FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

27 FEBRUARY 2026

 

IT IS WITH NO SMALL MEASURE OF SADNESS THAT MUST INFORM YOU THAT I HAVE ARRIVED AT A MAJOR DECISION, ONE THAT I HAVE BEEN MULLING OVER FOR SOME TIME. EFFECTIVE TODAY, I AM SUSPENDING MY CAMPAIGN FOR THE COLORADO SENATE.

 

AS YOU ARE LIKELY AWARE, LAST SUNDAY I HELPED MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE POSTAL UNIONS HOLD ONE OF A STRING OF NATIONWIDE RALLIES FOR A STRONG KICKOFF TO THEIR CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE USPS. AS I STOOD AT THE MICROPHONE IN FRONT OF A CROWD OF STRONG LABOR-MINDED FOLKS FROM AROUND PUEBLO AND THE STATE, I REALIZED THAT IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN SIX MONTHS THAT I HAVE ACTUALLY BEEN HAPPY. I WAS BORN TO BATTLE FOR MY FELLOW WORKERS, AND IT WAS SUDDENLY CLEAR THAT BEING A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE HAS MADE ME LESS EFFECTIVE. I WOULD MUCH RATHER BE ON THE FRONT LINES THAN TIPTOEING AROUND THE BLOATED, FESTERING EGOS OF A SMALL NEST OF TIN-TONGUED VIPERS WHO CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE DECLINE OF OUR PARTY. I SAY “OUR PARTY” BECAUSE DESPITE HAVING BEEN SHOWN A GREAT MANY REASONS TO ABANDON IT, I CHOOSE TO REMAIN A DEMOCRAT.

 

I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT CERTAIN INDIVIDUALS WILL CELEBRATE WHEN THEY READ THIS NEWS. I WOULD CAUTION THEM AGAINST DOING SO TOO LOUDLY OR FOR TOO LONG. I CERTAINLY DIDN’T NEED TO BE AN ELECTED OFFICIAL TO DRAW THEIR IRE. I DID THAT WITH NOTHING MORE THAN A CIO UNION CARD, A FLAGPOLE, AND A BULLHORN. NO, IN TRUTH, I NOW FIND MYSELF COMPLETELY FREE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR BAD DECISIONS AND SELFISH GREED, NO MATTER WHO THEY MAY BE. WHETHER YOU ARE DEMOCRAT, UNAFFILIATED, OR REPUBLICAN, IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE TO ME. IF YOU TRY TO LINE YOUR POCKETS TO THE DETRIMENT OF WORKING PEOPLE, I WILL CALL YOU OUT. IF YOU MAKE FALSE ACCUSATIONS WITHOUT A SHRED OF EVIDENCE, I WILL CALL YOU OUT. IF YOU HOLD LOCAL, STATE, OR FEDERAL OFFICE AND YOU PROPOSE OR VOTE FOR A DANGEROUS OR ASININE POLICY THAT WILL HURT MY CITY OR MY MEMBERS, I WILL BE THERE TO STOP YOU. IF YOU VOTE AGAINST OR VETO A MEASURE THAT LABOR SUPPORTS, I WILL NOT ONLY CALL YOU OUT BUT ALSO MAKE SURE YOUR COWARDICE WILL NEVER BE FORGIVEN OR FORGOTTEN.

 

I EXPECT THAT YOU WILL WANT TO KNOW WHO I AM NOW SUPPORTING IN THE RACE. AT THIS TIME, I WILL ONLY SAY THAT I BELIEVE ONLY ONE OF THE REMAinING CANDIDATES HAS THE CAPABILITY AND TEMPERAMENT TO FILL THE SHOES OF SENATORS HINRICHSEN, GARCIA, AND GIRON, WITH WHOM THE USW ALWAYS ENJOYED A STRONG RELATIONSHIP. I MET WITH THAT INDIVIDUAL YESTERDAY AND GAVE THEM PERMISSION TO NAME ME AMONG THEIR INDIVIDUAL ENDORSERS. I WILL ALSO BE REACHING OUT TO THOSE ON MY TEAM TO LET THEM KNOW WHY I HAVE MADE THIS DECISION, AND TO URGE THEM TO DO SO AS WELL. I WILL NOT, FOR NOW, BE MAKING A PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT UNLESS ASKED, AS I WISH TO AVOID GIVING THE AFOREMENTIONED VIPERS AN OPPORTUNITY TO USE THIS ASSOCIATION WITH ME AGAINST THE CANDIDATE I NOW HOPE TO SEE ELECTED.

 

TO MY FAMILY, THE MANY WHO SUPPORTED ME, SIGNED MY PETITIONS, OR WERE THERE TO ENCOURAGE MY RUN, I WANT TO EXPRESS MY ETERNAL GRATITUDE. TO THE FRIENDS WHO STOOD BY ME AND KEPT MY HEAD SCREWED ON SEMI-STRAIGHT WHEN THE CAMPAIGN BEGAN TO TAKE A TOLL ON MY MENTAL HEALTH, YOU WERE THE ONLY LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS. TO THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO ENDORSED ME, I WAS PROUD TO CARRY YOUR BANNER. TO THE FOLKS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO MY CAMPAIGN AND THE UNION POLITICAL COMMITTEES WHO PLEDGED MANY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS DONATED BY THEIR WORKING-CLASS MEMBERS, I THANK YOU FOR BEING WILLING TO INVEST IN THIS MOVEMENT, EVEN IF I NEVER GOT TO ACCEPT MOST OF IT. TO MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF THE UNITED STEELWORKERS, THE MEMBERS OF LOCAL 3267, AND ESPECIALLY THE FELLOW OFFICERS WHO HELPED CARRY A PART OF MY LOAD, THANK YOU FOR THE PATIENCE YOU’VE SHOWN WHILE I WALKED THIS PATH. MY FULL ATTENTION IS AGAIN YOURS.

 

LABOR OMNIA VINCIT!