Republican Rep. Mike Coffman is not going to challenge incumbent Sen. Michael Bennet in next year's election.
Coffman said in a statement on Monday that he will instead run for re-election in his congressional seat in Denver's southeastern suburbs. National Republicans had pressured Coffman to run, thinking he was their best shot to unseat Bennet, a Democrat.
But Coffman said he wanted to stay in his seat and focus on getting a Veterans Administration hospital built in his district. Coffman is a veteran who has served in both Iraq wars.
He will still face a tough race in 2016. Coffman's district is almost evenly divided between Democrats, Republicans and independents. That makes him a regular top target of Democrats in congressional elections.
You want to know what is really going on these days, especially in Colorado. We can help you keep up. The Lookout is a free, daily email newsletter with news and happenings from all over Colorado. Sign up here and we will see you in the morning!
Colorado Postcards are snapshots of our colorful state in sound. They give brief insights into our people and places, our flora and fauna, and our past and present, from every corner of Colorado. Listen now.
Join us for these upcoming events!
It takes a good day’s drive to cover Colorado, but we’ll help you do it in a few minutes. Our newsletters bring you a closer look at the stories that affect you and the music that inspires you.