n the end, Douglas Bruce's own worst enemy was Douglas Bruce.

The GOP lawmaker from Colorado Springs — appointed to fill a vacancy in state House District 15 last year — on Tuesday was denied a full two-year term in office in his first election. His Republican primary opponent and observers in El Paso County said it was Bruce's antics at the Capitol that sank his political fortunes.

Bruce's opponent, Mark Waller, held a comfortable lead all night and won 52 percent to 48 percent.

Bruce would not answer questions when reached at home Wednesday.

"I'm not making any comment on the election," he said.

What are his plans for the future?

"What did I just say?" Bruce asked. "No comment."

Bruce, 58, made history this year by becoming the first Colorado lawmaker to be censured, a punishment bestowed upon him after he kicked a photographer on the House floor and then refused to apologize.

He angered Latinos and others by referring to migrant farmworkers as "illiterate peasants" and was kicked off a committee after he refused to co-sponsor a resolution honoring veterans.

"What we had was some press issues, and those issues that were highlighted in the press came home to roost," said Greg Garcia, chairman of the El Paso County Republican Party.

Garcia also gave credit to Waller, who knocked on doors far and wide.

Waller, an Air Force veteran and a lawyer, spent Wednesday morning talking on local radio shows. He said he was a little surprised at his four-point margin of victory.

"I'm not going to lie to you," Waller said. "A lot of it was people saying, 'We're tired of Bruce.' "

Waller will be greeted warmly by a number of House Republicans who openly wished for Bruce's defeat.

"Our lives will be easier," said House Minority Leader Mike May, R-Parker.

"Now there will only be two parties represented in the Colorado state House: Republicans and Democrats," said Rep. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs. "The Bruce Party lost."

But Tuesday may not have ended Bruce's political career. The man best known as the father of the Taxpayer's Bill of Rights is pushing two measures that are on the Colorado Springs city ballot in November.