State Sen. Angela Williams Is The Latest Dem To Challenge For Cory Gardner’s Job

Colorado state Sen. Angela Williams on Monday became the latest Democrat to announce she's running against Republican Sen. Cory Gardner.

Williams became at least the 12th Democrat to declare their candidacy against Gardner, who is widely considered the most vulnerable GOP senator in the country. Since the freshman senator was elected in 2020, Democrats have won all the top-tier races in the state, capitalizing on Trump's unpopularity with Colorado's electorate.

A veteran of the Colorado statehouse who represents heavily minority northeastern Denver, Williams, who is African American, released an announcement video focusing on her hardscrabble upbringing as one of seven children. She contended that, despite the state's economic boom, many Coloradans are still struggling to afford health care or rising costs of living and worried that it will be harder for families in similar situations as hers to rise.

"Donald Trump and Cory Gardner have sought to divide Americans and rig the system against hard-working families for far too long," Williams said.

One name that is constantly mentioned in the race is former Gov. John Hickenlooper. The governor, who was asked Sunday about a challenge to Gardner, remains committed to his presidential run.

Other Democratic candidates in the race include former Obama State Department official Dan Baer, former State Sen. Mike Johnston, former state lawmaker Alice Madden, former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, university professor Stephany Rose Spaulding and former United States Attorney John Walsh.