Former Colorado Republican congressman Tom Tancredo is the latest to throw his hat into the ring to challenge Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper next year.
Tancredo ran for governor in 2010 on the American Constitution Party ticket. It’s a move that, according to Colorado Statesman publisher Jody Hope Strogoff, hasn’t been forgotten by some Republicans.
“I talked to Dick Wadhams the former state chairman who oversaw the whole Republican Party when Tancredo switched parties,” said Strogoff. “I asked Wadhams what he thought of another candidacy by Tom Tancredo. He didn’t want to say anything but he rolled his eyes.”
Tancredo said Hickenlooper’s handling of the Nathan Dunlap execution case is what convinced him to run. On Wednesday Hickenlooper granted Dunlap an indefinite reprieve from his scheduled August execution.
Colorado Secretary of State and Republican Scott Gessler also filed paperwork Thursday to run for Governor. Republican Steve Laffey is also officially in the race. (Ed Note: see update below) Laffey lives in Fort Collins and was a onetime candidate for the U.S. Senate in Rhode Island.
Republican State Senator Greg Brophy is also considering a run.
According the Denver Post, the following have also filed paper work to run in 2014.
- Jarred Ahrend – Unaffiliated
- Jim Rundberg – Republican
- John French – Unaffiliated
- Matthew Hess – Libertarian
Update 2:20 p.m. 05/24/2013 - It didn't take long for a shake-up in the candidates. After Tancredo's entrance into the race, previously announced candidate Steve Laffey has bowed out. Asthe Coloradoan reports:
“After Tom’s entrance into the Governor’s race (Thursday), I consulted with my wife and close friends,” Laffey said in an emailed statement. “After discussion and prayer I have decided to withdraw from the 2014 governor’s race.”