Members of the Fort Collins community visited Avogadro’s Number in Old Town Oct. 8 to interact with Colorado Democratic gubernatorial candidate Phil Weiser.
The event was the latest in a continuing line of similar appearances across the state, with Weiser emphasizing his commitment to engaging with and serving Coloradans equitably. Weiser announced his candidacy for governor in January after winning re-election to his current role as attorney general in 2022.
Weiser is joined in the quest for governorship by several candidates across the partisan aisle, with the election set for November 2026. However, Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet, who represents Colorado in the United States Senate, has emerged as the primary challenger in the race. Colorado hasn’t had a Republican governor since 2007.
Several local officials and candidates, including outgoing Fort Collins Mayor Jeni Arndt, also packed into the stage area of Avogadro’s Number, interacting with voters in support of Weiser and to press the flesh ahead of the Nov. 4 municipal election. Arndt, who offered her official endorsement to the campaign, first addressed the crowd to introduce Weiser and demonstrate her support for and confidence in his candidacy.
“Phil (Weiser) is a humanist,” Arndt said. “Phil is a problem-solver. He loves people. He’s going to go out and help you. As attorney general, he has fought the Trump administration because what they’re doing is wrong.”
This theme of resistance against what Weiser described as an unlawful, undemocratic presidential administration persisted throughout the address. As AG, Weiser has filed dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration over the deployment of National Guard troops into metropolitan cities, federal funding cuts and birthright citizenship provisions.
“When you’re up against a lawless bully, the only response is to stand up for what you believe in and fight like hell for it,” Weiser said. “That’s why I’ve gone to court 37 times and counting.”
Having served as the dean of law at the University of Colorado Boulder before his tenure as AG, Weiser also took time to share his personal background and motivations for continuing to seek elected office.
Weiser’s mother was born in the Buchenwald concentration camp in Nazi-occupied Germany before later immigrating to the United States. Weiser said he holds his grandmother central to his passion for public service and remarked on the opportunities afforded to him through her courage.
“Only in America can it be that the difference between my mom being born in that concentration camp and me standing here having worked for Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the Supreme Court, President Barack Obama in the White House and as your attorney general and your next governor, is one generation,” Weiser said. “In America, we have the conviction that we can do hard things.”
Weiser also took time to address issues and challenges more directly related to Fort Collins and Colorado by pledging additional up-front funding for opioid abuse treatment programs, a re-evaluation of the TABOR — Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights — state tax revenue mechanism and incentives to remedy Colorado’s stagnating population growth, among others.
“We need to and we will do better in Colorado,” Weiser said. “My point is we have a lot of work to do to build thriving communities together. I believe in that work, and I believe that our democratic republic is a team sport.”
With audience members largely comprised of Weiser’s supporters, applause and cheers sounded frequently during his address. Tom Vosburg works as a volunteer organizer for the campaign alongside his wife, Jill, and said Weiser’s approach to governance and his candidacy drew them to get involved.
“He’s always listening,” Vosburg said. “That’s the most important thing and what we really need from politicians right now.”
Reach Sam Hutton at news@collegian.com or on social media @RMCollegian.
