Scroll To Top
World

Gay Congressman Polis May Have Antigay Challenger

Gay Congressman Polis May Have Antigay Challenger

Lundberg_polisx390_0
trudestress

Kevin Lundberg, perhaps the most conservative state senator in Colorado, may challenge gay congressman Jared Polis in next year's election.

Lundberg, who now shares Polis's congressional district thanks to redistricting, announced Tuesday that he has formed an exploratory committee to gauge support for his potential run, Denver TV station KDVR reports.

Lundberg, a Republican, was one of the chief opponents of Colorado's civil union bill. It passed the Senate this year despite his efforts, but he led a protest and prayer rally against it at the state capitol the day it was considered by the House Judiciary Committee, where it eventually died. He is "definitely the most anti-gay lawmaker" in the state legislature, according to LGBT paper OutFront Colorado.

Polis, a Democrat, is one of four openly gay members of the U.S. House, but two will be leaving next year -- Massachusetts's Barney Frank is retiring, and Wisconsin's Tammy Baldwin is running for U.S. Senate. However, Lundberg poses little threat to Polis, OutFront reports.

"Lundberg's announcement is a head scratcher," the paper notes. Even though redistricting has brought some more conservative areas into Polis's district, it continues, "the seat is still considered safe for Democrats. Couple that with Polis' money and influence on fundraising and you'd think only a crazy person would step up for that kind of a fight. Then again, maybe we'll just leave it at that."

trudestress
Advocate Channel - The Pride StoreOut / Advocate Magazine - Fellow Travelers & Jamie Lee Curtis

From our Sponsors

Most Popular

Latest Stories

Trudy Ring

Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.
Trudy Ring is The Advocate’s senior politics editor and copy chief. She has been a reporter and editor for daily newspapers and LGBTQ+ weeklies/monthlies, trade magazines, and reference books. She is a political junkie who thinks even the wonkiest details are fascinating, and she always loves to see political candidates who are groundbreaking in some way. She enjoys writing about other topics as well, including religion (she’s interested in what people believe and why), literature, theater, and film. Trudy is a proud “old movie weirdo” and loves the Hollywood films of the 1930s and ’40s above all others. Other interests include classic rock music (Bruce Springsteen rules!) and history. Oh, and she was a Jeopardy! contestant back in 1998 and won two games. Not up there with Amy Schneider, but Trudy still takes pride in this achievement.