Grand Junction, Colo. On April 4, Pete Coors was on his way to church with his wife, Marilyn, when conversation turned to Colorado’s Senate race. Ben Nighthorse Campbell, the GOP incumbent, had issued the surprise announcement that he would not seek reelection, and Republicans were scrambling to come up with a new candidate. All of the likely aspirants—the governor, lieutenant governor, and five GOP members of Congress—had declined to get in. The Democrats, meanwhile, had no such trouble: They quickly rallied behind attorney general Ken Salazar, who was widely seen as a formidable contender no matter which Republican stepped forward.
“Hickenlooper told me I should run,” said Coors to his wife, referring to Denver’s Democratic mayor, John Hickenlooper. “He said Colorado could use another brewer in public office.”
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