More Democrats are piling into the race to challenge U.S. Rep. Scott Tipton for the 3rd Congressional District seat before the party assemblies begin.

There’s political newcomer Root Routledge from Durango who says he’s following Bernie Sander’s advice and running for Congress. We doubt Sanders told Routledge personally to run, more like a broad suggestion to the populace. Routledge’s Facebook page only has 19 likes.

Then there’s Arn Menconi of Eagle County, a former Green Party candidate for Senate against U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, who has now turned Democrat to challenge Tipton. Menconi pledged to protest endless wars and not get arrested if elected.

Those two join state Rep. Diane Mitsch Bush from Steamboat Springs and Karl Hanlon of Carbondale, an appointed school board member who was defeated in a followup election. They jumped in the race before the party precinct caucuses although neither emerged as a clear winner.

Tipton has a solid record working for his district and is popular with his constituents, so the challengers will likely be more of a nuisance than a real threat.

Still, it’s a nice gesture that at least one Democrat is promising not to get arrested, again, if elected.