Colorado's Attorney General Phil Weiser is setting his sights on a new political peak, announcing his bid for the state's highest executive office. Weiser, whose resume includes a stint as an antitrust lawyer at the U.S. Department of Justice and the deanship at the University of Colorado Law School, stated his intention to compete for the Democratic Party's gubernatorial nomination for the 2026 election, as obtained by 9News. Weiser, who first assumed the attorney general role in 2018 and secured reelection in 2022, declared, "I’m committed to fighting for the people of Colorado."
Despite his announcement, Weiser's path ahead may be encumbered by a field of formidable contenders. A recent poll cited by Colorado Newsline displayed a wide-open race. Congressman Joe Neguse led with 20% support among registered voters, followed by Secretary of State Jena Griswold at 16%. Weiser trailed behind at 8%, just below Ken Salazar, a seasoned political figure and current U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who garnered 11%. A significant portion, nearly half of the respondents, remained undecided or had plans to vote for another candidate.
The attorney general has remained in the limelight for spearheading Colorado's legal challenge against the proposed mega-merger of grocery giants Kroger and Albertsons. The merger, poised to be the largest in the nation's supermarket history, disintegrated last month after judges in Oregon and Washington halted the move. Weiser, doubling down on his consumer protection stance, mentioned in December the continuation of Colorado's lawsuit, which also contests a purportedly illegal arrangement between Kroger and Albertsons during a strike in 2022, according to CBS News Colorado.
