DENVER (AP) – George Brauchler, the Republican district attorney who prosecuted Colorado theater shooter James Holmes, kicked off his gubernatorial campaign on Wednesday vowing to bring leadership to the state capitol.
“I just want Colorado to be everything it could and should be rather than what it is,” said Brauchler, 47, who is also a colonel in the National Guard and did two tours in Iraq.
He becomes the biggest name in what is expected to become a crowded Republican gubernatorial primary in 2018, when Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper steps down due to term limits.
Other possible GOP candidates include State Treasurer Walker Stapleton, Attorney General Cynthia Coffman and Kent Thiry, chief executive officer of Denver-based Davita HealthCare Partners, one of the largest U.S. kidney care companies.
On the Democratic side, former State Sen. Mike Johnston and Denver manufacturing entrepreneur Noel Ginsburg have both announced their candidacies. U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter and former state Treasurer Cary Kennedy are considering running.