Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Won't Seek Re-Election

By Jeralyn, Section Colorado News
Posted on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:23:30 PM EST
Tags: Bill Ritter (all tags)

Share This: Digg!

Update: My speculation as to reason: He liked being DA better than being Governor. Maybe Obama will announce he's going to be Colorado's U.S. Attorney. Until we hear tomorrow, I think it's as possible as any other reason being floated.

This is a shocker. Flashing across my tv screen, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter won't seek re-election. He hasn't given a reason. He will make the announcement in the morning at an 11 a.m. press conference. From Political Wire:

A fundraiser scheduled for tonight was canceled and all campaign staff was sent home in the middle of the day. The decision does not appear to be fundraising related which has reportedly gone better than expected.

[More...]

I think the Dems will keep the Governor's mansion. Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper would be unbeatable in my view, and other replacement names being mentioned are Interior Secretary (and former Senator and Colorado Attorney General) Ken Salazar and Rep. Ed Perlmutter. Any one of them would beat former Rep. Scott McInnis, the Republican candidate, in my view.

I hope it's Hickenlooper. I'm as tired of Salazar as I am McInnis and he's no progressive as he showed in the Senate, time and again. I like Perlmutter a lot, but I think it would be a closer race with him as the Democratic candidate than it would be with Hickenlooper.

As to Ritter's real reason, I like him a lot so I'm not going to speculate. I'm sure others will.

< Tuesday Night Open Thread | Sen. Dodd and Byron Dorgan To Retire >

Legal

Nothing on this site should be construed as legal advice. TalkLeft does not give legal advice.

TalkLeft is not responsible for and often disagrees with material posted in the comments section. Read at your own risk.

Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter Won't Seek Re-Election | 24 comments (24 topical)

Readers Must Login or Create an Account to Comment

Ritter was likely going to lose the election. (none / 0) (#1)
by tigercourse on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:29:01 PM EST

His approval numbers aren't great. Alot of Dem Governors are going to lose in 2010.

I disagree and his fundraising (none / 0) (#2)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:31:17 PM EST

was going well. I think something else is behind the decision.


While money is very important, it's not (none / 0) (#3)
by tigercourse on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:40:26 PM EST

everything. But you might be right. I don't know that state very well.


So you felt compelled... (none / 0) (#19)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 08:57:24 AM EST

...to chime in because...?

It's pretty clear that do you not know Colorado politics very well.


Sorry for having an opinion about something (none / 0) (#22)
by tigercourse on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:13:52 AM EST

I'm not an absolute expert on. People rarely do that on the internet I'm told.


The internet is a funny thing. (none / 0) (#24)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 10:04:30 AM EST

Like when you say silly, unfounded, uninformed things, people sometimes call you out on it.


: Basically, unless you are Governor Ritter, (none / 0) (#25)
by tigercourse on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 01:09:29 PM EST

you don't know much more then me.

Me Too (none / 0) (#4)
by dissenter on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:52:25 PM EST

And I will put money on an affair.


: those rumors were raised (none / 0) (#7)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:13:08 PM EST

a long time ago and the proponent of them said he has no confirmation. As of a month ago,no one did. And Colorado Governor Bill Owens, his predecesser, had worse allegations (and his marriage ended in divorce.) And then, there was Gov. Roy Romer who admitted an affair.
I hope threats of exposing an affair, real or alleged, aren't the reason he is dropping out.
I know he liked being DA better than Governor. Maybe Obama will announce he's going to be U.S. Attorney. Hmm, think I'll update the post with this idea. It's as good as any other right now.

: Something is definately going on. (none / 0) (#21)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:04:22 AM EST

Very hush-hush, whatever it is. When most every one of the Dem movers and shakers were completely taken by surprise, you have to wonder.
From what I'm hearing it may be family related, but nothing about an affair.

Little Off Topic (none / 0) (#5)
by dissenter on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 10:56:47 PM EST

But J...if you hear anything tonight on what happened at the city council meetings tonight(Denver and Castle Rock)on med marijuana please post.

