Democratic field appears to narrow to a two-candidate battle

Denver Democrat Amy Padden, a former state and federal prosecutor, said Tuesday that she is suspending her campaign to become Colorado’s next attorney general and backing former primary rival Phil Weiser.

“It is not because I am afraid of the fight ahead — I have never backed away from a fight and never will,” she said in a statement. “But I have decided that it is best if I carry on this fight in a different way.”

Another Democratic contender, Denver attorney Brad Levin, failed to qualify for the ballot, the Secretary of State’s Office announced Tuesday. Hours later, his campaign said it filed a legal challenge to contest the office’s ruling in court, seeking to get approval for signatures initially deemed invalid.

He fell short of the 1,500 voter signatures needed in five of the seven congressional districts required. He telegraphed the shortcoming earlier this month when he filed a lawsuit alleging the petition process is unconstitutional — another case his campaign hopes to win and restore his place in the race.

If he fails to make the ballot, the race would become a showdown between Weiser, the favorite of the Democratic establishment, and state Rep. Joe Salazar, who is courting the Bernie Sanders wing of the party.

Weiser, a fellow Democrat and former dean of the University of Colorado Law School, praised Padden as she departed the contest, adding that he is proud to have her support.

Salazar, who represents Thornton, made the ballot at the Democratic Party assembly, taking 37 percent of the vote, above the 30 percent threshold needed to qualify. Weiser landed a decisive victory, however, with 53 percent.

Padden sought to make the ballot through the petition and caucus processes, but she received just over 10 percent support at the assembly.

She could have qualified with voter signatures, but she withdrew them from consideration before the Secretary of State’s Office finished verifying them.

“While I have great affection for the passion of Joe Salazar and great admiration for the nearly four decades of legal excellence of Brad Levin, as Democrats, we cannot afford a divisive primary,” Padden said in her statement in explaining her endorsement of Weiser.

Colorado’s primary election is June 26, at which point voters will decide which Democrat will face 18th Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler, the sole Republican running for attorney general, in November.