Based on unofficial results, Republicans will hold 16 seats in the House next session to the Democrats' 49. The losses mirrored a wave of Democratic victories across Colorado and the country, though ballot questions on policy were mixed.

Caldwell won 69% of the caucus vote, defeating Rep. Ken DeGraaf of Colorado Springs, who received 19%, and Rep. Scott Slaugh of Johnstown, who got 13%. Rep. Ty Winter of Trinidad was reelected assistant minority leader with 69% over Rep. Larry Don Suckla Jr. of Cortez. Rep. Carlos Barron of Fort Lupton was reelected caucus whip with 75%, and Rep. Anthony Hartsook of Parker was returned as caucus chair by acclamation.

The meeting began in turmoil. Once the 16 members were called to order, DeGraaf moved to dismiss the proceedings, seconded by Rep. Brandi Bradley of Roxborough Park, arguing that at least 10 House races had not been called by the Associated Press and that leadership elections should wait. As of Friday, only two state House races remained undecided, both in El Paso County, with margins under 2 percentage points and well outside recount range.

Caldwell countered that the races DeGraaf cited were being lost by wide margins, with too few ballots remaining to change the outcomes. Hartsook ruled the motion out of order after a heated exchange in which the two men nearly shouted over procedural rules.

"Because you find yourself in the situation that you don't like the way things are being done this cycle versus last cycle, I'm sorry. That's not how we follow rules in this building. That's not how the caucus follows rules," Hartsook told DeGraaf.

DeGraaf responded, "Doubling down on stupid is not the answer," drawing a rebuke from Hartsook for name-calling. DeGraaf replied that he was citing an action, not calling names.

In nominating remarks, Bradley criticized Caldwell's leadership and blamed him for the loss of six seats in Tuesday's election, saying the party failed to raise money and develop a strategy to protect incumbents and invest in candidates fighting to keep their seats. She also raised concerns about sexual harassment tied to the ethics complaint she filed against former Rep. Ron Weinberg of Loveland, and criticized the ethics committee's handling of it.

"You cannot demand accountability from everyone else while refusing to demonstrate it," Bradley said. Caldwell reprimanded Bradley this summer for what he called "reprehensible behavior." She also faces a possible censure recommendation from the House Workplace Harassment Committee, which found she had sexually harassed several women at the Capitol, including two lawmakers. That recommendation is on hold because Bradley is suing the committee.

Caldwell defended his record, saying the past three days had been among the hardest of his life because of the lost seats, and that the Republican candidates who fell short had worked hard and should hold their heads high. He said he had traveled the state since the session ended to help raise money for candidates, calling it one of his most important duties.

Within a one-year period, "we crushed any prior record for fundraising that any other previous leader did," he said. "We gave our candidates a fighting chance." He pledged to continue leading transparently and fairly.

"We are in uncharted territory here in Colorado," Caldwell said. "The socialists are at the gates, and we're the ones on the front line pushing back." He added that millions of people are counting on the GOP to stay together and stand firm ahead of what he predicted would be "one of the most radical sessions that I think this state has ever seen."

DeGraaf accused Caldwell of weaponizing the minority office "against the people" and said he had raised concerns in the last election about the appearance of an unidentified person earning $75,000 on a podcast associated with the caucus's 501(c)(4). "My character was assassinated for asking a question," he said, adding that the question remains unanswered. DeGraaf also said he is examining a funding stream in which the caucus's political advisor ran attack ads against sitting incumbents, and noted that Caldwell was censured by the Republican executive committee last April for "failing to faithfully represent and defend Colorado Republicans."

Slaugh said he decided to run only Thursday night, stepping up because the caucus needs strategic leadership both inside and outside the Capitol.

In his acceptance remarks, Winter said he has been a steady hand for the caucus for three years and through two minority leaders. Suckla, nominated by DeGraaf as a defender of constitutional values and the Western Slope, said the next session will require "unorthodox" strategies given Republicans' disadvantage.

The first session of the 76th General Assembly convenes Monday, Jan. 11.