Allegations prompt a primary challenge

A Democratic lawmaker from Denver accused of sexual harassment is now facing challenges from within his own party.

One of them comes from Emily Sirota, who filed paperwork this week to run against state Rep. Paul Rosenthal in House District 9, saying “these sexual harassment allegations are just that tipping point.”

“He does not represent the values that are strong in me and strong in the Democratic Party,” she said in an interview Friday.

The unusual intra-party challenge to an incumbent lawmaker comes months after a male political activist went public with a #MeToo story alleging that Rosenthal groped him at a political event while seeking office in 2012. Both men are gay.

Rosenthal, 49, denies the accusations, and a formal complaint against him for sexual harassment was dismissed in late December by House Speaker Crisanta Duran, D-Denver, because the alleged incident took place before he was elected.

The investigation made no determination about Rosenthal’s innocence or guilt, and the accuser’s attorney raised questions about how it was handled.

In a statement, Rosenthal said he “will work hard to earn everyone’s votes to continue the progressive work we have done together.”

“Despite Donald Trump, we still have a vibrant democracy. Especially nowadays we need to encourage political participation, and I am always excited when people make the decision to enter a life of public service, even if it is someone running against me,” he said in a statement.

The latest campaign finance reports show Rosenthal has a head start in fundraising. The $17,000 in his account includes $9,600 from the last three months of 2017.

Two donors are top supporters in Colorado for President Donald Trump, including $400 from Larry Mizel, a finance co-chairman for his campaign.

Sirota, 38, is the director of admissions and operations at an early learning center in Denver. This bid is her second for public office, coming after her loss in the 2011 election for Denver school board.

Another Democrat announced a bid for the seat Thursday. Ashley Wheeland, a 38-year-old political policy and advocacy consultant, said the accusations against Rosenthal also are part of her decision, as well as his recent votes.

This is Wheeland’s first run for public office. She spent four years as the political director at for the local chapter of Planned Parenthood and previously worked for One Colorado, advocating for LGBT issues.

The party primary is June 26.