Competing Democrats Emerge in Race to Become Colorado's Next Attorney General

As term-limited Attorney General Phil Weiser looks to jump to the governor's office in 2026, candidates are already lining up to take his place.

Two big names in the Colorado Democratic Party launched campaigns for attorney general this week: Boulder District Attorney Michael Dougherty and former state House speaker Crisanta Duran. They're the first to formally enter the race, according to records from the Secretary of State's Office.

Dougherty and Duran have both flirted with higher office before; Dougherty ran against Weiser for attorney general in 2018 before dropping out to become Boulder DA, and Duran briefly tried to unseat U.S. Representative Diana DeGette in Congress in 2019. But with Weiser's exit, the AG seat is free for the taking and is likely to attract a crowded field of candidates.

The attorney general is the state's top law enforcement officer, responsible for representing the legal interests of Coloradans, enforcing consumer protection and antitrust laws, prosecuting criminal appeals and white-collar crimes, and providing legal counsel for the governor, state legislature and government agencies.

Dougherty says he's seeking the office to protect the public safety and rights of Coloradans, particularly in pushing back against recent federal policies.

"I'm ready to fight for Colorado," Dougherty says in a campaign video. "With Donald Trump and Elon Musk in power, it's easy to feel hopeless as they dismantle our institutions, subvert the rule of law and target our vulnerable communities. ...Together, we can begin to heal America's divisions and restore faith in government and our justice system."

Duran lists her campaign promises as ensuring the safety, health and economic stability of Coloradans.

“I will work to protect consumers, increase affordability, combat corruption, and stand up to greed and those who manipulate outcomes at the expense of the people of Colorado,” Duran says in a statement. “With all of the hate that is coming out of Washington, D.C., I will do everything in my power to ensure that Coloradans are not in harm’s way and have the opportunity to reach their greatest potential. I will strive for fairer and more just outcomes.”

Dougherty has been Boulder County's top prosecutor since 2018. Some of his most noteworthy accomplishments over the last seven years include successfully prosecuting the King Soopers mass shooter, investigating the cause of the Marshall fire, and successfully prosecuting two former Boulder County sheriff’s deputies for manslaughter in the death of a man they were transporting.

Dougherty moved to Colorado in 2010 to work in the Attorney General's Office, serving as senior assistant attorney general for less than a year before being appointed to lead the office's Criminal Justice Section. He left in 2013, becoming assistant district attorney for Jefferson and Gilpin counties until 2018. Before coming to Colorado, Dougherty was a prosecutor with the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office for over twelve years.

"I know what it takes to lead, what it means to fight for what's right, and the important role the justice system can play when it is being guided by the rule of law and not by politics," Dougherty says. "I will use my decades of experience in the courtroom and leading offices to protect our values and defend our rights against Donald Trump and anyone who endangers Colorado."

Duran served in the Colorado House of Representatives from 2011 to 2019, becoming majority leader in 2015 and speaker of the House in 2017 — the first Latina to hold the position. She lists her primary achievements as securing funding for the Ralph L. Carr Colorado Judicial Center and attorney salary increases as chair of the Joint Budget Committee, in addition to passing bills to expand rural broadband, support local businesses and improve affordability.

A sixth-generation Coloradan, Duran grew up in Northglenn and Arvada and entered politics by advocating at the Colorado State Capitol; she was president of the Colorado Young Democrats in 2008. She is an attorney whose work experience includes being the New York state director of Democrats for Education Reform, an adviser to Let America Vote, the political director for Mark Udall's 2008 U.S. Senate campaign, and a fellow for Colorado Supreme Court Justice Alex Martinez.

“Like many Coloradans, I’m deeply concerned about the future of our country and know that a new path forward is required in times like these when it can seem as though nothing is sacred," Duran says. “I’m running for Attorney General because I am committed to ensuring that every Coloradan is safe, healthy, and economically secure."

Dougherty and Duran must face off in the June 30 Democratic primary before either candidate can make it to the November ballot.

Other Democrats rumored to be considering runs for AG include Adams County District Attorney Brian Mason, Towards Justice Executive Director David Seligman and Secretary of State Jena Griswold.

No Republicans have entered the race yet. When Weiser was elected in 2018, he broke a fourteen-year streak of Republicans being elected attorney general. However, the state has shifted to the left since then, and a Republican hasn't been elected to statewide office in Colorado since 2016.

Election Day is November 3, 2026.