Atty. General Coffman Enters Colorado Governor's Race

GOLDEN, CO -- Colorado Atty. General Cynthia Coffman announced she's jumping into the crowded race for Colorado Governor. Last week the GOP got another potential Governor candidate when Tom Tancredo announced he would be running.

Coffman said she was the candidate who best understood the gap between rural communities and the increasingly urban nature of high-growth areas in the state.

“I am running for Governor because Colorado needs a strong, principled leader who understands the diverse nature of our rural communities and the increasing tensions of urban living. I will lead our growing state forward in a way that leaves no individual or region behind," Coffman said in a statement.

Coffman's decision to jump into the race has Republicans and Democrats scrambling to re-calculate how the race for AG will shake out. George Brauchler, District Attorney for Arapahoe Co. had said he was mulling a run for the Governor's mansion, but now he's thinking about jumping into the AG race, the Denver Post reported.

Another potential AG candidate, Ken Buck, R-Windsor, said he would back off from a possible run and stay in the state legislature. Meanwhile, the Democrats running for AG now have to change their calculus from a race against an incumbent to an open-seat race. So far, the Democrats who have declared in the AG race include:

• Phil Weiser, former dean of the University of Colorado Law School.
• Denver attorney Brad Levin ( a first-time candidate)
• Jefferson County prosecutor Michael Dougherty.
• State Rep. Joe Salazar, of Thornton
• Amy Padden, a former state and federal prosecutor.

Because she is getting into the race late, political watchers say, Coffman could also face potential problems raising money. Other GOP candidates who are possibly running for governor include:

• Walker Stapleton, State Treasurer and relative of the Bush family
• Doug Robinson,an investment banker and nephew of Mitt Romney.
• Businessman Victor Mitchell, a former legislator.
• Larimer Co. commissioner Lew Gaiter

So far, Coffman is the only GOP woman running for governor. In the Democratic primary, Cary Kennedy, former State Treasurer and Denver Deputy Mayor and Lt. Governor Donna Lynne are running.

“Colorado was founded by forward thinkers who moved out west for the opportunity to create their own success and forge their own future," Coffman said in her announcement. "Those western values have fueled Coloradans for over 141 years, but I am very concerned that a lack of leadership by policymakers in Washington, DC and Denver has put our core values at risk. Our state needs a leader who can reach across party lines and find solutions to complicated problems. We are proud that the Front Range is growing, but the hardworking Coloradans in our rural and frontier communities cannot be left behind. I’m running to be Governor of all four corners of our diverse state."

Image via Cynthia Coffman