DENVER -- Incumbent Republicans and Democrats in Congress held on to their seats, many with wide leads over their challengers.

The closest race was the race not being contested by an incumbent -- the race in the 3rd Congressional District. Democrat John Salazar beat out Republican Greg Walcher 51 percent to 47 percent. John Salazar is the brother of Ken Salazar, Colorado's attorney general who also claimed victory Tuesday night. He beat out beer baron Pete Coors 50 percent to 48 percent for a hard-fought U.S. Senate seat.

Rep. Marilyn Musgrave edged out Democratic challenger and former state Sen. Stan Matsunaka. With 82 percent of the precincts reporting, Musgrave has 52 percent of the vote, compared with Matsunaka's 44 percent. Matsunaka was vying to boot Musgrave from the 4th Congressional District seat she won in 2002, when she beat Matsunaka by 13 points. The former president of the Colorado Senate, along with some of Musgrave's constituents, have accused her of being a "one-trick pony" who's neglected her mostly rural district. Musgrave led the fight for a failed constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. Critics say she should have been focusing on other issues instead.

Incumbent Democrats Rep. Diane DeGette and Rep. Mark Udall also handily defeated their Republican challengers. DeGette won with 73 percent of the vote, compared to Roland Chicas' 25 percent. Udall beat out Stephen Hackman 65 percent to 33 percent.

Republicans Reps. Tom Tancredo, Bob Beauprez and Joel Hefley staved off the challenges to their seat. Tancredo had 60 percent to Joanne Conti's 39 percent. Beauprez maintained his seat with 55 percent of the vote to Dave Thomas' 42 percent. And Joel Hefley, who was running for the 10th time, won by a solid 70 percent compared to Fred Hardee's 27 percent.