DENVER — Colorado is 18 months away from choosing a new attorney general, but the race so appears to be shaping up to be a battle among Democrats.
The Scripps News Group has kept you informed on the candidates who have announced their intention to run for the seat in 2026, and with more than year to go, it’s likely the race will get more crowded — and possibly, more politically diverse.
To continue fulfilling our promise to you, the Scripps News Group is compiling our reporting on the candidates into a single article as well as embedding extended interviews that Denver7 anchor Jessica Porter did with the candidates shortly after their announcements.
Boulder DA Michael Dougherty
Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty was the first to launch his campaign for Colorado Attorney General on Feb. 25 of this year.
In an official campaign email Dougherty said he’s running with a promise “to do justice, keep our communities safe, protect your rights, and fight for Colorado.”
In announcing his campaign for attorney general, Dougherty vowed to stand up to President Donald Trump and his billionaire adviser Elon Musk, who he accused of dismantling the country’s institutions, subverting the rule of law and targeting vulnerable communities.
- The Scripps News Group spoke with Dougherty shortly after his announcement to talk more about why he decided to run. You can view that interview in the video player below.
Former State Rep. Crisanta Duran
Former State Representative Crisanta Duran became the second official to announce their run for Colorado's attorney general seat in the 2026 election in mid-March.
In an interview with Denver7’s Jessica Porter, Duran said she was running for the seat “because [I] think it's far past due that we have a whole new path in Colorado to ensure that Coloradans are safe, healthy and economically secure.”
Duran said if elected, she would put Coloradans first, protect air and water, and create a safe and secure Colorado.
- Watch the video below to hear more about Duran and her platform during an interview with Denver7 anchor Jessica Porter.
Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold
The latest candidate to throw their name in the ring for the attorney general seat next year was Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold.
“I am running for attorney general because Colorado needs a strong, proven leader in this critical moment,” she said in an early morning press release Monday.
Griswold made national headlines during the 2020 election, particularly over election security and claims of voter fraud, both of which she pushed back on.
Over the past year, Griswold has been the subject of controversy — first, after she faced an impeachment attempt from House Republicans over a U.S. Supreme Court ruling which allowed then-presidential candidate Donald Trump to remain on Colorado’s presidential ballot for the 2024 election. And months later, over her office’s mishandling of partial passwords to Colorado’s voting systems that were posted on the secretary of state’s website just days before the Nov. 5 General Election.
- Hear more from Griswold in the video player below
A primary election for the seat will be held in June 2026.
