DENVER — Conservative favorite Darryl Glenn captured the Colorado Republican Party’s nomination Tuesday in a five-way Senate primary battle, setting up a November general-election contest with Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.
With 47 of 64 counties reporting, Mr. Glenn had secured 37 percent of the vote, trailed by former Colorado State University athletic director Jack Graham with 25 percent and Colorado Springs businessman Robert Blaha with 16 percent.
An El Paso County commissioner and former Colorado Springs city councilman, Mr. Glenn enjoyed the backing of several prominent national Republicans, including Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Utah Sen. Mike Lee and former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, as well as the Senate Conservatives Fund.
Mr. Glenn said Tuesday he will have no problem sharing the stage with presumptive GOP presidential nominee Donald Trump, who is scheduled to appear Friday at the Western Conservative Summit in Denver.
“Absolutely. I think it’s extremely important. He’s our presumptive nominee,” Mr. Glenn told 9News in Denver.
A graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy and retired officer, Mr. Glenn described himself on his Facebook page as an “unapologetic Christian, Constitutional Conservative, pro-life, Second Amendment loving American.”
His campaign has already zeroed in on what are considered Mr. Bennet’s weak spots in swing-state Colorado, starting with the Democrat’s votes for the Affordable Care Act and the Iran nuclear deal.
“People are upset about politicians saying one thing and then basically forgetting about all those promises they made,” Mr. Glenn said. “They’re angry about the Iran nuclear deal. They’re angry about Obamacare. They’re angry about excessive EPA regulations. Those are the policies Michael Bennet has supported.”
Mr. Glenn’s immediate challenge lies in increasing his name recognition. He has only won races in El Paso County and lacks the statewide profile of Mr. Bennet, who was appointed in 2009 to fill a vacancy and narrowly defeated Republican Ken Buck in 2010.
The newly minted Republican nominee promptly drew a swipe from the left Tuesday from ProgressNow Colorado Executive Director Ian Silverii, who blasted Mr. Glenn for his “arch-right conservatism.”
“From Ted Cruz to Donald Trump and now Darryl Glenn, Colorado Republicans appear determined to make the worst possible choices in 2016,” Mr. Silverii said in a statement.
• Valerie Richardson can be reached at vrichardson@washingtontimes.com.
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