AURORA | Former state Rep. Karen Middleton, D-Aurora, is back living in Aurora after a two-year stint in California and says a bid for Congressional District 6 is a possibility.
Middleton, president of Emerge America, a national political organization that trains women to run for political offices, said Thursday morning she’s encouraging strong Democratic, female candidates to enter the race in the 2014 mid-term elections for Congressional District 6. She could be included in a list of potential Democratic female candidates, but she has yet to make an official decision on whether to run.
“I think women candidates should be in the mix, and I’d be honored to be among those, but we should take some time to see what’s out there,” she said. She said she will be meeting with community leaders and Aurora voters before she makes a formal decision about her candidacy for the 6th Congressional District.
Middleton said she doesn’t think U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, R-Aurora, accurately represents the residents in the district. Coffman recently sent an email to campaign supporters urging them to donate to a 2014 campaign re-election effort after former Colorado House Speaker Andrew Romanoff told Politico he is also considering a run for Congressional District 6.
Middleton moved to San Francisco, Calif. in 2010 to take the position at Emerge America, and moved back to Aurora in October 2012. She said she decided to move back home to Aurora, her hometown since 1998, shortly before the July 20, 2012 theater massacre. The tragedy solidified her decision to move back home, she said.
“I felt compelled to come back and be engaged,” she said. “This is my home, these are my neighbors.”