GOP disappointment in Colorado as DA passes up Senate race

Colorado District Attorney George Brauchler (R) will not run for Senate, according to multiple media reports, dealing a blow to the GOP’s efforts to mount a serious challenge against incumbent Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet.

Brauchler, the prosecutor in the recent Aurora theater shooting case, confirmed the decision in a statement released to Colorado area news outlets on Wednesday.

{mosads}”Over the past few weeks since I have been out of the courtroom, I have given a great deal of consideration to what my future service would be. I spent time talking with family, friends, and neighbors about the possibility of taking on a new challenge,” he said in the statement, according to CBS 4 in Denver.

“Throughout my discussions and deliberation, I have made it clear that a top consideration for me would be how any decision would impact my family, my wife and our four wonderful kids … now is not the right time for me and my family for me to make a run for the United States Senate.”

He added that he’ll run for one more term as district attorney. 

Republicans had hoped Brauchler would run to challenge Bennet in one of the party’s only chances to pick off an incumbent Democrat. The 2016 Senate map favors Democrats, who have many more opportunities to defeat an incumbent Republican than vice versa. The Democrats only need a net gain of five seats to regain control of the Senate.