Former Colorado state senator Mike Johnston said Thursday he will run against Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., in 2020 in what is expected to be one of the toughest races of the cycle for Republicans.
I’m Mike Johnston. I’m a former teacher, principal, Obama advisor, and State Senator.
And, today, I’m announcing my Democratic campaign to defeat Republican Senator Cory Gardner.
Help Democrats flip this critical seat: https://t.co/vLVIwApgm7 pic.twitter.com/bNhvdqbwWE
— Mike Johnston (@MikeJohnstonCO) January 31, 2019
Johnston made the announcement in a 30-second web video released Thursday morning, making him the highest-profile candidate to announce against the freshman senator.
“Donald Trump and Cory Gardner have done more than just fail to protect us from the real threats like climate change and gun violence,” Johnston said in the video.
“They’ve actually created new threats, like passing a tax cut that will burden our kids with debt for generations, or like trying to take healthcare away from the million Coloradans who need it the most,” he said.
Gardner holds one of the most tenuous seats among Senate Republicans up for re-election in 2020 and is one of two who will be running in what are considered blue states, along with Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. Of the 34 seats on the map, 22 are held by Republicans.
Johnston served two terms in the state Senate before leaving office in 2017 due to term limits. He finished third in the Democratic primary for governor last year. Former Rep. Jared Polis won the primary and the general election contest in November. He is one of four Democrats currently vying to take on Gardner in 2020.
As of Sept. 30, Gardner has over $1 million in the bank for his re-election bid after chairing the Senate GOP campaign arm during the 2018 cycle.
