WASHINGTON — Republican gubernatorial is weighing a run for attorney general now that , currently in the post, has , his campaign said Wednesday.
Brauchler already has reached out to some of his potential rivals, according to several GOP sources — notably U.S. Rep. Ken Buck, R-Windsor, who that he might seek Coffman’s job if she left the post.
Buck said in an interview Wednesday that he was staying put in Congress.
“I’m running for the 4th Congressional District — running for re-election,” Buck said. “Several months ago, I looked at … the possibility of running for attorney general, and (I) decided I really like what I am doing and want to continue my work in D.C.”
Brauchler’s campaign confirmed in a statement that he has entertained the idea of switching races. Brauchler, who serves as the 18th Judicial District attorney, prosecuting the Aurora theater shooter.
“The AG race in Colorado will be bigger than George, and the list of people qualified and dynamic enough to win a down-ticket race at this late date, less than one year out, is short. So, is he taking the calls and hearing people out? Yes, he is,” wrote Sean Tonner, a Brauchler adviser.
If Brauchler were to leave , it would add another twist to .
Already, the gubernatorial campaign has seen one notable candidate — Democratic U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter — and the field on both the Democratic and Republican sides is one of the deepest and widest in years.
The competition probably is one factor in Brauchler’s contemplation of a new path.
His financial firepower pales in comparison to that of GOP rivals or . Plus, the recent entry of Republican firebrand Tom Tancredo for Brauchler to win a primary by consolidating support among hard-line conservatives.
Still, a run for attorney general would have its own challenges.
Other Republicans have expressed interest in running for attorney general, including , and George Leing, who to Democratic U.S. Rep. Jared Polis of Boulder. Polis is now one of the many candidates looking to replace Gov. John Hickenlooper in 2018.
Said Leing of the AG race: “I’m looking at this. I’m looking at this seriously.”
Should Brauchler or, for that matter, any other Republican ultimately run for attorney general, he or she would face with at least one of the five Democrats vying to become Colorado’s top law enforcement officer: .
Weiser, a former dean of the University of Colorado Law School and a one-time Obama administration official who got into the attorney general’s race in May, had hauled in more than $700,000 for his campaign heading into October.
Financial reports filed with the Colorado secretary of state’s office show that the pace of donations flowing into his campaign has not let up in recent weeks.
Also are Michael Dougherty, assistant district attorney for the 1st Judicial District in Jefferson and Gilpin counties; Brad Levin, a Denver attorney; Amy Padden, a former state and federal prosecutor; and state Rep. Joe Salazar of Thornton.
Candidates in the Democratic contingency, generally speaking, are running on a platform of pushing back against the Trump administration’s policies.
Also surely to be chief issues in the attorney general’s race are and the .