January 09, 2026 11:12 AM UTC

‘If It’s War She Wants:’ GOP Lawmaker Vows To Defeat Primary Challenger

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• by: Erik Maulbetsch

(2026’s hottest Republican primary takes shape — Promoted by Colorado Pols)

Originally posted at the Colorado Times Recorder

Yet another state legislator has drawn a primary challenger in a House district where the outcome of the general election isn’t really in doubt. Rep. Brandi Bradley (R-Highlands Ranch) is running for reelection in Douglas County’s deep-red HD39. She won her last election by 20 points and, even in a year where most experts predict high turnout among Democrats, an incumbent Republican would expected to win that seat comfortably in November.

This year, however, Bradley will have to defeat another Republican –- and a fellow elected official -– to win her party’s nomination in June.

Castle Pines City Councilwoman Deborah Mulvey filed paperwork this week to challenge Bradley for the GOP nomination. Longtime GOP operative Marge Klein is her designated filing agent.

Two years ago, Mulvey served as president of the Douglas County Republican Women, which supported all its local GOP candidates, including Bradley’s re-election campaign.

Bradley, who has been focused on helping one of her sons recover from a devastating motorcycle accident, has not yet formally filed for reelection. However she announced her intention to run again on Facebook this week, writing, “I will be running to represent HD 39. My official announcement will come in the next few days. Thank you for respecting the time that I needed to seek the clarity and wisdom that I needed to make my decision. I will always run to represent the people in my district, not for clout, and not as a stepping stone.”

Bradley, one of the most conservative members of her House GOP caucus, did not respond to an email request for her thoughts about being primaried by a former ally. This article will be updated with any response received.

In a comment on a Parker Conservatives Facebook group post about the announcement, Bradley responded to the news with, “If it’s war she wants…” Bradley also promised to defeat her opponent regardless of whether Mulvey chooses to participate in the county assembly or petition onto the ballot via signatures.

Mulvey likewise did not respond to multiple requests for comment as to why she has decided to challenge a fellow Republican.

Her filing came just three days after Bradley appeared on the Free State Colorado podcast to promote the political action committee, “We The Parents,” that she launched with a few of her far-right colleagues (and Free State Colorado’s Brandon Wark). In the interview, she cited the incompetence of the state Republican party as the reason for starting her own group to “flip Colorado legislative seats,” as the group’s launch release stated.

“Let’s be honest, our state party is a mess,” said Bradley during the podcast. “We cannot continue to watch the Republican state party try to step up to the plate. So, I think for me, the frustration with that is what helped spawn We The Parents.”

At the time of We The Parents’ launch, Bradley declined to respond to the Colorado Times Recorder’s inquiry as to whether the group would only focus on seats held by Democrats. Her co-founder, Rep. Kenneth DeGraaf (R-Colorado Springs), also didn’t provide specifics, but offered a list of the policy positions that will presumably make some legislators targets: “just the anti-Liberty, fetal-harvesting, child-mutilating, TABOR-hating, tax-loving gun-grabbers.”

Bradley also created some inter-party strife when she filed a campaign finance complaint against another caucus member, Rep. Ron Weinberg (R-Loveland), over declared campaign expenditures she deemed questionable. Weinberg told the Denver Post that the complaint, which the Secretary of State’s office says warrants investigation, was in retaliation for his run for a leadership position earlier last year.