We live in a challenging time. Rising costs make Colorado more unaffordable for working families; climate change creates serious risks for our land, air and water; unnecessary red-tape blocks businesses from opening their doors or makes it harder for them to operate; gun violence and public safety challenges continue to plague our communities; and social media algorithms target our kids, causing severe mental health struggles. We in Colorado can and will tackle those problems head-on. And as Colorado’s governor, I will bring the plans and experience to do just that.
As the People’s Lawyer, I protected your wallet and brought back over $500 million to Coloradans in refunds, restitution, debt relief and student loan forgiveness by taking on irresponsible companies that broke the law. When a major chain store marked up its prices charged to you at the register over what it advertised on the shelves – I fought for you and won. When a company was investigated and found to have provided software to enable corporate landlords to illegally collude so they could hike up rents (costing people hundreds more per year in housing) – I took them to court. When King Soopers and Safeway tried to merge, which would drive up grocery prices, harm local farmers and cost workers their jobs – I went to court to stop it. And after Big Pharma fueled the opioid crisis – I went to court and made them pay almost $900 million to Colorado. Those settlement funds are now being used in a nationally recognized framework to support prevention, treatment and recovery services to address this crisis.
Equally important to tackling these challenges, our next governor must be willing to fight the lawless actions of this White House. Now more than ever, we need leaders willing to stand on principle and take on tough fights, not compromise on our priorities and flee from that fight.
Since Day One, this White House has acted as if rules and laws don’t apply to them. Like when President Donald Trump decided he could eliminate constitutionally guaranteed birthright citizenship for American children. Or when billions of dollars in critical funds were blocked from Colorado nonprofits and local governments. Or when RFK Jr.’s Department of Health and Human Services cut off lifesaving medical research money from the University of Colorado and Colorado State University. Or when the White House moved to eliminate entire agencies established by Congress and set in law like the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, AmeriCorps and the U.S. Department of Education. Or when Trump’s Cabinet illegally fired thousands of federal workers. Each time, I went to court and sued to stop these lawless actions.
Now more than ever, states must hold this federal government accountable for its actions and prevent this administration from unraveling our republic. We need leaders willing to stand up and stay on the front lines of that fight.
My drive to fight and to serve is grounded in my family’s story. My mom was born in a concentration camp during World War II. She and my grandmother were liberated by American soldiers, and then immigrated to the U.S. for a better life. My family’s faith in America during such dark times inspires me each day and leads me to hold firmly to the values of hope and resilience. And those American GIs who liberated my family and all imprisoned at the Buchenwald concentration camp instilled in me the importance of standing up for others. Each day, that shapes how I lead and serve.
In these challenging times, we need elected officials willing to stay at the front lines and fight for Colorado. Now is not the time to lean back, to compromise our values or to simply hope things will just work out. Nor is it time for excuses not to act such as “waiting for the right pitch” or “picking our battles.” For me, it’s as simple as this: Whenever Coloradans are harmed and our laws are broken, I’ll be on the front lines fighting for Colorado. That’s what I’ve done as your attorney general, and it’s what I’ll keep doing as your governor.
I am running to be Colorado’s next governor because I care deeply about our state and nation. There is important work to do for the people of Colorado, and we must rise to the challenge. As your attorney general, I have fought for you as the People’s Lawyer. You can count on me to keep fighting for you as the People’s Governor.
Phil Weiser is Colorado’s Attorney General and a Democratic candidate for governor.
