DENVER—Hoping to capitalize on discontent in his own party, Republican Bentley Rayburn has launched his campaign to unseat Republican Rep. Doug Lamborn.
Rayburn, a retired Air Force major general, finished third in last year’s primary. He said Thursday he is “best positioned to reunite this party.”
Also in the race is 2006 primary runner-up Jeff Crank.
Lamborn has not made his re-election bid official, but he is raising money.
Lamborn angered some of his constituents when he left two threatening voice messages for a couple last month saying there would be “consequences” if they did not withdraw a letter criticizing his fundraising and renounce claims that Lamborn accepted money from the gambling industry.
Jonathan Bartha and Anna Bartha said they felt “very threatened and intimidated” by the calls.
Lamborn said there was never any intention to threaten anyone and that he had never accepted money from the gambling industry. Lamborn said his goal in calling the Barthas was to save the embarrassment of their claim being revealed to be false.
Without mentioning Lamborn by name, Rayburn criticized what he called a lack of congressional leadership and said his 31-year military background has prepared him for that role.
“We don’t need another grudge match. We are at a crossroads in our party and in our country. I am offering tonight to be that candidate who is best positioned to reunite this party, a party that has been badly split by politicians acting like politicians,” Rayburn said.
———
Information from: The Gazette,
