July 23, 2013 12:47 PM UTC

Retired General Irv Halter Will Challenge Lamborn as Democrat

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• by: Colorado Pols

As Tom Roeder of the Colorado Springs Gazette reports, get to know the name Irv Halter:

A retired Air Force two-star who helped lead the Air Force Academy is running to represent Colorado Springs in Congress.

Democrat Irv Halter, who served as vice-superintendent at the academy, will announce his run against incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Doug Lamborn on Wednesday.

A 1977 Air Force Academy graduate, Halter is a former fighter pilot who also held top posts in the Pentagon and at the National Reconnaissance Office, which runs the nation’s spy satellites.

Halter has an impressive resume and list of accomplishments, including the Distinguished Service Medal (the highest non-combat honor you can receive), the National Intelligence Medal of Achievement, and two Bronze Star medals. What he doesn't have, however, is an "R" after his name, which is really (sadly) the most important factor in any challenge to incumbent Rep. Doug Lamborn. No Democrat even bothered to run in 2012, and Lamborn hasn't seen a serious Democratic opponent since retired Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack in 2008. While Republicans and Independents have consistently challenged Lamborn ever since his first election in 2006, the power of a Republican incumbent in a heavily-Republican district has proven impossible to overcome.

Halter faces long odds next November, but somebody should always at least challenge the dunderheaded Lamborn.