Former Colorado Rep. Greg Lopez will run for governor in next year’s election, joining a crowded Republican primary to succeed term-limited Democratic incumbent Jared Polis. 

“I believe in people over politics,” Lopez says in a campaign announcement video released Monday. “Together, let’s make Colorado a state that we can all be proud of.”

Lopez served for less than six months representing Colorado’s 4th District following his victory in a special election for the seat vacated by Republican Ken Buck. He opted not to run in the regular election last year and was succeeded by GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert, who switched districts to run for the more conservative seat located in eastern Colorado. 

He joins several Republicans who have already declared a run for the seat, including state Sen. Mark Baisley, state Rep. Scott Bottoms and Teller County Sheriff Jason Mikesell. This is Lopez’s third bid for Colorado governor, having unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination in 2018 and 2022.

Lopez’s entry comes on the heels of Democratic Sen. Michael Bennet launching his own long-awaited gubernatorial bid last week, joining state Attorney General Phil Weiser in the race. The Democratic primary has drawn most of the national attention so far as speculation mounted that Bennet would enter the race. Inside Elections with Nathan L. Gonzales rates the race Solid Democratic. 

Republicans haven’t won a gubernatorial election in Colorado since 2002 as the onetime swing state has turned decidedly blue in recent cycles. 

A Texas native and an Air Force veteran, Lopez has also served as mayor of the Denver exurb of Parker and as Colorado district director for the U.S. Small Business Administration, a post he left in 2014. 

During his brief tenure in Congress, he served on the Budget and the Science, Space and Technology committees.

Nick Eskow contributed to this report.