I think it was last night (none / 0) (#9)
by Jeralyn on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:21:30 PM EST

here


: Thanks (none / 0) (#16)
by dissenter on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:56:27 PM EST

I hope whatever it is that is running Ritter out of this race opens new opportunities for him. I actually think he has run this state pretty damn well considering what the rest of America looks like right now.
I really like Hickenlooper. That is my choice. Not a big Salazar fan but he plays on the Western Slope. I just don't know how good it looks to quit your senate seat, then quit the interior and then think nobody is gonna bring that up when you run for governor. I do know this...he can't stand the likely republican candidate so it would be interesting. I can't see Perlmutter going anywhere or for that matter Romanoff. That is my two cents.
Thanks for the link on the MM issue

Dailykos is saying Dodd will retire as well. (none / 0) (#6)
by tigercourse on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:12:44 PM EST

I guess the Dems are trying to get all the quitting out of the way at once.

The 10 pm news (none / 0) (#10)
by christinep on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:23:43 PM EST

'Just heard an interesting view from E. Sondermann, the Colorado political analyst, noting that this may be one of those unexpected opportunities for Democrats in that the fresh face vs McGinness may work to the Dems advantage. Also: The Repubs have been so focused on anti-Ritter that their campaign will now have to redevelop. On another channel: A reference from an "analyst" that he might have been "forced out" since the staff was quickly sent home, etc. As to possible candidates: In addition to K. Salazar, J. Hickenlooper, E. Perlmutter, the channels mentioned A. Romanoff as switching from the Senate race. (My personal feeling is that K. Salazar has the strongest gubernatorial--i.e., solid and longtime Colorado--persona. The challenge Hickenlooper faces is being Denver Mayor.) All in all, a huge stunner!

Chris Dodd will not seek re-election (none / 0) (#11)
by AX10 on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:27:27 PM EST

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/chris-dodd-to-step-aside.html

Richard Blumenthal is most likely to replace him.
This is good news as this seat will stay Democratic.

Good, he was probably going to lose (none / 0) (#12)
by andgarden on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:31:45 PM EST

Kudos to the vulnerable Dems for coordinating their retirement announcements.

If there is one thing Democrats know how (5.00 / 1) (#14)
by tigercourse on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:38:02 PM EST

to coordinate, it's giving up.


: Sometimes giving up is the best option (none / 0) (#15)
by andgarden on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:42:50 PM EST

I don't have much patience for lost causes.

BTW, his numbers were awful (none / 0) (#13)
by andgarden on Tue Jan 05, 2010 at 11:35:07 PM EST

I[''m no fan of Hickenlooper (none / 0) (#17)
by Ben Masel on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 01:31:56 AM EST

after his trampling 1st Amendment during the DNC last year.,

: Well Ben... (none / 0) (#20)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:00:14 AM EST

...you may not be a fan, but he would absolutely crush McInnis if he decides to run. Very, very popular across the entire political spectrum here.
Maybe even a 70/30 split.

Why? (none / 0) (#18)
by mmc9431 on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 07:50:11 AM EST

I don't follow Conn. politics that close but with Lieberman the "other" senator, I would think Dodd would be sitting well in comparison.

I know the mortgage deal is an issue, but sweet heart deals on housing are hardly rare in politics. Obama got to the WH in spite of his.

I certainly hope that it isn't because he's percieved as too liberal. The last thing we need is another blue dog senator. Or worse , another Lieberman!

Whatever the reason for his decision... (none / 0) (#23)
by MileHi Hawkeye on Wed Jan 06, 2010 at 09:40:52 AM EST

...he's done a very good job for the people of Colorado, especially with regard to the economy and the budget crisis. I wish him and his family the best.

I hope Perlmutter doesn't run because his seat would be very hard to hold and he's a quietly effective legislator.

I don't think Salazar would want to give up his Cabinet position--he has bigger things in mind for himself?

Romanoff would come off as a political opportunist (not that he's not) if he were to switch over the Governor's race right now. Not to mention so far, his efforts in the Senate race are at best lackluster.

I'd LOVE Cary Kennedy to run, but given the GOP candidates running for her office are all of the anti-govenment/pro-TABOR variety, I think we need her were she is at.

That leaves Hick. He is the GOP's worst nightmare.