In new ad, Gov. Hickenlooper stumps for state Senate candidates

DENVER – A new political ad paid for by a Washington, D.C.-based group shows Gov. John Hickenlooper telling viewers about four candidates he wants elected to the state Senate.

The governor touts Rachel Zenzinger, Daniel Kagan, Jenise May and Tom Sullivan for their respective Senate seats.

Republicans currently hold a one-seat advantage in the state Senate – 18-17. The races highlighted in the ad are likely to determine if Democrats regain control.

Zenzinger is taking on current state Sen. Laura Woods in District 19, which covers Arvada and Westminster. Libertarian Hans Romer is also in the race.

In 2014, Woods beat Zenzinger by 663 votes as a different Libertarian candidate got more than 3,600 votes.

In Cherry Hills’ District 26, current state Rep. Kagan is taking on former Arapahoe County Clerk and Recorder Nancy Doty.

In District 27 in Aurora, Tom Sullivan, who is the father of Aurora theater shooting victim Alex Sullivan, is challenging current state Sen. Jack Tate.

And in District 25, in northeastern Adams County, former state Rep. Jenise May is taking on current state Rep. Kevin Priola. When May lost her House seat in 2014, it was by only 106 votes.

The organization that paid for the ad, America Votes, sent Denver7 a statement regarding the ad Friday afternoon:

“America Votes is committed to ensuring the best quality of life for every Coloradan. We need champions to advance and protect the strides we have made in Colorado in recent years – from fighting for pay equity and economic equality to protecting laws that have made voting more accessible – it is critical that voters know which state Senate candidates stand for these issues and that Governor John Hickenlooper stands with them.”