A colleague of mine has worked as an attorney for both Hetal Doshi and Mike Dougherty, and tells me that while both have done a good job and are competent, that Hetal Doshi is the better leader of a larger organization like the AG's office and would do a better job. Jena Griswold has been a great SOS, but is not a seasoned lawyer with the expertise managing lawyers needed to be effective in the AG's office even though her heart is in the right place.
I prefer Amanda Gonzales, the clerk and recorder of Jefferson County, over Jessie Danielson, a former two term state senator and election law activist, because the SOS calls for administrative competence (which Amanda Gonzales has displayed) and not quality legislative innovation (which is where Danielson excels).
Congresswoman Diana DeGette has performed much better than John W. Hickenlooper and Michael Bennet in Congress (both of whom lead the U.S. Senate Democrats in supporting Trump, and have disappointed on some key issues before Trump 2.0, and have not been very active advocates) but is coasting, didn't advance very impressive bills when she had the chance, and in general, is not being as effective as she could be. DeGette's seniority also doesn't matter much when Trump is still President, limiting what that means in the next two years, and it is time to pass the baton to a new generation of leaders. Melat Kiros has a lot of passion, but isn't very accomplished and hasn't proven herself. Wanda James, whom I've spoken to personally and didn't immediately support when it didn't seem like she had a viable chance in the political climate at the time that I did, in contrast, has proven herself in both business and politics, and has more fire in her belly than DeGette does.
Phil Weiser is the obvious choice over Senator Bennet for Governor. Bennet did not distinguish himself as Denver Public Schools Superintendent, and has done a mediocre job as U.S. Senator, while Phil Weiser has risen to the challenge is resisting Trump vigorously and effectively as AG.
John W. Hickenlooper despite having done an excellent job as Mayor of Denver, and a decent enough job as Governor, has done a mediocre job as U.S. Senator and doesn't deserve another term. Julie Gonzales won't be one of the biggest Trump supporters in the Democratic Caucus in the Senate, and will be more pro-active in advancing federal legislation that moves the country in the right direction.
The highlighted candidates are my picks. There are four state legislative races in Denver where I currently don't know enough to make a pick (and probably won't, because I don't live in any of those districts).
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