in the District Attorney’s Office that oversees criminal prosecutions in El Paso and Teller counties, including a less public-facing prosecutorial role for the district attorney and more emphasis on the judicial district’s collaboration with problem-solving courts, which can be an alternative to incarceration or adjudication.

The district attorney can lead the office in ramping up efforts to prevent crime, Dowell said, including educational campaigns in schools and working closer with community activists to find collaborative solutions.