Photo by Joshua Lawton

Jared Polis, front, celebrates winning the Colorado 2nd Congressional District Democratic ticket with his partner Marlon Reis at the Renaissance Hotel in Broomfield Tuesday night. Polis ran against Will Shafroth and Joan Fitz-Gerald for the the Democratic party's nomination to succeed U.S. Rep. Mark Udall.

Photo by Mark Leffingwell

2nd Congressional District candidate Joan Fitz-Gerald at left gets a supportive hug from Manny Rodriquez, after seeing a print out of the election results at the Amalgamated Transit Union Hall in Westminster, Colorado August 12, 2008. CAMERA/Mark Leffingwell

Photo by Marty Caivano

Will Shafroth, left, one of three Democratic candidates for the 2nd Congressional District, is greeted by supporters Tim Sullivan, center, and Dan Grossman, at a party held Tuesday night at the Millennium Harvest House Hotel.

Internet entrepreneur Jared Polis, relying on a massive bankroll to fund his political ambitions, claimed victory Tuesday as the Democratic nominee in a hard-fought — and at times bitterly contested — race in the 2nd Congressional District.

On Wednesday morning, the former chairman of the State Board of Education, who put a record $5.3 million of his own money into the race, had collected 19,942 votes, or 41 percent, compared with 18,181 votes, or 37 percent, for former State Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald.

The third Democrat in the race, conservationist Will Shafroth, had garnered 9,708 votes, or 20 percent.

The 2nd Congressional District covers most of Boulder County and parts or all of nine other counties — from Eagle County in the mountains to the suburbs of Adams County on the east.

Polis, who is heavily favored to win the general election due to the district’s Democratic-leaning electorate, could make history as Colorado’s first openly gay representative elected to Congress.

If he wins in November, he would take over the congressional seat held by U.S. Rep. Mark Udall since 1999.

Polis told a raucous crowd of several hundred supporters gathered at the Renaissance Hotel in Broomfield that Fitz-Gerald conceded to him over the phone late Tuesday. He appeared on stage with his partner of five years, Marlon Reis.

“Tonight is just the beginning,” said Polis, a 33-year-old Boulder native. “This campaign is not about winning, it’s not about me as a candidate, it’s really about changing the culture of Washington and it’s about new ideas.”

He will face Republican Scott Starin, Unity Party candidate Bill Hammons and Green Party candidate J.A. Calhoun on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The primary results were a crushing defeat for Fitz-Gerald, who had the backing of much of the Democratic establishment and a well-publicized history as Colorado’s first woman state senate president.

She couldn’t be reached Tuesday night.

Shafroth, who began the race more than 16 months ago as the dark horse candidate, was buoyed late in the race by endorsements from Denver’s daily newspapers and a last-minute cash infusion from contributors.

But that burst of support, along with his oft-cited expertise on environmental matters, wasn’t enough to give him the lift he needed.

Lynea Hansen, Shafroth’s campaign spokeswoman, said the candidate was taking the news in stride.

“We feel great because we ran the race we planned from day one — a race about the issues and a clean campaign,” she said.

Polis’ victory puts an end to a long primary that often took on a nasty flavor — Fitz-Gerald and Polis blasted each other frequently over campaign finances, mining and energy issues and the war in Iraq — and generated headlines about the nearly $10 million that poured into the race.

Much of the controversy revolved around Polis injecting nearly $5.3 million of his own money into the congressional effort.

Polis’ level of self-funding set a record for a political candidate in Colorado and allowed him to go on television early and often with campaign ads.

“Money was the key factor in this race. It overcame Fitz-Gerald’s superior party position as president of the senate and her role in the Democratic revival in the state Legislature,” said Floyd Ciruli, a pollster and political analyst.

Starin, Polis’ GOP opponent, said he looks forward to a “good-spirited debate” this fall.