AURORA | The race to dethrone incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Michael Bennett grew even more crowded this week after Jerry Natividad, a Republican businessman from Lakewood, announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate.
Natividad joins a dozen other conservatives vying for Bennett’s seat in a packed GOP primary race.
Natividad, who grew up in Rocky Ford, touted his business acumen and distance from Washington politics.
“Sen. Bennet has become a pawn of the Obama administration, beholden to Washington insiders, not the Coloradans he was elected to represent,” Natividad said in a statement. “As a Colorado native, I bring a genuine understanding of our state’s unique needs and changing landscape. We demand a viable economy, safe communities and employment opportunities for all Coloradans.”
In an interview Wednesday, March 2, he said that the future of his four children and nine grandchildren were his primary reason for entering the race.
“My kids, your kids, my grandkids, your grandkids,” Natividad said. “Those are the two major driving issues … That is why I am in this race.”
On top of founding the facilities management company American Facility Services Group, he has also held various positions in the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Natividad joins the following candidates in the Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate: Robert Blaha, Charlie Ehler, Jerry Eller, Ryan Frazier, Darryl Glenn, Jack Graham, Tom Janich, Jon Keyser, Michael Kinlaw, Peggy Littleton, Tim Neville and Donald Rosier.