Sate Rep. Jon Keyser, R-Morrison ,on his first day as a state legislator on Jan. 7, with his wife, Emma, and daughter, Elleanor.
State Rep. Jon Keyser’s political career has come a long way fast. This time a year ago the then-33-year-old had never introduced a bill, having just won a seat in the Colorado legislature a month before.
Now people who are not named Jon Keyser are saying he is the Republican who can knock off incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, despite a growing field of other Republicans in the race. Jefferson County Commissioner Thursday, joining El Paso County Commissioner Darryl Glenn, former Aurora City Councilman Ryan Frazier, former Parker Mayor Greg Lopez and state Sen. Tim Neville of Littleton.
I haven’t been able to get Keyser on the phone yet.
He told the Colorado Statesman He said he would decide after the holidays — perhaps when he sees how much financial support fills his campaign stocking.
Politico reported that the National Republican Senatorial Campaign is trying to recruit Keyser, a business lawyer and U.S. Air Force Academy graduate who has tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan to run on. He received a Bronze Star medal and was named the Air Force’s Intelligence Officer of the Year. After the legislative session ended in May, Keyser was off to perform his training duties as a major in the Air Force Reserves.
His political history isn’t as long.
He ran unchallenged among Republicans in District 25 in Jefferson County when incumbent Republican Rep. Cheri Jerou decided not to run again. He beat Democrat Janet Doyle 48.7 percent to 40.4 percent.
He had a remarkable session for a freshman legislator, , including three aimed at helping veterans, with seven becoming law.
