Assistant Colorado House Majority Leader Terrance Carroll said he expects close races in three GOP-held districts but also said he expects Democratic incumbents Bernie Buescher and John Kefalas to hold on to their seats.

Besides House District 40, which appears set to switch to the Republican Party, the state House District 7 Democrat from Denver said he's concerned about districts in which registered Republicans outnumber Democrats and unaffiliated voters. Specifically, Carroll listed Judy Solano in House District 31, Joe Rice in House District 38, and Bernie Buescher in House District 55.

Carroll said he expects the closest races in the state to come in state House Districts 25, 37, and 39 -- all of which are currently held by Republicans.

In state House District 25, Democrat Andrew Scripter faces Republican Cheri Gerou to succeed state Rep. Rob Witwer (R-Genesee), who decided not to run again. In House District 37, Democrat Diana Holland faces incumbent state Rep. Spencer Swalm (R-Centennial).

State House District 39, in which Democrat Mollie Cullom faces Assistant House Minority Leader David Balmer (R-Centennial), is Carroll's "dark horse" race, he said. Registered Republicans outnumber registered Democrats in the district by 6,000 voters, but  Carroll said he thinks Cullom can pull off what would be a surprising upset.

"I know some people look at David Balmer's money advantage, but Mollie raised a decent amount of money and she also has a very strong ground game," Carroll said. "I think her ground game's much stronger than David Balmer's."

In that race, Carroll, said, "It's going to come down to turnout. It's going to come down to how long Senator Obama's coattails are down there."

Democratic incumbents Kefalas and Buescher also are running in districts where Republicans outnumber Democrats. But Carroll said he has "faith and confidence that Bernie's going to win."

As for Kefalas, Carroll said he thought the Fort Collins Democrat would "handily beat" perennial Republican opponent Bob McCluskey, who beat Kefalas for the seat in 2004, but lost it to him in 2006.

"I don't really think that's a real race anymore," Carroll said, arguing voter registration in Fort Collins, especially among young people, is trending Democratic.

Carroll said Republicans could be vulnerable even in traditionally safe areas -- such as in House District 21, where Republican Bob Gardner is favored over Democrat Anna Lord.

"This is one of those years -- you just never  know," Carroll said. "Obama's polling exceptionally well in Georgia right now, of all places. He's ahead of McCain slightly in North Carolina -- and these are deep, red southern states. So it's not unthinkable that we can go in a deep, red district like Bob Gardner's down in Colorado Springs and take him out."