Colorado Springs voters appeared to be giving state Rep. Douglas Bruce the boot Tuesday night.

With 50 of 54 precincts reporting at press time, Bruce's challenger, Mark Waller, was leading 54 percent to 46 percent in the Republican primary for House District 15.

"Obviously, I feel very good about my chances," Waller said. "I feel like we're going to be able to return a voice to House District 15 in Denver."

Bruce, 58, appointed last year by a vacancy committee, is best known as the father of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights state constitutional amendment, which limits the growth of state government. He just completed his first, rocky session in the House.

Meanwhile, Waller, a lawyer and an Air Force veteran, has campaigned on the idea that Bruce has embarrassed the district, which covers northeast Colorado Springs.

"This race has never been about a difference on the issues," Waller said. "Legislating is a team sport. You have to be able to get along with other people.

"I think that's what people (voters) responded to."

Bruce could not be reached for comment.

The winner will go on to face Democrat Michelle Maksimowicz, but the seat is almost certain to be decided in the Republican primary.

Bruce made history by becoming the first Colorado lawmaker to be censured, a punishment that came after he kicked a Rocky Mountain News photographer who snapped a picture of him during a morning prayer in the House chamber.

Republican leaders later kicked Bruce off a committee after he refused to co-sponsor a resolution honoring members of the military.

And he angered Latinos and others by referring to migrant farmworkers as "illiterate peasants."

A woman in the Capitol — whom Bruce has called on his website "a lobbyist for a left-wing cause" — lodged a complaint against him about inappropriate behavior. House leaders later cleared Bruce in the incident.

"It shows how amateurish the whole thing was. They leaked things," Bruce said upon being cleared. "It was a political show trial by accusation."

Details about harassment complaints are kept confidential under House rules. Media outlets discovered the claim through unnamed sources.

Waller questioned Bruce's campaign funding, noting that he has no campaign committee registered with the state but does head a nonprofit organization that promotes his ideas.

Though a Republican lawmaker said Bruce had solicited a campaign donation through the nonprofit group, Bruce denied that and said the organization does no campaigning for him.