Here are the GOP Senate candidates competing at the state assembly Saturday

The Republican field will be whittled down at Saturday’s state assembly where candidates will compete for a ballot spot in the party’s primary to take on Democrat Michael Bennet for Colorado’s Senate seat.

Construction company owner Joe O’Dea qualified for the ballot earlier this week through the petition process. He is not expected to also compete at the Colorado Springs event.

The other candidates must garner 30% of the votes from more than 4,700 delegates in order to get their name on the ballot for the June 28 Republican primary.

Gino Campana goes into the assembly with the most organized campaign and several straw poll wins at Republican forums under his belt.  

And although state Rep. Ron Hanks has demonstrated little ability to raise the money needed to take on an entrenched incumbent Democrat like Bennet, he’s expected to be popular with delegates and win a slot on the ballot. 

Anything less than an outright win at the assembly would be a loss for Hanks. 

Eli Bremer and Deborah Flora are the wildcards, and the final results could very well come down to their speeches.

At the Democrat’s virtual state assembly, Bennet faces a long-shot challenge from first-time candidate Karen Breslin, an attorney and university instructor.

Here are the Republican Candidates

Eli Bremer is a New Hampshire native and Colorado Springs resident. He competed in the 2008 Olympics in China, finishing 22nd overall in the pentathlon of fencing, swimming, horse riding, running and laser shooting. Bremer is a former Republican Party official and his professional work experience includes real estate investment, sports marketing and broadcast commentator. He served in the U.S. Air Force for 14 years. He holds bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Air Force Academy and graduate degrees from George Washington University and University of Colorado at Colorado Springs.

Gino Campana is a Colorado native, a first generation American, and Fort Collins resident. He was elected to the Fort Collins City Council in 2013, and was later appointed by President Trump to serve in his administration. He is an entrepreneur and real estate developer, whose company Bellisimo, Inc., builds sustainable neighborhoods and communities in Northern Colorado. Campana served as the chairman of the Larimer County Republican Party. He graduated from Colorado State University with a degree in civil engineering. 

Deborah Flora is a Texas native who lives in Parker. She is the former talk radio host of the Deborah Flora Show in Denver, and founded a group called Parents United America. She is an actress with many film credits, won Miss Colorado in 1989, and was the second runner up in the Miss America contest. She holds a bachelors degree in theater and music from Southern Methodist University. 

State Rep. Ron Hanks lives in Penrose. He was elected in 2020 to represent District 60 through 2023. He served in the Air force and reserves for 32 years and worked in the North Dakota oilfields. His date of birth and birthplace are unknown. He purchased land in Colorado in 2007.

Gregory Moore is a Minneapolis native and lives in Evergreen. He is a professor of global studies and politics at Colorado Christian University. He serves on the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations. He holds a Ph.D. from Denver University in international studies, and his dissertation was on China-U.S. relations. In China, he held the positions of associate professor of international relations at Zhejiang University, and head of the School of International Studies in Ningbo, China, where he served until he returned to Colorado in 2020. His educational background is extensive, linked here.

Peter Yu is a Denver native who lives in Windsor, and is the son of Chinese immigrants who operated their own restaurant in Loveland for 20 years. He ran for Congress against Joe Neguse in the 2nd district in 2018 and came in second place with 34% of the vote. Yu went to Colorado State on a football scholarship, and finished his Bachelor’s degree in business from Fort Lewis College. He has held different jobs including managing marketing and tourism for Wyndham Worldwide’s western region. 

Key endorsements

Eli Bremer: Former U.S. Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell; Robert O’Brien, former National Security Advisor; U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn.

Gino Campana: Trump Interior Secretary David Bernhardt; former U.S. Reps. Tom Tancredo and Bob Schafer; Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway.

Deborah Flora: Former Lt. Gov. Jane Norton; former U.S. Rep. Allen West of Texas. 

Ron Hanks: Mike Lindell, My Pillow CEO; Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters.