Right or wrong? Bennet plans campaign for governor while serving in U.S. Senate
Re: “Bennet should resign now in his run for governor,” April 16 editorial
I write in response to The Denver Post’s ridiculous editorial this week calling on Sen. Michael Bennet to resign his seat to run for governor. As I recall, The Denver Post did not call on Gov. Jared Polis to resign from the House of Representatives when he ran for governor at the beginning of President Donald Trump’s first term. Nor did The Post call on John Hickenlooper to resign his position as mayor when he first ran for governor in 2014. The Post conveniently has not called on Attorney General Phil Weiser to resign from his office to run for governor either.
Democrats will go to the polls in June 2026. Let the people decide.
Wellington E. Webb, Denver
Editor’s note: Webb is a former mayor of Denver.
I applaud The Denver Post for its editorial position on this issue. It is ludicrous for Sen. Bennett to assert that Washington, D.C., where he has been as our senator for 16 years, is too broken to fix, so he will come back to Colorado and see what he can do here. No, thank you! And certainly not on the taxpayers’ tab as he continues to draw a salary and expenses as a senator! How he can even suggest that in good conscience is beyond me.
Patti Marks, Denver
It is clear that The Denver Post does not understand how the United States Congress works. Seniority matters in Congress, even in the minority party. This editorial proposes to dramatically weaken Colorado’s power and seniority in Congress. Sen. Michael Bennet plays key roles on the Senate Agriculture Committee (rural development and general agricultural policy — a key issue in Colorado), Senate Finance Committee (taxation committee with key positions on energy, trade, and oversight of the IRS), and the Senate Intelligence Committee (protecting against threats to America).
Without Sen. Bennet’s strong leadership and bipartisan history, Colorado’s Congressional delegation will play a significantly reduced role in ensuring bad legislation does not move forward and good legislation, that protects and provides opportunities for all Coloradans, is passed through Congress.
I believe Bennet can both run for governor and fulfill his duties as a U.S. senator in representing the people of Colorado.
Emily Hauber, Denver
Re: “Senator throws his hat into gubernatorial ring,” April 12 news story, and “I’m running for governor because Washington is too broken to answer Colorado’s needs,” April 12 commentary
Many of us would like to have it both ways on a lot of things in life. That’s how I look at Michael Bennet’s decision to run for governor of Colorado while still retaining his Senate seat so he can appoint his successor if he wins. But then he would retain his Senate seat until 2029 if he loses. Did I get that right?
Looking at the Democratic electeds that joined Bennet when he announced this campaign (Jason Crow, Joe Neguse, Mike Johnston), I have to wonder if he’s dangling that carrot of a Senate appointment in return for their support. I hope that’s not the case, but the optics of this are not good.
If Sen. Bennet truly thinks he can punch a hole in Trumpism from Colorado, then go whole hog and resign and give it your all. But, then again, I don’t know how he can think that given his tepid response to Trumpism in Washington, D.C.
In the current political situation, we need a strong fighter in the governor’s mansion.
Lynne Popkowski, Littleton
No matter what your opinion is about President Joe Biden’s decision to run for re-election or his too-late decision to drop out of the race, he did not deserve to be excoriated by a sitting senator of his own party in full view of the American public. This was something that Sen. Michael Bennet did, and I found it deeply offensive.
So I will not be casting my Democratic primary vote for governor for Michael Bennet. Instead, I will be voting for our current Colorado Attorney General, Phil Weiser. He has traveled this state, holding town hall after town hall, to determine how his office can best help Colorado residents on a variety of issues that affect their lives.
I attended one of those town halls when Weiser was preparing to sue to prevent the merger of the Kroger and Albertson’s grocery chains. He did much more listening than talking. He has been working hard on behalf of Colorado since he was first elected AG. Phil Weiser is the best choice for Colorado governor.
Candace Taylor, Lakewood
I agree that Michael Bennet has done a good job for Colorado in his various elected offices. I also agree that he should resign his U.S. Senate seat to run for governor. Then, Gov. Jared Polis should do the right thing and appoint Phil Weiser to the Senate.
James V. Stolz, Colorado Springs
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