Democrats landed a top recruit Tuesday in Colorado state Sen. Morgan Carroll, who announced she will challenge Rep. Mike Coffman (R-Colo.).
Coffman represents a swing district that encompasses the southern portion of liberal Denver. It is thought to be among the most competitive districts in the state, but Democrats have been unable to unseat Coffman since the 2010 redistricting.
{mosads}In Carroll, 43, they think they have the candidate who can turn the district blue, and The Cook Political Report quickly moved the race to a toss-up after her announcement.
“The theme of the campaign is going to be about real results,” Morgan, the Democratic leader in the state Senate, told the Aurora Sentinel in an interview Monday. “Congress has been paralyzed. It’s a crisis of confidence to get anything done.”
Coffman, a Marine Corps combat veteran who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, decided to run for reelection instead of running for the Senate. Republicans had hoped he might challenge Sen. Michael Bennet, who is considered the most vulnerable Senate Democrat running for reelection in this cycle.
In 2014, Coffman defeated former state House Speaker Andrew Romanoff, a prized Democratic recruit, by 9 percentage points.
But that was a strong year for Republicans. The 2016 cycle is expected to produce better Democratic turnout since the race for the White House will be at the top of the ticket.
Coffman’s district went for President Obama in 2012 and boasts a large Hispanic population.
Coffman, who has gained a reputation as a tough campaigner, knows he will need support from independents and minorities if he’s to make it through a presidential election year, when Democrats typically turn out in greater numbers.
He was one of six GOP lawmakers to openly whip against a Republican amendment to strip a provision from the annual defense policy bill that edged toward allowing young illegal immigrants, often called “Dreamers,” to enlist in the military.
“If Dreamers want to put their life on the line for this nation, we should give them the opportunity and honor their willingness to serve,” Coffman said on the House floor.
The text, which Coffman voted in favor of during the bill’s marathon markup in April, was eliminated after a 221-202 vote.
Republicans signaled they will portray Carroll as too liberal for the district.
“With ultra-liberal Morgan Carroll officially in the race, it’s clear Democrats learned nothing from their 9-point loss there in 2014,” National Republican Congressional Committee spokesman Zach Hunter said in a statement.
“Morgan Carroll is just another out of touch liberal that simply doesn’t match the district and voters will send her packing just like they did with Andrew Romanoff,” he added.