4th Judicial District Attorney Michael Allen launched his campaign for state attorney general at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame Museum of the American Cowboy in Colorado Springs on Monday night in hopes of bringing his “tough on crime” approach to the state. “The people of this great state des erve so much more from our leadership,” Allen told the crowd of over 100 people. “People should not have to worry when they park their car and go to work, whether it’s going to be broken into and everything’s stolen out of it or the car is taken all together.” Allen, a twice-elected district attorney and Navy veteran, believes his experience working on cases in El Paso and Teller counties will translate to bringing public safety reform to Colorado. As 4th Judicial District Attorney, Allen secured the second-longest prison sentence in Colorado history for the Club Q shooter and a life sentence for Gannon Stauch’s murderer. He claims his work creating a motor vehicle theft task force helped decrease those thefts by at least 70% from 2024 to 2025. At his campaign podium, Allen told the crowd he “always stands with victims” no matter their circumstances, after recounting his conviction of the Club Q shooter that killed five. The event featured remarks from former Colorado Springs Mayor and Colorado Attorney General John Suthers and Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly. Michael Allen, 4th Judicial District Attorney, greets his former boss and former 4th Judicial District Attorney, Dan May, at a reception in which he announced his candidacy for attorney general of Colorado at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) Several other elected law enforcement officials were in attendance, including El Paso County Sheriff Joe Roybal, Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell and 10th Judicial District Attorney Kala Beauvais, who is responsible for Pueblo County. “Folks, Colorado is not the same state that it was even 10 years ago,” Suthers remarked. “Ten years ago, we had a crime rate that was below the national average. Today we have a serious crime rate that is significantly above the national average.” Eleven years ago, Suthers concluded his time as Colorado attorney general after ten years, before serving as mayor of Colorado Springs until 2023. If Allen is elected, Suthers said Colorado would get an attorney general “who cares.” Allen told The Gazette he began thinking about running for the higher office after several national organizations consulted him about it in the weeks following the 2024 general election. He decided to seek advice on his decision from other officials, including Suthers, who Allen said laughed at him when he initially asked. “We can get ourselves an attorney general who cares about your public safety, who cares about the business competitiveness of the state of Colorado because that’s our security and our livelihood,” Suthers said in support of Allen. The importance of business competitiveness is the reason that Allen said he chose to hold his event at the hall of fame and museum. “It was reported recently that the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame is considering moving out of the state for more welcoming business environments because it’s gotten so bad,” Allen said. Allen will run unopposed for the Republican nomination unless another candidate files for the office by the March 18 deadline. On the opposite side of the ticket, several Democrats are vying to become their party’s nominee for attorney general ahead of the June 30 primary. Former U.S. Attorney for Colorado Hetal Doshi, 20th Judicial District Attorney Michael Doherty, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold and Executive Director of Towards Justice David Seligman have all raised over $450,000 for their campaigns, according to the state’s campaign finance website. Griswold is the only Democrat to raise more than $600,000 and has over $1.18 million in contributions. John Suthers, former Colorado Attorney General and Mayor of Colorado Springs, gives an introductory speech for Michael Allen, 4th Judicial District Attorney, during a reception at the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame. Allen announced his candidacy for attorney general of Colorado to a roomful of supporters on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett) Allen’s first campaign finance filing is due by May 4, according to the website. ...read more read less