Robert Blaha
As several national outlets debated whether District Attorney George Brauchler will jump in the 2016 U.S. Senate race, two more Republicans dipped their toes in the water over the past week. The first, Robert Blaha, confirmed yesterday with the Denver Post that he would jump into the race come October. Blaha noted that his decision to enter the race hinged on whether incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Michael Bennet would support the President’s deal with Iran, which even Bennet acknowledged was flawed. Bennet confirmed his support on Friday.
Blaha is the founder president of Human Capital Associates as well as a co-founder and vice chairman of the board of directors at Integrity Bank & Trust. In 2012, he ran in a Republican primary in the Fifth Congressional District against incumbent U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn, but came up short with 38% of the vote.
State Sen. Tim Neville
Late last week, state Senator Tim Neville also announced that he was considering seeking the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate race and would conduct a statewide “listening tour” to rally supporters. Neville currently represents Senate District 16, which is composed of western Jefferson County and bits of Boulder and Gilpin Counties to the west.
Neville held one event last week in Lakewood, and has plans for at least two more events this week in Denver and Greeley. Neville is not the only one in his family who participates in the political process. His son, Patrick, is a State Representative from Douglas County and his sister in law, Julie Williams, is facing a recall election in Jefferson County.
Neville and Blaha join Republican El Paso County Commissioner and retired Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Darryl Glenn, who entered the race last January.
The question is whether all of three will remain in the race if Brauchler jumps in.