House Majority Leader Alice Madden announced today she won’t run for governor, urging her supporters to instead back former Denver District Attorney Bill Ritter.
“It was a very personal decision about the time I’m in in my professional life and my commitment to the House and the majority that we reached,” Madden told the Post. “I feel like we’re moving Colorado forward and it’s going to take all of our efforts to maintain the House and the Senate and the governor’s race and Democrats should be working together.”
Madden had been considering joining the Democratic race since Mayor John Hickenlooper announced last week that he was not running.
After Hickenlooper’s announcement, U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar endorsed Ritter and urged all state Democrats to back the candidate. But some Democrats seemed committed to floating a candidate who supports abortion rights.
They included Senate President Joan Fitz-Gerald, who cut a $500 check for Madden’s potential campaign.
But in announcing her decision, Madden said she “would urge all those who supported me to throw their enthusiastic support behind Bill Ritter. With your help, he can be the Governor who puts Colorado fully back on track.”
