State Rep. Jon Keyser (R-Morrison)
UPDATE #3: In our second update (below) we mentioned the inherent risks of being known as the Republican “establishment” candidate. Keyser is already stuck with the label as the NRSC’s candidate, and now this from the Communications Director for Jeb! Bush:
Excited about Jon Keyser jumping into the CO-Sen race. Would give Bennet a very strong challenge in a winnable state https://t.co/7c2IUtCV5F
— Tim Miller (@Timodc) January 12, 2016
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UPDATE #2: The Denver Post now reporting on the official announcement from Keyser, who also plans to resign from his job as a corporate attorney. Former Colorado Republican Party Chair Dick Wadhams echoes the concerns about Keyser as the NRSC candidate:
But he added that Keyser — as well as other candidates — would be well served to guard against the perception that he is too closely tied to GOP insiders.
“There is a strong anti-establishment fervor running through this party right now,” he said.
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UPDATE: Keyser’s Senate campaign website is live.
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State Rep. Jon Keyser is expected to announce today that he will seek the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate and resign his seat in the legislature in order the focus on campaigning.
Colorado Pols reported in November that Keyser was getting serious about a potential U.S. Senate run, and various media outlets have since reported that he is the newest hope of the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC).
As we’ve said many times in this space, it’s far too premature to consider how Keyser might match up against incumbent Democrat Michael Bennet (D-Denver) in a General Election. State Senator Tim Neville (R-Jefferson County) officially kicked off his U.S. Senate bid last week, and he remains the overwhelming favorite in a June Republican Primary. We don’t see that changing anytime soon.
The 2016 Colorado legislative session kicks off on Wednesday, so Republicans will have to act quickly in convening a vacancy committee to replace Keyser, who was first elected in 2014. This is becoming something of a routine for Jefferson County Republicans; State Rep. Libby Szabo abruptly resigned from the legislature about this time last year after successfully lobbying to be appointed as a Jeffco County Commissioner.
Maybe Szabo is interested in a State Senate position? Maybe not so much – the pay isn't nearly as good as being a JeffCo Commissioner.
It's actually a House seat but your point is well taken. Any chance Faye Griffin is looking to change offices and wants to serve in the House?
Nah. We've got at least four more years until Faye resigns to run for County Treasurer again.
Hey folks. You've already lost this argument to me. By the way, she will run for County Clerk again and serve until she's term limited.
By the way, none of these people live in the district Keyser promised to represent. I knew his yard signs which say Keyser for Colorado were done so he could save them for some bigger run for office. So much for representing the people of the 25th District.
He didn't even put in Sarah Palin time.
"We're giving them a real lesson today!" Baghdad Bob
Somehow I don't see Keyser doing well against Neville in a GOP primary.
T'aint no expectin' needed. Welcome to the new jonkeyser.com
Now you're unemployed
All null and void
Walkin' round like you're pretty boy Floyd.
He has a nice smile. Does Tim ever smile?
no……it is not possible. I noticed the same thing. Keyser and his family are much more photogenic than a snarling pack of Nevilles brandishing their firearms.
Do you think Timmy will resign his state senate seat to demonstrate that he too is committed to this race like Keyser is doing?
If that's what it takes to be shed of him I'm not proud, I'll take it.
Too bad we'd get another Republican until the next election if he did. I miss Sen. Jeanne Nicholson…
Me too. Timmy has always been about climbing the corporate ladder. State Senator was always considered a temporary title.
A snarling pack of Nevilles is a priceless image. An immediate candidate for comment of the month.
Nothing screams "Pro-life Republican" like a picture on a card celebrating the birth of a dark-skinned, pacifist, Middle-Eastern socialist Jew.
The bigger the gun the smaller the unit. Enough said.
R's won with a good smile and a pack of lies last time……..no reason to change that.
Bennet will have to prove to voters he's somehow different. He'll try to do this even though he's been fearful of being labeled, let alone doing anything concrete, as a progressive.
For my money, which he'll never get, he should really start learning some populist rhetoric in case his horse doesn't come in this year, because the strategy he's taken since Day 1 and the actions he hasn't taken out of political fear are both losers.
Mongo says Bennet good, Mongo says Keyser bad. But Mongo no vote this year.
Whatever. Pretty sure Colorado's Obama twin will win.
Now, BC, this is a figurative "Mongo" I refer to above.
I may yet decide to vote, even for Bennet. If Bernie's on the ballot it's a damned sure thing I'll vote.
But the so-called independent voter this year is going for Trump and Sanders for a variety of reasons:
There are some "independent" voters that will never vote for a Democrat no matter the circumstances, and I think they are more common that the independent who would never vote for a Republican. And appealing to them by aping your Republican counterpart in the senate and continually triangulating against your base can result in only one thing: Salazar…Markey…Udall…Bennet.
He'll probably be relieved to be out of than damned stupid job he never should have taken (or been given) in the first place.
Whatever, Zap.
I fear the passing of David Bowie has thrown our fellow literary traveler into a dark place where the sun is wan and the darkness is strong. The world is all dark and smarmy and we're bitter and blue. Life sucks and Ms. Clinton is a mean mother to Chelsea so how could you possibly vote for her rather than Cruz? Boo-hoo. Sob bitter tears of dispair
So true about winning with a pleasant smile and a pack of lies last time. Maybe they'll get lucky again……
Not sure I would have chosen that picture. Does a guy with a toddler and a baby who's only 34 years old really need to be running for US Senate? He'll be sorry he shirked his fatherhood duties.
That baby's 34?!? Doesn't look a day over 30.
For a GOP primary? Probably a fine family picture, though it lacks the requisite high-capacity magazine rifles. But I'll defer to your more recent and heavy involvement with the state's Republicans if you think it won't work.
Wonder how Keyser's cheesy schtick of claiming voter fraud because he got two ballots (in two different districts) will play in a statewide campaign. Oh, yeah, it was definitely a systemic failure.
As Pols wrote in 2013: