Democrats recaptured control of the state House Tuesday, paving the way for the election of Colorado’s first openly gay speaker of the House.

Early results show Democrats with at least 36 seats and possibly 38.

“The results were better than I could have hoped for,” said House Minority Leader Mark Ferrandino of Denver, who is expected to be elected speaker.

The results were a huge blow to Republicans, who were trying to defend a precarious 33-32 majority. At least three incumbents and possibly a fourth lost their seats.

“All of our candidates worked so hard during this election, and I am very proud of them,” said Speaker Frank McNulty, R-Highlands Ranch.

“Our work is not done. We will continue to push for an agenda that is focused on job creation and economic recovery. That is precisely what the people of Colorado expect from their elected officials.”

Many had predicted a rough road for Republicans, in part because of how boundaries were changed during last year’s reapportionment. Some Republicans were drawn into districts with fellow caucus members, while others moved into districts that favored Democrats.

“The Democrats are very happy,” said former Denver Mayor Wellington Webb, one of the architects of the new House boundaries.

Webb said the party combined those new boundaries with “great candidates who were well funded” and wound up with a convincing majority.

In addition to the election of a gay speaker, another first will happen: five of the 65 House members will be black, the most ever in Colorado history.

All 65 seats in the House were up for election, but the outcome of most of the races was never in doubt, mostly because one party enjoyed a clear voter registration advantage in that district.

The fight for control of the House, then, came down to a handful of seats where both sides waged expensive attacks filled with nasty campaign fliers, charges and counter charges.

Early returns show Democrats handily winning those. Unofficial results showed at least three GOP incumbents losing in swing races.

Winners in Tuesday’s election will gather at the state Capitol to elect new leaders for the next two years.

Only six months ago, an emotional Ferrandino watched as his bill to allow gay couples to form civil unions died in the Republican-controlled House after a night of unprecedented drama.

Gay-rights activists vowed at the time to exact revenge on McNulty by taking out McNulty and his GOP majority.

Although Democrats were confident of their ground game and get-out-the-vote effort, Republicans were buoyed by Mitt Romney’s performance in the first presidential debate, which was held at the University of Denver. Volunteers swelled Romney’s campaign headquarters, particularly in Jefferson County, giving the GOP hope of holding on to the House.

But early returns show Democrats winning all three swing races in Jefferson County.

Rep. Max Tyler, D-Lakewood, was beating GOP challenger Rick Enstrom.

“I did all I could, the best I could. No regrets,” Enstrom said.

In another Lakewood race, for an open seat, Democrat Brittany Pettersen was beating Republican Amy Attwood.

In northern Jefferson County, Democrat Tracy Kraft-Tharp was leading Rep. Robert Ramirez, R-Westminster.

In El Paso County, Rep. Pete Lee, D-Colorado Springs, was holding off a challenge from Republican Jennifer George, while Democrat Tony Exum was ahead of Rep. Mark Barker, R-Colorado Springs.

In Arapahoe County, Rep. Daniel Kagan, D-Cherry Hills Village, was leading GOP Brian Watson, of Greenwood Village.

As expected, Democrat John Buckner of Aurora was easily defeating GOP Rep. Cindy Acree in a newly drawn district that favored Democrats.

Democrats also believe they have taken an open seat based in Pueblo, and might be toppling Republican Rep. J. Paul Brown in southwestern Colorado.

One of the most closely watched House races, on the Western Slope, didn’t even feature a Democrat.

Republican Jared Wright came under fire for his own party, which wanted him to resign after it was revealed he had been fired from his job as a Fruita pol

ice officer and has had financial problems. Wright’s only challenger was Libertarian Timothy Menger, who was behind in early returns.

Ferrandino said Democrats are going to work for the people of Colorado, and across the aisle with Republicans.

Lynn Bartels: 303-954-5327, lbartels@denverpost.com or twitter.com/lynn_bartels

House control

Republicans controlled the state House from 1963 to 1975 and again from 1977 to 2005, before Democrats won control. Here’s the party breakdown among the 65 House members in recent years.

2011-2012: Republicans, 33-32

2010: Democrats, 37-27-1

2009: Democrats, 38-27

2008: Democrats, 40-25

2007: Democrats, 39-26

2005-06: Democrats, 35-30

2003-04: Republicans, 37-28

2001-02: Republicans, 38-27

1999-2000: Republicans, 40-25