Michael Allen confronts Trump in bid for Colorado attorney general
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President Trump is a fight Democrat Jena Griswold's eager to pick and political baggage Republican Michael Allen is trying to shed.
Why it matters: Colorado's attorney general contest — expected to be one of the closest statewide races — will determine who directs the state's legal resistance to the Trump administration and how aggressively.
- Democratic attorneys general are a key obstacle to Trump, and the stakes extend beyond partisanship to federal dollars for public services, access to mail ballots and protections for Coloradans.
The big picture: Democratic Attorney General Phil Weiser's office has filed or joined about 90 lawsuits challenging the administration since January 2025.
- Griswold promises to continue that work; Allen says he would reconsider the state's participation case by case.
State of play: The focus on Trump is overshadowing a debate about the candidates' experience and putting the Republican candidate on the defensive.
Allen, the district attorney for El Paso and Teller counties, isn't shy about blaming Trump for putting Republicans in a political bind.
- "I think he's a big factor," Allen told Axios, citing the president's dismal approval ratings in Colorado and reluctant donors.
- Allen said he didn't vote for Trump "at least one or two" times in the three campaigns, instead writing in a different name.
What they're saying: "Trump is not the Republican Party," he said, describing the president's influence as temporary.
When it comes to the lawsuits Weiser filed or joined, Allen suspects some cases are politically motivated.
Yes, but: Allen rejected the suggestion that he would immediately shut them down upon taking office.
- "If they are merit-based, there's evidence and there's a law violation, then we're going to continue," he told Axios in a recent interview at a Monument coffee shop.
The other side: Griswold, the current secretary of state, argues that challenging the administration is a core responsibility of the next attorney general.
- She supports all of Weiser's lawsuits and suggests more will be necessary.
- "We hear … just a massive concern about the Trump administration's illegal federal overreach, concern for the rule of law, concern for our democracy," Griswold said in an interview.
Between the lines: Allen will need Trump supporters as well as moderate unaffiliated voters to make it a competitive race. He recently received endorsements from the Gazette and the Denver Post, two newspapers that don't often land on the same side.
- The Republican Attorneys General Association also spent $92,500 on advertising in recent weeks to help Allen reach more voters and to highlight Griswold's misstatements.
Griswold has more name recognition, and she's out-fundraised Allen fivefold.
- In addition, a super PAC supporting Griswold spent about $1 million in 10 days this month on attack ads hitting Allen for being too close to Trump and supportive of ICE.
The bottom line: Griswold's asking voters to preserve and expand Colorado's courtroom fight with Trump. Allen wants them to trust a Republican to decide which battles are worth fighting.