FILE--In this Nov. 4, 2014, file photo, newly-reelected Republican Colorado Treasurer Walker Stapleton speaks to supporters during the GOP election night gathering, in Denver, Colo. Stapleton cited the possibility of fraud in the collection of voter signatures when he announced on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, that he will try to qualify for the Republican gubernatorial primary at the party's assembly this weekend. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, file)
  • Cynthia H. Coffman, Tom Ravenelle, David Thompson, Gilbert R. Garza, Kevin Merrill
    Colorado Attorney General Cynthia H. Coffman, front, makes a point during a news conference to announce that state and federal agents have arrested 34 people in a far-ranging heroin distribution sweep, Wednesday, May 20, 2015, in Denver. Looking on are, from back left, Tom Ravenelle, special agent of the FBI, David A. Thompson, special agent of U.S. Homeland Security in Denver, Gilbert R. Garza, special agent in charge of criminal investigations for the Internal Revenue Service in Denver, and Kevin Merrill, assistant special agent in charge at the Denver division of the Drug Enforcement Agency. The two-year investigation, dubbed “Operation Chump Change,” was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Agency’s Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
  • Walker Stapleton
    FILE–In this Nov. 4, 2014, file photo, newly-reelected Republican Colorado Treasurer Walker Stapleton speaks to supporters during the GOP election night gathering, in Denver, Colo. Stapleton cited the possibility of fraud in the collection of voter signatures when he announced on Tuesday, April 10, 2018, that he will try to qualify for the Republican gubernatorial primary at the party’s assembly this weekend. (AP Photo/Brennan Linsley, file)

DENVER  |  Colorado gubernatorial hopeful Cynthia Coffman is protesting fellow Republican candidate Walker Stapleton’s decision to compete at the party’s state assembly this weekend.

Coffman, currently attorney general, sent a letter Thursday to state party attorney Scott Gessler insisting that Stapleton missed an April 2 party deadline to declare he would seek to qualify for the June primary at Saturday’s assembly.

Stapleton, the state treasurer, announced Tuesday he would do so after citing the possibility of fraud in the collection of voter signatures he had submitted to qualify.

Candidates can choose either method. Coffman opted for the assembly.

Gessler told Coffman attorney David Blake in a letter Wednesday that neither state law nor party rules prohibit Stapleton from seeking nomination through the assembly.

Stapleton’s campaign didn’t immediately reply to an email from The Associated Press seeking comment.

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