AURORA | Democratic 6th Congressional District candidate Jason Crow is adding another name to his growing endorsement list. But this time it comes from a primary opponent.
David Aarestad, an Aurora attorney, says he’s dropping out of the CD6 Democratic primary race and throwing his support behind Crow, an Army veteran who has backing from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.
Democrats hope to unseat a so-far unbeatable GOP U.S. Rep. Mike Coffman, who has handily fended off three Democratic opponents in six years since he won the redrawn congressional seat that mostly covers Aurora.
In a statement Aarestad said over the last year Crow “has remained unflapped in the face of personal attacks. Adding, “he has a willingness to listen, amend his views and serve this community that we have been lacking for so many years.”
Aarestad declined to comment to the Sentinel on his endorsement.
Crow faces clean-energy advisor Levi Tillemann. Tillemann has been vocal about presumptuous tactics by national Democratic Party officials, drawing parallels to how the national party handled the Bernie Sanders 2016 presidential campaign.
Early on, Aarestad made healthcare his signature issue. On his campaign website he said it was Congressman Mike Coffman’s commitment to replacing Obamacare with “Trumpcare” that pushed him to run.
“I am deeply honored to have the support of my friend, David Aarestad,” Crow said in a statement. “David has been working on behalf our community for years and I feel extremely fortunate to have his help and guidance in our race for Congress. We are stronger when we focus on what unites us, not what divides us.”
Crow also has endorsements from Gabby Giffords, the Sierra Club, NARAL, End Citizens United, former Gov. Bill Ritter, former Sen. Mark Udall, former Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and others.
— KARA MASON, Staff Writer
