Weiser's Running Mate Announced
Colorado AG Phil Weiser Selects Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper as Gubernatorial Running Mate
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Key Points
1
Dahlkemper has a background in journalism, having worked for Colorado Public Radio, and holds a master’s degree in journalism.
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She has held multiple local-government leadership roles, including serving on the Jefferson County School Board (and as its president) and positions on the county corrections board, wildlife commission, and the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation.
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Weiser’s campaign notes that Dahlkemper helped distribute more than $900 million to fight the opioid crisis in Colorado.
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The ticket emphasizes outreach to tribal communities, identifying the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe as key partners in the administration.
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Dahlkemper describes a listening-first, 'curious mindset' approach to addressing issues and communicating complex policies to Coloradans.
Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser has chosen Jefferson County Commissioner Lesley Dahlkemper as his running mate in the state's gubernatorial race, CPR News reported. The announcement was made at the Democratic Party headquarters in Denver, with Weiser set to face Republican opponents in the November election.
Dahlkemper, currently in her second term as a Jefferson County Commissioner, brings deep local-government experience to the ticket. Weiser framed the pick as a way to ensure local governments have "a seat at the table" in a future Weiser administration, according to 9News.
Dahlkemper's Long Record in Local Government
Dahlkemper has held several local leadership roles before joining the ticket. She served on the Jefferson County School Board, including as its president. She also held positions on the county corrections board, a wildlife commission, and the Jefferson County Economic Development Corporation, according to KKTV.
Her background also includes journalism. She worked for Colorado Public Radio and holds a master's degree in journalism. That experience shapes how she communicates policy, she says. Dahlkemper describes her approach as leading with a "curious mindset" — listening first, then explaining complex ideas in plain terms.
$900 Million in Opioid Funds and Key Policy Wins
Weiser's campaign points to Dahlkemper's role in fighting Colorado's opioid crisis. She helped distribute more than $900 million to combat the epidemic across the state, according to KOAA. That work involved coordinating funding across local governments and health systems.
Dahlkemper also helped Jefferson County eliminate its TABOR revenue cap. TABOR is a Colorado law that limits how much tax revenue governments can keep. Removing the cap let the county invest more in infrastructure, public safety, and wildfire risk reduction, according to Grand Junction Sentinel.
Tribal Outreach and a Focus on Colorado Communities
The Weiser-Dahlkemper ticket is making outreach to tribal communities a priority. The campaign specifically named the Southern Ute Indian Tribe and the Ute Mountain Ute Indian Tribe as key partners they plan to work with, according to CPR News.
Weiser said the pick reflects his goal of a governorship that can serve all of Colorado. He wants a lieutenant governor ready to step in if needed. As of mid-July, Democratic primary opponents Victor Marx and Jeff Peckman had not yet named their own running mates, KOAA reported.
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