Democrats were leading Tuesday night in contests that will put three new members onto the University of Colorado’s Board of Regents and determine political control of the school’s governing body.

In District 6, Democrat Ilana Spiegel had 54% of the vote, Republican Richard Murray had 44.1%, and Unity candidate Christopher Otwell had 2%, with about 78% of votes counted.

In District 2, Democrat Callie Rennison had 60.5% of the vote, Republican Dick Murphy had 35.9% and Libertarian Christian Vernaza had 3.6%, with about 75% of votes counted.

Democrat Nolbert Chavez, a former state legislator, was running unopposed for outgoing Democrat Irene Griego’s seat in District 7.

This nine-member board — one of few publicly elected university boards in the United States — governs the four-campus University of Colorado system, which serves 70,000 students with a budget around $5 billion.

For more than four decades, Republicans have outnumbered Democrats on the board, and they currently hold a one-seat majority. CU’s regents typically agree on issues such as trying to contain the cost of tuition, but the controversial selection of CU’s president and concerns about diversity and social justice have fed partisan friction.

The regents serve staggered six-year terms. Voters elect one regent from each of Colorado’s seven congressional districts and two at-large from around the state.

In a recent forum, candidates vying for the closely watched District 6 seat touted their priorities. Spiegel, a K-12 public school teacher and advocate, said she has fought for policies that eliminate opportunity gaps for low-income students, first-generation students, students of color and students with disabilities. Spiegel said she’d also push for transparency in CU governance and seek the views of students, staff and faculty.

Murray, a lawyer and CU alum who once served in student government, said he would emphasize academics and affordability so that graduates aren’t mired in debt, and work with state lawmakers to address funding deficiencies.