Republican Marc Holtzman’s nearly year-long quest to become the state’s next governor came to an end today when the Colorado Supreme Court refused to hear his appeal.
“We want to close ranks” behind Bob Beauprez, the likely GOP nominee, Holtzman said
in an emotional meeting with about a dozen campaign staffers.
Holtzman said he had called Beauprez to concede.
On May 20, Holtzman did not snag enough votes at the GOP state assembly to make the ballot. He then submitted 21,000 signatures to get on the ballot, but Dennis found he didn’t have enough valid signatures in the two congressional districts.
Holtzman claimed Dennis did not have jurisdiction over his appeal, and he successfully filed his case in Denver District Court. His lawyers then argued that Holtzman needed only a total of 10,500 signatures instead of 1,500 from each district.
Denver District Judge Robert S. Hyatt ruled against him and Holtzman appealed to the Supreme Court.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
